Aug 20, 2007
Leaders of Amnesty International meeting in Mexico have reaffirmed the pro-abortion policy adopted by its executive board in April.
Last week Cardinal Renato Martino, president of the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace said that Catholics worldwide would boycott AI if it didn’t reverse the position at their biennial meeting.
“If in fact Amnesty International persists in this course of action, individuals and Catholic organizations must withdraw their support because, in deciding to promote abortion rights, Amnesty International has betrayed its mission,” he said.
Amnesty’s Deputy General Secretary, Kate Gilmore told The Independent newspaper that,
“Amnesty International’s position is not for abortion as a right but for women’s human rights to be free of fear, threat and coercion as they manage all consequences of rape and other grave human rights violations.”
Following Friday’s vote to endorse abortion the Rt. Rev. Michael Evans, Bishop of East Anglia, has resigned, having been actively involved with AI for 31 years.
“There are undoubtedly many Catholics who will now sadly have to withdraw membership,” he said. “Bishops, priests and lay people will have to make a very serious decision about their memberships, and I would expect them to make the same decision.”
“Among all human rights, the right to life is fundamental and this decision will almost certainly divide Amnesty’s membership and thereby undermine its vital work,” he said.
The bishop added that the Catholic Church shared Amnesty’s strong commitment to opposing violence against women. “Appalling violence must not be answered by violence against the most vulnerable and defenceless form of human life in a woman’s womb,”
‘Amnesty’s current campaign posters carry the slogan “Protect the Human,”’ said Julia Millington, Political Director of the ProLife Alliance. ‘It is incomprehensible that they would exclude an entire class of human beings from protection.
‘Ms Gilmore’s comment regarding women’s rights “to be free of fear, threat and coercion as they manage all consequences of rape” is incredible. Hiding the consequences of the abuse of women is an extraordinary way to combat rape. What about fighting for women’s rights to be free of the threat of rape?
‘We must respond with compassion to women who have experienced violent abuse. By recommending abortion as a way to lessen the impact a disservice is done to raped women. Violence is compounded with violence.
‘By promoting abortion in the case of rape one implicitly argues that the means of conception determines the value of human life. One woman, Pam Stenzel says this,
“My biological father is a rapist. But I am still a human being and I still have value. My life isn’t worth any less than yours because of the way I was conceived. And I did not deserve the death penalty because of the crime of my father. Someday I hope to meet my birth mother. She loved me enough to give me my life, and then she loved me enough to give me the next most special gift I was given and that’s my family.”
