Controversial Changes in Abortion Law

On September 29^th, 2011 Mexican Supreme Court upheld Baja California’s amendment that states that life begins at conception- thus aiding the movement of anti-abortion supporters. Eight out of 11 justices were needed to overturn the ruling, but only 7 voted against the idea that conception is the point at which life begins. Baja California joined the state of San Luis Potosi in this ruling that leads to a much stricter availability of legal abortions. Mexico is starting to move toward a very anti-abortion outlook, with more than half of the thirty-one Mexican states passing right-to-life amendments. At this time Mexico City is the only place still allows all abortions until the 12 week mark, with all states only allowing abortions in the case of rape and medical danger. 

In Spain, on July 9th,2011, the new abortion law took effect that allows for unrestricted abortions in the first 14 weeks. This radical new law also allows for young girls, of ages 16 and up, to have abortions without parental consent. This law is a drastic change from the previous stance, passed in 1985, in which in some cases Spanish women could go to jail for abortion if outside strict criteria. Abortion was only legal in the case of rape (up to week 12) or of a medical danger/malformed fetus (up to 22 weeks).  As radical as this new Spanish bill may seem to a historically Catholic and very conservative country, it did allow Spain to join the ranks of other European countries such as Germany, Britain, and France.

Both of these countries are predominantly Catholic with completely different views on abortion. What are the reasons for these differences? In Italy, another country in which the Catholic religion is the majority, abortion was legalized in 1978 and still states that up until 90 days of pregnancy abortion is legal if approved due to the health, economic, social, and family situation of the woman. Interestingly, Spain and Italy historically have a higher predominance of the Catholic religion, and yet Mexico is the country in which the abortion laws are becoming much more strict. Has there been a significant shift in importance of religious beliefs in any of these countries?