NEWS & VIEWS
from a CATHOLIC perspective

    BERLIN, NOV 23 (ZENIT).- The German Episcopal Conference announced today that, in the future, Catholic consultation centers for pregnant women in difficulty will not grant certificates that give access to legal abortion, according to German legislation.

    The decision was announced today in Wuerzburg, Bavaria, at the end of a 2-day meeting during which the Episcopal Conference examined the results of last week's meetings with John Paul II in Rome, on the occasion of the German bishops "ad limina" visit with the Pope and the Holy See.

    The bishops announced that the Catholic Church's withdrawal from the government consultation program will take place during the year 2000. At present the bishops are considering the best way to help pregnant women in difficulty, in order to save thousands of lives, without being involved in the granting of these certificates.

    The certificates the Church offers in its consultation centers, state specifically that the document cannot be used for an abortion; however, in practice, hospitals and clinics had continued to accept these certificates as a "de facto" authorization for legal abortion. As a result, this presented the Catholic consultations with the moral dilemma of collaborating, even if only indirectly, with abortion.

    During their visit with the Holy Father last week in Rome, the Pontiff asked the German bishops to give clear and unanimous witness in defense of life, and that the Church's support of pregnant women in difficulty be reorganized in a more effective way, according to papal letters sent to the German bishops over the last few months.

    "I am convinced, that an ecclesial consultation that is outstanding for its quality, is an eloquent sign to society and an effective means to encourage women in difficulty not to reject the new life they carry in their womb," the Pope said. ZE99112304

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