Excommunication Controversy
In March 2009, a controversy between the Brazilian government and the Catholic Church erupted following a series of excommunications related to a high-profile abortion case. A nine year old child had been raped by her stepfather resulting in pregnancy with twins. Doctors in Recife performed an abortion on her on March 4, after realizing that she could die if the pregnancy was to be continued. Archbishop José Cardoso Sobrinho announced the excommunication of the girl's mother, of the doctors who performed the abortion as well as of the judge who refused to halt the procedure.
Read more about this topic: Abortion In Brazil
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“And therefore, as when there is a controversy in an account, the parties must by their own accord, set up for right Reason, the Reason of some Arbitrator, or Judge, to whose sentence, they will both stand, or their controversy must either come to blows, or be undecided, for want of a right Reason constituted by Nature; so is it also in all debates of what kind soever.”
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