NEW DELHI, India – India’s Supreme Court has accepted to hear a petition for the right to have an abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy in case the foetus should show any malformation.

In India a 1971 law allows abortion after the 20 weeks only when the life of the mother is in danger in order to prevent the widespread practice of female infanticide.

Mgr Agnelo Gracias, auxiliary bishop of Mumbai and chairman of the Commission on the Family of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India, commented, 'Any attempt against human life has repercussions. It cheapens our attitude to life as a whole. Today we face a culture of death in many ways. I think we have to take steps to counteract' it. 'Any attack on life, especially an unborn life will surely have harmful consequences.'