Abortion legalization up to 14 weeks in Argentina passes lower house, moves to Senate floor

A bill in predominately Catholic Argentina to allow for voluntary abortions to be performed up to the 14th week of pregnancy passed the lower House on Friday and will now go to the Senate for a debate and vote.

President Alberto Fernández, who elected last year on a platform that included a vow to legalize abortions, proposed the measure in response to the demands from activists.

In Argentina now, women who receive an abortion and those who assist in the procedure could face prosecution other than exceptions in the cases of rape or danger to the mother's health.

The House passed the measure 131-117. Supporters cheered outside the Buenos Aires Congress building while opponents cried. 

Before the Thursday debate, the Roman Catholic Church appealed to lawmakers for “a second of reflection on what respect for life means,” backing up the Pope's previous stance that there is a “throwaway culture” towards the unborn, weak and elderly.

Latin America has very restrictive abortion laws and with Argentina being the home of Pope Francis and about 63% of the population identifying as Roman Catholic according to a demographics report, it's unclear if the bill will be able to pass the traditionally more conservative Senate.