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Chibi_Neko
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Joined: Oct 24, 2007
Age: 27
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Location: Newfoundland, Canada
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 Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2008 11:06 am Post subject: Child rape victim allowed abortion in Romania |
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CTV.CA
| Quote: | BUCHAREST, Romania -- The government ruled Thursday that an 11-year-old rape victim would be allowed to have an abortion in Romania, dismissing the opposition of 20 church groups.
Pro-life Christian Orthodox groups had threatened to press charges if the girl was allowed to have an abortion in Romania since it would be beyond the 14 week legal limit. The girl is 21 weeks pregnant.
The stance of the church groups was in contrast to the Romanian Orthodox Church's official view that the decision should be left to the girl's family. The parents initially wanted to travel to a country where it would be legal.
"We are talking about ... the rights of this child who was subjected to rape and incest,'' said Theodora Bertzi, a Labour Ministry official and who was sitting on a committee, made up of government officials and experts, who ruled on the case.
The girl's pregnancy was revealed earlier this month when her parents took her to a doctor because she appeared sick. She told doctors she had been raped by her 19-year-old uncle, who has since disappeared.
The case has bitterly split the medical community, child rights groups and the public.
In a statement, the church groups offered "material, spiritual and psychological help'' to the child's impoverished family, adding they would also rear the child in a church institution if the family was unable to care for it.
But splits were apparent even within the church.
Constantin Stoica, spokesman for the Romanian Orthodox Church, to which more than 80 per cent of Romanians belong, said Wednesday it was "an exceptional situation which must be treated in an exceptional manner and the family is the only one to take this decision.''
He said the church considers abortion a crime, but this belief applies to normal circumstances and not to incest or rape.
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I have no idea what these religious fanatics are thinking.... do they have any idea what the little girl is going through?
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Bozewani
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Age: 20
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| Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2008 11:42 am Post subject: |
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I would rule in favor of the government, the girl deserves an abortion, she already is so traumatized.
It sounds like the only "division" is between the hidebound church and the pragmatic government. |
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Everchanging
Deinonychus
Joined: Nov 03, 2007
Posts: 376
Location: In my ivory tower where I don't have to pretend to care what you think any more.
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| Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2008 12:03 pm Post subject: |
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Took a long time for common sense to prevail...as usual...
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slowmutant
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| Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2008 2:18 pm Post subject: |
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Okay, this case is clearly not black-and-white. There's no easy answer here. Does incest trump abortion? I don't know. I doubt the church and state will agree on this. Whatever the handed-down verdict turns out to be, a lot of people will be outraged and offended. For one reason or another. The girl's pregnancy has advanced too far. Will the state make an exception? Will the church make an exception? Either way, exceptions like this are very risky. They tend to act as gateway events for other, more dubious "exceptions." And before long, the laws of church state have been completely undermined.
This case is a pretty damn good barometer for personal politics, isn't it? |
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greenblue
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| Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2008 2:35 pm Post subject: Re: Child rape victim allowed abortion in Romania |
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| Chibi_Neko wrote: | | I have no idea what these religious fanatics are thinking.... do they have any idea what the little girl is going through? |
That's my thought as well.
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slowmutant
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| Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2008 2:37 pm Post subject: |
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| Remember, both sides have valid arguments. That's what makes this case a doozy. |
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zshampo
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Joined: May 01, 2008
Age: 16
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| Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2008 3:19 pm Post subject: i agree |
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| slowmutant wrote: | | Remember, both sides have valid arguments. That's what makes this case a doozy. |
i agree with this
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Chibi_Neko
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| Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2008 4:29 pm Post subject: |
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| slowmutant wrote: | | Remember, both sides have valid arguments. That's what makes this case a doozy. |
The only argument I can think the church would come up with is 'religious' reasons. Rape is a tramatic thing, religion is not going to help this little girl carry a constant reminder of the rape for 9 months.
The only reason that I can think of as to why the girl did not get a abortion before the 21 weeks was because they where fighting the political and religious system of Romania, and some cases can take weeks to solve. The Religious people probably did it with the intention of making the case longer then 21 weeks so that they can use the argument 'she's too far along, cannot have the abortion'.
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LadyMacbeth
They made me do it.
Joined: May 28, 2007
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Location: In the girls toilets at Hogwarts, washing the blood off my hands.
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| Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2008 4:30 pm Post subject: |
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When was this posted? In the paper today it said that Romania DIDN'T allow it, and so she was coming to Britain instead?
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Chibi_Neko
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| Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2008 4:57 pm Post subject: |
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| LadyMacbeth wrote: | | When was this posted? In the paper today it said that Romania DIDN'T allow it, and so she was coming to Britain instead? |
The story was posted on CTV.CA today, it mentioned that the girl was fighting to have the abortion in Romania, but would be traveling somewhere else to get the abortion if her original plans fails
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LadyMacbeth
They made me do it.
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Location: In the girls toilets at Hogwarts, washing the blood off my hands.
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| Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2008 4:58 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks. That stops my confusion.
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Chewbockers
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Joined: Jun 29, 2008
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| Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2008 11:32 am Post subject: |
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| 21 weeks is too far along. It's a terrible tragedy but how is killing a child going to help its mother get over the trauma of being raped? it would be like getting raped again. |
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slowmutant
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| Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2008 11:35 am Post subject: |
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| Chewbockers wrote: | | 21 weeks is too far along. It's a terrible tragedy but how is killing a child going to help its mother get over the trauma of being raped? it would be like getting raped again. |
QFT. I agree with Chewbockers. |
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Chewbockers
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| Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2008 11:42 am Post subject: |
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| Thanks, late term abortions are not pleasant and surely if the girl is given financial and emotional support, she could have the baby. Her uncle acted like a complete cad, and in other places, could have been charged with statutory rape. I just don't think his child should be punished for the sins of its father. |
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slowmutant
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| Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2008 12:01 pm Post subject: |
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No, that would be monstrous. The very act of aborting a pregnancy is monstrous, regardless of motive or justification. Children already out of the womb and a few years old are tortured, abused and even murdered by their parents. Sometimes it's called homocide, depending on the scenario.
Protectinng reproductive rights would not be such a bitter pill for me to swallow if it didn't always come at the cost of another life. Abortion is a touchy subject for me because women seem more concerned with themselves and their own whims. Abortion is taken much too lightly my taste. There isn't nearly enough responsibility. |
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