Bishop Discusses His Leadership Of Two Pro-abortion Organizations

The controversy surrounding Bishop Raul Vera Lopez of Saltillo, Mexico has intensified after comments he made in support of the decriminalization of abortion.

The website LifeSiteNews.com published a report on Aug. 3 revealing that the bishop heads two human rights organizations that openly promote the reversal of pro-life legislation enacted in a majority of Mexican states.

In explaining his leadership role in the two organizations that support the decriminalization of abortion, Bishop Vera said, "What is debated here in Mexico is the penalization or depenalization of abortion. That's another thing. The penalization (of abortion) is the persecution of people who have abortions."

Since January 28, 2011, Bishop Vera has been president of the Fray Bartolome de las Casas Center for Human Rights in the Mexican state of Chiapas, where several years ago he served as coadjutor bishop for the late Bishop Samuel Ruiz. He is also the founder of the Fray Juan de Larios Diocesan Center for Human Rights, located in the Diocese of Saltillo.

Both groups belong to a network of organizations that uphold abortion as a fundamental human right. The network openly supported the legalization of abortion in Mexico City in 2007.