“Doctors performing abortions are hired killers,” the Pope declared at the end of his visit to Belgium. “It proves one thing, reacts Georges-Louis Bouchez in Matin Première, is that religion, whatever the religion, I would still like to clarify this because I sometimes see slightly different reactions depending on the type of faith, has no place in the conduct of the State. ”
The president therefore strongly condemns the words of the sovereign pontiff. “Here, we are very clear with regard to the Pope. We should also be very clear when we talk about veiling, ritual slaughter or swimming pools reserved simply for women.”
The Pope’s visit itself does not pose a problem in itself for the president of the MR. “As long as he is the head of a state, there was no problem receiving him”. That he was received by the King at the Palace, neither. “He wears two hats, he is both a religious leader and the head of a state. It makes sense for a head of state to meet another head of state.”
The Pope remains solely responsible for his words
As for the way in which the mission took place, Georges-Louis Bouchez believes that the government, which a priori covers the King’s actions, was not aware of everything in advance. “Not being Prime Minister, I do not know in detail to what extent the elements were validated or not, but in any case, the meditation at the tomb of King Baudouin certainly not, the Palace itself recognizes that it was a personal initiative at the last moment, and even less the comments that were made.”
There will be questions that will be asked in parliament, he specifies, but “the Pope remains solely responsible for his words. […] It is he who takes responsibility for the debate he creates, it is not the fault of the government.”
The Pope’s remarks on abortion are also an opportunity to revisit the MR’s position on this issue. The extension of the period during which it is authorized to practice it in Belgium is once again at the center of the debates. The parties currently negotiating at the federal level, including the MR, have decided to reject all the texts and put this issue in the fridge. “We are freezing all the votes, because we are in the process of negotiating a government. It is not this issue in particular.“
And to recall that within the MR, there will be freedom of voting, and that he himself will support the extension to 18 weeks.
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