A Catholic Archbishop has sparked a bitter debate by excommunicating the mother and doctors of a 9-year-old girl who received an abortion. Brazilians, including President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva, assailed the church for hewing to doctrine despite extreme mitigating circumstances—the child, who was carrying twins, had allegedly been raped by her stepfather. While generally illegal in heavily Catholic Brazil, abortion is permitted in rape cases. Critics said the church—whose actions were backed by the Vatican—risked alienating congregants.
--TIME, March 23, 2009
It’s a quantum leap between wanting to know the mind of God and claiming to know the mind of God. There could not be a better example than this news story to illustrate that theology and religion are not the same thing. I think one of the things I need to give up for Lent because it interferes with my relationship with God is authoritarian religious ideologues.
I appreciate you bringing that insane situation in Brazil into the light. I may be biased, but I think the commentary you provided is brilliant.
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