Posted on 06/24/2022 12:18:05 PM PDT by Ebenezer
(Translation)
Governor Pedro Pierluisi left legislation addressing abortion up to the Legislature, following the decision by the United States Supreme Court to nullify the Roe v. Wade.
"Basically, what the Supreme Court has decided is that the matter has to be addressed at the state level, and, in our case, here in Puerto Rico. The Legislature is called upon to take action over the matter of abortion. Our Constitution also applies. Basically, what the Supreme Court's decision indicates is that the right to abortion will not be protected at the United States Constitution level, but that the states are allowed to address the matter based on its own constitutions and laws."
"One thing about me is that I always try to find a balance. This is a very delicate matter which has to be addressed in a prudent and reasonable manner. There is right now a bill the Senate already passed which was referred to the House."
"The House leadership understood that a public-hearing process must take place to discuss the pending bill in greater detail, and I see that favorably. Now, this decision from the Supreme Court has influence, and it certainly justifies that the matter be addressed at our level, at Puerto Rico's level."
"So this is what I can say, that the legislative procedure on the pending bill at the Legislature continue and, at its time, if both chambers approve the bill, it will reach my desk and I will make my decision. And, as I have said previously, I will ask for recommendations from my work team including the Secretaries of Health and Justice. And, as I said, I am going to seek a balance. We have to respect each other here. It's obvious that there is a diversity of opinions and positions on this matter, but we have to find fair balance and respect each other while also following our Constitution," the Governor said during a press conference.
According to Pierluisi, the 1980 Supreme Court decision on Pueblo vs. Duarte, which established that no person who undergoes an abortion may be criminally prosecuted, prevails for the time being.
For his part, Senate Minority Whip for the New Progressive Party Carmelo Ríos Santiago foresaw that Senate Bill 693 which places restrictions on abortion after the 22nd month [of pregnancy] will end up being a different bill.
Puerto Rico ping
Democrat or no, at least someone gets it without having to hyperventilate over the matter.
When it comes to social issues, Puerto Ricans are relatively conservative, so a Democrat politician on the island can’t necessarily assume a hard-left approach, at least publicly.
That’s true. Puerto Ricans in theory are pretty pro-life, although those who live in NYC are totally the prey of Planned Parenthood and probably have a high abortion rate.
I remember praying years ago outside an abortion site in the upper 50s off Fifth and seeing a Puerto Rican mother bringing in her weeping teenage daughter (a minor who clearly didn’t want to have an abortion).
Even though there was a priest among us, nobody could convince the mother not to do this.
Most Puerto Ricans are very distant from the Faith, but have some residual memory...and alas, most Puerto Rican bishops are horrible. The one exception was the one that Francis just removed, who was probably the only orthodox Catholic bishop on PR.
So now it’s up to people to convince each other at the state level, which is how it should have been all along.
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