Mexico Archdiocese: Abandoned or aborted babies must be buried, treated with dignity

The Primatial Archdiocese of Mexico called on authorities to establish legal mechanisms ensuring a proper burial for miscarried, aborted, or unclaimed deceased babies and to create suitable places for their interment.

In an editorial titled " Let no baby go without burial ," published on Aug. 16 in the archdiocesan publication Desde la Fe (From a Faith Perspective), the archdiocese stated that regardless of the circumstances of a babyʼs death, "the dignity with which we treat the body" must be upheld.

Death can occur “during pregnancy, at birth, or in the first days of life; it can result from illness, an unexpected complication, an abortion, or an act of violence,” the editorial noted.

The archdiocese said the bodies of deceased newborns and babies who die late in pregnancy are often “abandoned in public places, in hospitals, or even among the trash.”

In light of this situation, the archdiocese reiterated that “the human body, after death, must be treated with respect, due to its inherent human dignity.”

Unclaimed remains The archdiocese explained that there are associations and apostolates in Mexico that have agreements with local authorities to “receive the bodies of…