As I commented to my own blog entry (see The Ravages of Naples) regarding the outcry to the outrageous stampede of police officers into a hospital room in Naples where an entirely legal abortion was being performed, the reaction has been absolutely unprecedented. The LAW 194, passed in 1978, has been unequivocally supported by nearly every politician from the (very Cathollic) President on down the line. Women took to the streets, and the episode has been bantered about in salons across the boot.
Of course, the only dissidents being those closest to the Church.

But even then, the rest of the politicians and press remarked that they are to leave their religious beliefs at the door to their homes or on the altar. And not bring them into public life.

One further attack by the popular television host & journalist, Giuliano Ferrara served to show how detached from reality this issue was: He stated he would run for Mayor of Rome on a NO ABORTION platform. This was so preposterous (to think that a local mayor could have any effect whatsoever on Federal Law), that even the Catholic Church's mouthpiece, the Avvenire magazine, came out against him. Sadly for us, he has more power as a TV host of his own prime time show, but, hopefully, given the reaction to his first foray into actual politics, he will be staying away from this issue.

But yesterday, the best news came when the Assoc. of Medical Professionals (the equivalent of the AMA), came out not only in support of the law, but also on RU486 and the day-after pill to boot. Abstaining were the Christian doctors, but again, these were sidelined. And while many pharmacists refuse to carry the medicines, the doctors unilaterally stated that the Law 194 has saved a great many lives by removing, literally overnight, back room abortions. In a country where babies are still constantly turning up in garbage bins, the Vatican is (thankfully) fighting an uphill battle.

Everyone agrees with the necessity of the abortion law, but with all the controversy, an even greater necessity for sex ed, condoms and birth control so abortions will not be used as a form of birth control; which is sadly often the case.
Once again, by refusing to enter the 21st century, the church is seen, not unlike much of the Muslim world, to want to jettison us back to the middle ages -- further driving an even wider wedge between its dogma and its flock.