Pope's "premier" criticizes Spain's planned abortion law (Roundup)

Feb 5, 2009, 12:58 GMT

Madrid - Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone on Thursday criticized Spain's plans for a more liberal abortion law, telling reporters it was 'necessary to restrict and not to increase the possibilities of aborting.'

Bertone made his comments after discussing abortion and other touchy issues with Deputy Prime Minister Maria Teresa Fernandez de la Vega on Wednesday during his unofficial three-day visit to Spain.

Bertone also met Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, King Juan Carlos and Foreign Minister Miguel Moratinos.

The visit prompted the government to announce a 'more constructive' era in the relations between Spain and the Vatican, which had been strained over Madrid's liberal policies.

Bertone said his meetings with Spanish leaders had been 'useful' for both sides.

However, in a lecture he gave at the headquarters of the Bishops' Conference, Bertone stressed the need to respect life 'since its conception.'

The Zapatero government is planning to free women from having to justify their abortions in the early stages of pregnancy.

Family life was based on 'the marriage of a man and a woman,' Bertone also said in the country where thousands of gay couples have wed since same-sex marriages were legalized in 2005.

In his lecture, the cardinal also stressed the right of parents to choose the kind of education they wished for their children.

Just before his visit, Spain's Supreme Court rejected a request from Catholic parents to allow their children to boycott new citizens' education classes, which they saw as representing secular or socialist values.

Bertone told reporters his lecture had not referred only to Spain.