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http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a385a55c54c93.htm
Abortion Furor in Italy Over Pregnant 13-Year-Old Retarded Girl
By ALESSANDRA STANLEY
OME, Dec. 16 -- Teenage pregnancies are no more unusual in Italy than elsewhere. But the predicament of a 13-year-old retarded girl in Sicily known only as Laura has fascinated the entire country.
Today, a judge ruled that Laura's pregnancy should not be ended by abortion. The decision was supposed to remain a secret shared only with Laura's parents and the girl's guardian, but the news quickly leaked out.
The Rev. Oreste Benzi, a local priest who led the battle to overturn her state-appointed guardian's recommendation for an abortion, was elated by the news, and called it "a victory for life."
But other Italians, especially those who support abortion rights, viewed the case far differently. Valeria Ajovalasit, president of Arcidonna, a feminist organization, told the news agency ANSA tonight: "There was too much noise around this tragic event. A little silence would have been preferable, and might have better served the interests of a little girl who has serious problems and also of this unborn child."
Laura is the daughter of a retired farm worker and his wife, and lived with them in the town of Pozzallo. Her family doctor discovered she was pregnant a few weeks ago.
When the child welfare services were alerted, Laura was removed from her family until the father could be identified. She was placed in a foster home run by a Catholic organization and made a ward of the court.
The family, which reportedly wanted her to have an abortion, later identified the father as a 14-year-old playmate, who is also retarded.
Laura's first appointed guardian, Francesco Gugliotta, commissioner of Pozzallo's social services department, had favored letting his charge's pregnancy come to term. But late last week, Mr. Gugliotta was replaced by the girl's family doctor, Ignazio Ruffino.
Dr. Ruffino told reporters, "I am certain that she is not capable of understanding what is happening to her." He recommended that the girl should have an abortion, calling it "the lesser evil."
He did not disclose how advanced the pregnancy was, but the girl's mother has said that the deadline for a legal abortion would fall sometime before Christmas.
Under the law in Italy, women may have an abortion without restriction during the first three months of pregnancy. Second-trimester abortions are allowed only if the fetus is found to be badly damaged or the life of the mother is at risk.
Dr. Ruffino's recommendation unleashed the fury of anti-abortion groups.
The Rev. Gino Concetti, a columnist for the Vatican daily newspaper, Osservatore Romano, described the prospect of an abortion for Laura as "the return of the horrors of Nazi Germany." That reaction provoked an equally strong one from abortion rights activists.
On the eve of the judge's decision, Father Oreste, who works with the Catholic charity that arranged Laura's foster care, released a letter he said was written by Laura to the judge.
"Dear Judge, I want my baby," the letter said. "Don't let my baby die.
Let my baby grow, I beg of you. Save me."
Father Oreste is a well-known abortion opponent, and his outspoken advocacy has raised questions about whether the girl, who is described as having the mental capacity of a 6-year-old, could have written such a letter without help.
The judge made her decision today after interviewing the child.
-----
William Wallace posted afterward:
Wasn't Clinton in Italy recently? I wonder if he sent Buddy Young or James Carville over to wave a 100 lira note at 13-year-old retarded Italian girl. Maybe Vern Jordan or Bill Richardson can get her a job at Revlon!
and many other postings in the response to this article at:
http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a385a55c54c93.htm
Abortion Furor in Italy Over Pregnant 13-Year-Old Retarded Girl
By ALESSANDRA STANLEY
OME, Dec. 16 -- Teenage pregnancies are no more unusual in Italy than elsewhere. But the predicament of a 13-year-old retarded girl in Sicily known only as Laura has fascinated the entire country.
Today, a judge ruled that Laura's pregnancy should not be ended by abortion. The decision was supposed to remain a secret shared only with Laura's parents and the girl's guardian, but the news quickly leaked out.
The Rev. Oreste Benzi, a local priest who led the battle to overturn her state-appointed guardian's recommendation for an abortion, was elated by the news, and called it "a victory for life."
But other Italians, especially those who support abortion rights, viewed the case far differently. Valeria Ajovalasit, president of Arcidonna, a feminist organization, told the news agency ANSA tonight: "There was too much noise around this tragic event. A little silence would have been preferable, and might have better served the interests of a little girl who has serious problems and also of this unborn child."
Laura is the daughter of a retired farm worker and his wife, and lived with them in the town of Pozzallo. Her family doctor discovered she was pregnant a few weeks ago.
When the child welfare services were alerted, Laura was removed from her family until the father could be identified. She was placed in a foster home run by a Catholic organization and made a ward of the court.
The family, which reportedly wanted her to have an abortion, later identified the father as a 14-year-old playmate, who is also retarded.
Laura's first appointed guardian, Francesco Gugliotta, commissioner of Pozzallo's social services department, had favored letting his charge's pregnancy come to term. But late last week, Mr. Gugliotta was replaced by the girl's family doctor, Ignazio Ruffino.
Dr. Ruffino told reporters, "I am certain that she is not capable of understanding what is happening to her." He recommended that the girl should have an abortion, calling it "the lesser evil."
He did not disclose how advanced the pregnancy was, but the girl's mother has said that the deadline for a legal abortion would fall sometime before Christmas.
Under the law in Italy, women may have an abortion without restriction during the first three months of pregnancy. Second-trimester abortions are allowed only if the fetus is found to be badly damaged or the life of the mother is at risk.
Dr. Ruffino's recommendation unleashed the fury of anti-abortion groups.
The Rev. Gino Concetti, a columnist for the Vatican daily newspaper, Osservatore Romano, described the prospect of an abortion for Laura as "the return of the horrors of Nazi Germany." That reaction provoked an equally strong one from abortion rights activists.
On the eve of the judge's decision, Father Oreste, who works with the Catholic charity that arranged Laura's foster care, released a letter he said was written by Laura to the judge.
"Dear Judge, I want my baby," the letter said. "Don't let my baby die.
Let my baby grow, I beg of you. Save me."
Father Oreste is a well-known abortion opponent, and his outspoken advocacy has raised questions about whether the girl, who is described as having the mental capacity of a 6-year-old, could have written such a letter without help.
The judge made her decision today after interviewing the child.
-----
William Wallace posted afterward:
Wasn't Clinton in Italy recently? I wonder if he sent Buddy Young or James Carville over to wave a 100 lira note at 13-year-old retarded Italian girl. Maybe Vern Jordan or Bill Richardson can get her a job at Revlon!
and many other postings in the response to this article at:
http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a385a55c54c93.htm
