QUITO, September 6, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The president of Ecuador, Rafael Correa, has issued a firm denial that he wishes to legalize abortion in the new constitution being prepared for the country, according to press reports."We're not going to permit abortion nor the decriminalization of abortion. Here we are profoundly humanist," Correa told TC Television in Ecuador today.
Ecuador is currently in the process of rewriting its constitution, a project initiated by Correa. The possibility of legalizing abortion has become a major topic of debate during the campaign for representatives to the Constituent Assembly, the body that will be elected on September 30th to approve the new constitution.
Before being elected Correa claimed to be a "pro-life, practicing Catholic" who would "never" agree with abortion. However, he has appointed a pro-abortion jurist to the commission designing the first draft of the constitution. Other jurists on the commission have also stated their desire to legalize abortion.
Correa, a socialist with ties to Venezuela's Hugo Chavez, has also made statements indicating his desire that in the new constitution "there should be a certain level of security" for homosexual unions, "but without going as far as marriage." He also stated that "all discrimination should be eliminated" for homosexuals in the military.
Previous LifeSiteNews coverage:
Ecuadorans Battle Over Abortion in their New Constitution
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2007/aug/07082912.html