By Jim Coggins

AMNESTY International (AI) has approved a new policy on abortion that may cost it the support of the Roman Catholic Church.

At its biennial meeting in mid-August, the International Council of the human rights organization “affirmed the organization’s policy on selected aspects on abortion.”

AI launched a ‘Stop Violence Against Women Campaign’ in March 2004. About a year into the campaign, it began an internal study of how that campaign related to “reproductive rights.”

From documents on its website, it appears the trigger for this discussion was the systematic rape of women in places such as Darfur and the execution of women in some countries for having an abortion.

The result of that internal discussion was a policy approved in April 2007. It was that policy that was formally ratified in August.

Although no copy of that policy is readily available to the public, Alex Neve, Secretary-General of AI Canada, said the policy advocates three “selected aspects”:

AI is advocating that abortion be decriminalized in every country in the world. It is currently legal in 54 countries but illegal in 97 countries representing 39 percent of the world’s population.

Neve said AI is not advocating the “legalization” of abortion, legally requiring governments to provide abortion on demand, but does want women and “health care providers” to be free from prosecution. AI’s policy is that women not be denied access to medical treatment for complications from abortion, such as hemorrhaging and infections, as happens in some countries.

AI says women should have a right to abortion “in particularly grave situations” such as pregnancies resulting from rape or incest and pregnancies that would endanger a woman’s “health or human rights.”

Neve said it is not AI’s “intention directly or indirectly” to take a position on abortion generally, other than in these selected areas.

The Roman Catholic church has a long history of working with AI  to combat human rights abuses;  indeed, the organization was founded in 1961 by Peter Benenson, a devout Catholic lawyer.

But that working relationship may now be in jeopardy. Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Bertone, expressed his regret at AI’s action. Speaking on Vatican Radio, he stated: “The inhuman violence of rape must be stopped, and society must be mobilized to protect the dignity of women.” However, he added, “Violence cannot be answered with further violence – murder with murder.”

Continue article >>

Michael Evans, Roman Catholic Bishop of East Anglia in Britain, resigned from AI, severing a 31-year relationship. In a statement, he said: “In time, Amnesty may seek to develop this policy further; but even this current limited decision makes it very difficult for Catholics to remain members of Amnesty or to give it any financial support.”

At press time, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops had not yet commented on the decision. However, a 2006 statement, issued when AI was first contemplating the policy change, said the bishops “would find it most regrettable if Amnesty International were to adopt a position promoting access to abortion. Such a change in policy would be . . . a step backwards for an organization that has done such outstanding work.”

Bishop Fred Henry of the Diocese of Calgary, who last year criticized AI’s proposed policy, told BCCN he has now withdrawn his support for the organization.

Neve said AI recognizes this is an issue on which there will be differing opinions, and said the organization has received support from some Catholics. Other Catholics, he said, may “remain active” in AI,  “but choose not to be involved” in any AI work related to abortion. “We recognize that some Catholics feel strongly about the issue and may choose to leave Amnesty,” he added, saying AI respects all of those decisions.

Dave Quist, executive director of the Institute of Marriage and Family Canada, said AI “has done good work on justice issues”; but he saw no connection between that work and AI’s abortion policy.

He dismissed AI’s assertion that it is not taking a position on abortion, and is only advocating abortion in cases of rape and danger to the mother. “By . . . moving into the social policy area, they are making a statement. Around the world, we have seen how broadly [it is] applied. A child is still killed.”

Eric Alcock, president of Vote Life, Canada!, maintained AI’s support for abortion only in “particularly grave situations” is “standard fare for those who advocate abortion,” and said instances when “a woman’s life is threatened by childbirth are extremely rare.”

Clauses referring to protecting the health of women “can mean anything,” said Alcock. “For all intents and purposes,” he contended, AI is advocating “abortion on demand.”

Incidents of rape in war-torn countries are “very tragic,” said Alcock; however, he added, “the unborn child that comes from that horrible act is a human being and has rights.”

Alcock said he found it “particularly disturbing” that a group which has fought to protect human rights and abolish capital punishment has “signed the death warrant for millions of babies.”

Alcock called the mild protests of Canadian Christian leaders “an abdication of responsibility.” He also contended the Catholic bishops need to do more.

“Placing a comment on their website and sitting down for lunch with Amnesty International – there’s no way that is enough.”

October 2007