One Perp, Two Perps, Three Perps, and Counting

I'm waiting for Pope Benedict XVI to weigh in next and become Perpetrator #4 in this dreadful story.

Today Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, speaking for the Vatican, defended Archbishop Jose Cardoso Sobrinho's excommunication of the mother and doctors of an impregnated nine-year-old child for proceeding with a termination of the child's pregnancy.

Let's go back to the beginning. A nine-year-old Brazilian girl was examined after complaining of stomach pain. The examination revealed that she was pregnant with twin fetuses, twin babies who through no fault of their own, were conceived by repeated rape by the nine-year-old child's stepfather. He would be Perpetrator #1.

Under Brazilian law, an abortion to save the life of the mother is allowed. Let's remember this mother is a nine-year-old incest victim, who would not likely survive bringing two babies to term. The child's mother and doctors made the decision to terminate the pregnancy to save the life of the child/mother.

Archbishop Sobrinho condemned this action, citing the law of God as being more applicable than the law of Brazil. He excommunicated the mother of the nine-year-old and the doctors who terminated the pregnancy. Archbishop Sobrinho qualifies as Perpetrator #2.

Now, Cardinal Re, defends Sobrinho's excommunication of the people who saved the life of the nine-year-old at the expense (and I GET this) of the innocent fetuses. Yes, it is a tragic choice. But for his affirmation of Perp 2, I nominate Re as Perpetrator #3.

There is one more layer of Roman Catholic hierarchy left to weigh in on this. Will there be a Perpetrator #4?

Is there no representative of Jesus Christ who will raise up and heal the nine-year-old victim? Is there no representative of Jesus Christ who will cradle this young child and tell her she is God's own daughter, worthy of God's love and protection from evil? Will no one defend this child's dignity and humanity?

Read the details at this BBC report: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7930380.stm

Lord have mercy.
Christ have mercy.
Lord have mercy.