Madam Chair, this is why I referred to canon law and not just to newspaper articles. Canon law is drafted and enacted by the Vatican. This is not a matter of religion but of human rights. This young girl had the right to have an abortion. If we start allowing the Catholic Church to remove the rights of nine-year-old girls when they are raped by their stepfather, we will be seriously distancing ourselves from reality.
On April 23rd, 2009. See this statement in context.