Cardinal Sandoval meets with opposing representatives to 'reinforce' anti-abortion legislation

14-08-2008

Mexico City, Aug 14, 2008 / 01:00 am (CNA).-
The Archbishop of Guadalajara, Cardinal Juan Sandoval Iñiguez, met with
representatives of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), an
opposition group, to "reinforce" the Mexican state of Jalisco's
legislation against abortion and euthanasia.

This was announced by the coordinator of the political group, Juan
Carlos Castellanos Casillas, who additionally noted that the meeting
was a "cordial visit."

The spokesperson for the Archdiocese of Guadalajara, Antonio
Gutiérrez Montaño, also mentioned that the meeting had "an
institutional mood" and was called together by PRI representatives in
the State Congress.

"Several topics of general interest were discussed, such as the
popular initiative against abortion and the upcoming elections, but no
agreement or formality was established," he indicated.

He continued by explaining that even if Cardinal Juan Sandoval has
not been trying to set up meetings with politicians, "it isn't as if
he's against the idea," when meetings are formally proposed. 

According to reports from the local press, the popular initiative
discussed was first introduced in the now defunct State Electoral
Institute of Jalisco (IEEJ) by the civil association called Mexicans
for Life for All.  After being approved, it returned to local Congress,
where it was "frozen" in the legislative commissions of Equity and
Gender; Justice; Constitutional Points, Legislative Studies and
Regulations. 

According to these sources, an informal agreement exists to prevent the topic from coming up again in the current Legislature.