Romanians Divided Over Abortion for 11-Year-Old Reportedly Raped by Her Uncle
By Matthew Cullinan Hoffman
BUCHAREST, June 26, 2008 - A spokesman for the Romanian Orthodox Church declined to defend the right to life of the unborn child in the case of an 11-year-old girl who was reportedly raped by her 19-year-old uncle (see LifeSiteNews coverage at http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/jun/08062408.html).
Although the Orthodox Church regards abortion as a crime, this is "an exceptional situation, which should be treated in an exceptional manner," said spokesman Constantin Stoica. He added that "the family is the only one to make this decision."
However, the Associated Press reports that twenty different Orthodox groups in Romania are opposing an abortion for the girl, who is over 20 weeks pregnant, 6 weeks beyond the country's legal limit. They are threatening to press charges against government officials if they approve the abortion. (See what a fetus looks like at 20 weeks of gestation at: http://www.babycenter.com/fetal-development-images-20-weeks).
The groups are also offering "material, spiritual and psychological help" to the family, and have offered to raise the child if the family is unable to do so.
The ethics committee of Cuza Voda hospital in Iasi, Romania, has already ruled against an abortion, stating that the girl and her child are healthy and that the law clearly prohibits the procedure. However, another committee of physicians has reportedly ruled in favor of allowing the killing of the child.
Romania's national doctor's council has weighed in on the side of the unborn child, stating that its rights should be taken into account. However, the girl's mother has stated clearly that she intends to proceed with an abortion.
The Romanian Health Minister, Eugen Nicolaescu, is reportedly taking a neutral position on the case, but has proposed changing the law to allow later-term abortions.
Meanwhile, a Romanian woman in Britain has reportedly agreed to fly the child to the UK to secure an abortion for her there, where the law imposes a limit of 24 weeks of gestation. The child's mother says that she will accept the offer, but according to at least one report she may need permission to take the child abroad for the purpose of obtaining an abortion.
According to news reports, a Romanian government commission is examining the case and will issue a decision tomorrow.
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