Pope Francis, without confusion, says, "Abortion is homicide." In recent days, France, the eldest daughter of the Church, has been working against this clear teaching. The Holy See has expressed opposition to a French initiative aiming to enshrine abortion rights in the national Constitution, asking, "How is it possible to enshrine a norm that allows the death of a person in the fundamental Charter of a State while at the same time protecting the human person?"

The backstory to President Macron's fight against life

At the end of October 2023, French President Emmanuel Macron announced his desire to include the "right to abortion" in the French Constitution. Following upon the law on euthanasia, only delayed in its implementation on account of the Pope's visit to Marseille, France, in September 2023, Macron has carried forward this initiative against the culture of life.

The French Bishops have been outspoken on this issue in recent months. Gathered in Lourdes on November 7, 2023, they expressed their concern about Macron's proposal and reaffirmed that "every life is a gift for this world, a fragile and precious gift, infinitely worthy, to be welcomed and served from its beginning to its natural end."

The Bishops of France speak out

In 2022, there were 723,000 births in France and more than 234,000 abortions, a number that is only tragically increasing. In the note following their plenary conference in Lourdes, the French Episcopal Conference recognized this "dramatic reality" that "goes beyond the simple question of women's rights. It is not progress. Above all, our society should see this as a sign of its failure in education, accompaniment, and social, economic, and human support of those who need it. It should be concerned about its future, noting the foreseeable decline in its population."

The French bishops stressed that the commandment "Thou shalt not kill " is inscribed on the hearts of all believers and non-believers alike. We, all," they said, "are responsible for these unborn children. Therefore, true progress lies in mobilizing everyone, believers, and non-believers, so that the acceptance of life might be better aided and supported."

True social progress does not include abortion

According to the French bishops, "The real urgency is to help at least the couples or women who, today, really have no choice and feel they cannot keep their child due to the social, economic, and family constraints that weigh on them, and too often on women alone."

The French Episcopal Conference highlighted what would be true and desirable progress in our societies, stating: "Women's rights must be further promoted and guaranteed. Real equality of pay, protection against violence in social life and in the privacy of families, and social support in their role of raising children, especially single mothers."

If abortion were considered a fundamental right, this "would mean damaging their entire balance," the French Bishops declared.

The bishops also write that "together with other believers, men and women of goodwill, Catholics feel called to serve the rights and the dignity of the most vulnerable. They pray for couples and women who face the drama of abortion" and reiterate their gratitude to those who are committed to "advancing the culture of life."

The bill put forth by Macron

At the end of January, the French National Assembly decisively endorsed, by 493 votes against 30 opposing, a bill put forth by President Emmanuel Macron, setting the stage for the constitutional acknowledgment of the right to "voluntarily interrupt" pregnancy. The legislation is now progressing to the Senate, where the level of support may vary. To move forward, both chambers must reach a consensus on an identical version, and the measure necessitates approval either by three-fifths of lawmakers from both houses convened in a special session or through a popular referendum.

The Pope says, "Abortion is homicide"

Vatican News released an editorial entitled "France moving towards a Constitution against life," emphasizing a technologically advanced society's awareness of human development from conception. The editorial utilizes terms such as pre-embryo, embryo, newborn, child, teenager, adult, and elderly to highlight different developmental stages, asserting the continuous recognition of a human person.

The editorial recalls the Pope's recent visit to Marseille, during which he called for policies promoting life, welcome, and fraternity. The Pope also reflected on the tragedy of discarding human life in various forms, urging acknowledgment and love of others, whether in the vulnerable condition of the womb or on a boat at sea.

The Vatican News' editorial concludes by urging a shift away from sterile political or ideological oppositions and advocates for the enactment of laws and constitutional amendments that prioritize life. It emphasizes the importance of choosing proposals for life over death, promoting a fraternal horizon that cares for individuals and contributes to developing societies that embrace a genuine welcome, sharing, and peace culture.