Mexico City, September 29th.
Over 25,000 people participated in Mexico City’s March for Life! This is a stunning demonstration in a country where the defense of life, faith and family has been suppressed for a long time in Mexico’s history!” stated Father Matthew Habiger, OSB, Ph.D., President of Human Life International, the world’s largest pro-life, pro-faith, pro-family apostolate. On Sunday, September 24, thousands of the people in Mexico City gathered together in a March for Life to send a message to their political leaders in this city against a new law that introduces exceptions to the existing laws against abortion. Under the slogan “Viva la vida Mexico”, members of over 100 civic and religious organizations marched over to the Legislative Assembly of Mexico City to request the repeal of a recently-approved legislative bill that allows abortions under certain exceptions. His Eminence Norberto Cardinal Rivera, Archbishop of Mexico City, was present at the march and said that life must be defended from the moment of conception, and that there is no exception that could justify an abortion. On Friday, August 18, a legislative bill was passed allowing exceptions to the laws against abortion. The exceptions to the laws against abortion allow for the health of the woman and fetal deformity. The Health Commission of the Mexico City Legislative Assembly later announced that at least 26 city public hospitals are ready to perform the abortions. On Wednesday, September 27, the legislative members of the National Action Party (“Partido Accion Nacional/PAN”) and the Mexican Green Ecology Party (“Partido Verde Ecologista de Mexico/PVEM”) filed a claim in court asserting that the new law is unconstitutional. The Pro-Life National Committee (“Comite Nacional Pro-Vida”), HLI’s contact in Mexico, was one of the principal groups involved in the march. On the day that the legislative bill was approved, Jorge Serrano, President of the organization, was physically attacked by anti-life demonstrators while he criticized the legislative measure. Anti-life demonstrators also burned pro-life signs. “At the march, the people of Mexico City demonstrated with great joy and faith in favor of life. With the help of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of Life, and of Blessed Juan Diego, the first Apostle of Life, Mexico will return to a respect and love for life. And let us pray for the safety of Jorge Serrano and his family, as well as for all pro-lifers in Mexico”, concluded Father Habiger.
