The wrong road

In early May, the international human rights advocacy group confirmed to Catholic News Service that it had indeed adopted a new policy on abortion. This policy, outlined in documents never released to the general public, was approved in April in an eerily opaque fashion for an organization that specializes in bringing light to dark places. The policy was posted to a members-only Web site and Amnesty leaders were ordered to not issue a press release on the topic or make any public statement about it. The policy itself would only be issued to those who requested a copy.

The new policy jettisons the former neutrality on abortion in favor of open support for access to abortion. According to a background document obtained by CNS, "AI does not counsel individuals as to whether they should continue or terminate a pregnancy, nor will AI campaign generally for abortion." However, AI will henceforth "call governments to account for their laws and policies on abortion and to make appropriate policy recommendations toward the realization of women's human rights."

The crux of the matter is that now AI has deemed abortion to be a matter of "women's rights." The rights of the unborn person in the womb do not exist, in this view.

This is a sad turn of events for this once-praiseworthy organization. Amnesty was started in England with strong Catholic support to battle on behalf of prisoners of conscience around the world. With the help of religiously minded people everywhere, Amnesty turned a spotlight of publicity on those who languished in jails in countries where the rule of law hardly existed.

The new policy is doubly disappointing in that it has been rammed passed Amnesty International's membership with only a rather ambiguous consultation. In England, even though a majority of members opposed the new policy, those who ran the organization approved it anyway. In Canada, there was a similarly vague consultation which supposedly resulted in majority support for the change. However, no one ever issued the results of any vote to confirm whether this was true. We're left with only the bland assurances of Amnesty executives that all is for the best.

Obviously Amnesty needs to learn a lesson about practicing what it preaches.

Now the organization stands to lose considerable support from those who once were among its most loyal foot soldiers. And rightly so. How can anyone trust an organization that purports to defend human rights when it ignores the rights of the weakest, most vulnerable members of the human race?

If it wants to retain some measure of the respect it rightfully earned in its glory days, Amnesty International will have to reverse this ill-considered decision.

Contact

The Catholic Register
http://www.catholicregister.org ,
Joe Sinasac - ,

Email

Keywords

We ask you, humbly, to help.

Hi readers, it seems you use Catholic Online a lot; that's great! It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. We're not salespeople, but we depend on donations averaging $14.76 and fewer than 1% of readers give. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. Thank you. Help Now >

More Catholic PRWire

Showing 1 - 50 of 4,716

• « Prev
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• 7
• 8
• 9
• Next »

A Recession Antidote
Randy Hain

Monaco & The Vatican: Monaco's Grace Kelly Exhibit to Rome--A Review of Monegasque-Holy See Diplomatic History
Dna. Maria St. Catherine Sharpe, t.o.s.m., T.O.SS.T.

The Why of Jesus' Death: A Pauline Perspective
Jerom Paul

A Royal Betrayal: Catholic Monaco Liberalizes Abortion
Dna. Maria St.Catherine De Grace Sharpe, t.o.s.m., T.O.SS.T.

Embrace every moment as sacred time
Mary Regina Morrell

My Dad
JoMarie Grinkiewicz

Letting go is simple wisdom with divine potential
Mary Regina Morrell

Father Lombardi's Address on Catholic Media
Catholic Online

Pope's Words to Pontifical Latin American College
Catholic Online

Prelate: Genetics Needs a Conscience
Catholic Online

State Aid for Catholic Schools: Help or Hindrance?
Catholic Online

Scorsese Planning Movie on Japanese Martyrs
Catholic Online

2 Nuns Kidnapped in Kenya Set Free
Catholic Online

Holy See-Israel Negotiation Moves Forward
Catholic Online

Franchising to Evangelize
Catholic Online

Catholics Decry Anti-Christianity in Israel
Catholic Online

Pope and Gordon Brown Meet About Development Aid
Catholic Online

Pontiff Backs Latin America's Continental Mission
Catholic Online

Cardinal Warns Against Anti-Catholic Education
Catholic Online

Full Circle
Robert Gieb

Light Your Virtual Prayer Candle For a Loved One

Three words to a deeper faith
Paul Sposite

Relections for Lent 2009
chris anthony

Wisdom lies beyond the surface of life
Mary Regina Morrell

World Food Program Director on Lent
Catholic Online

Moral Clarity
DAN SHEA

Pope's Lenten Message for 2009
Catholic Online

A Prayer for Monaco: Remembering the Faith Legacy of Prince Rainier III & Princess Grace and Contemplating the Moral Challenges of Prince Albert II
Dna. Maria St. Catherine Sharpe

Keeping a Lid on Permissiveness
Sally Connolly

Glimpse of Me
Sarah Reinhard

The 3 stages of life
Michele Szekely

Sex and the Married Woman
Cheryl Dickow

A Catholic Woman Returns to the Church
Cheryl Dickow

Modernity & Morality
Dan Shea

Just a Minute
Sarah Reinhard

Catholic identity ... triumphant reemergence!
Hugh McNichol

Edging God Out
Paul Sposite

Burying a St. Joseph Statue
Cheryl Dickow

George Bush Speaks on Papal Visit
Catholic Online

Sometimes moving forward means moving the canoe
Mary Regina Morrell

Action Changes Things: Teaching our Kids about Community Service
Lisa Hendey

We Will Pray with You: Light Your Virtual Prayer Candle

Easter... A Way of Life
Paul Spoisite

Papal initiative...peace and harmony!
Hugh McNichol

Proclaim the mysteries of the Resurrection!
Hugh McNichol

Jerusalem Patriarch's Easter Message
Catholic Online

Good Friday Sermon of Father Cantalamessa
Catholic Online

Papal Address at the End of the Way of the Cross
Catholic Online

Cardinal Zen's Meditations for Via Crucis
Catholic Online

Interview With Vatican Aide on Jewish-Catholic Relations
Catholic Online

Pope Benedict XVI On the Easter Triduum
Catholic Online

Holy Saturday...anticipation!
Hugh McNichol

• « Prev
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• 7
• 8
• 9
• Next »