Argentina Senate Rejects Bill Legalizing Abortion: 38 Votes Against the Bill

Buenos Aires: The Argentine Senate has narrowly rejected a bill to legalize abortion, dashing hopes of pro-abortion rights advocates in the predominantly Catholic country and the homeland of Pope Francis. The legislation, which had been approved by the Chamber of Deputies on June 14, would have allowed abortions during the first 14 weeks of pregnancy, reports Efe news. The Senate vote on Wednesday night counted 31 in favour, 38 against and two abstentions out of the total 72 seats. As senators debated the bill late into Wednesday night, pro-abortion rights activists rallied and the Catholic Church held a “Mass for Life” in the capital Buenos Aires. Supporters of the bill rallied across the region on Wednesday in Chile, Uruguay, Mexico and Peru as well as across the Atlantic in Spain. While Pope Francis hasn’t addressed the legislation directly, he did speak out strongly against abortion just days after the bill was approved by the lower house - comparing abortion to avoid birth defects to Nazi eugenics, CNN reported. (IANS)