Catholics Ask ShAmnesty International to Revoke Abortion Stance

From Cybercast News Service:

(CNSNews.com) - Catholic groups boycotting a leading international human rights group for changing its policy on abortion are urging the group to revoke its stance.

Amnesty International recently changed its official position of neutrality on abortion to supporting it in cases of rape, incest or to save a woman's life. Significantly, it said it may also express opposition to criminal penalties for women who seek abortions and for the doctors who provide them.

Critics of the policy change worry this would lead to the world's most high-profile rights group effectively campaigning for the "right" to an abortion in countries where it is outlawed.

The Cardinal Newman Society, a Catholic educational group, is urging Catholic colleges to end affiliations with Amnesty International because of its new abortion position. The group says more than 50 Catholic colleges and law schools have student AI chapters.

In a letter to the presidents of Catholic colleges and universities in the United States, the society's executive vice president, Tom Mead, asked each school to work with students to reorganize the local chapter and to allow it to "continue its important work promoting human rights without an Amnesty International affiliation."

The Cardinal Newman Society also called on college presidents to support efforts by the Vatican and U.S. Catholic bishops to encourage the rights group to reconsider its position on abortion.

"AI is proud of its college chapters, and you could help convince the leadership to drop the new position," Mead wrote.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has asked AI to reverse its abortion decision when it holds its International Council Meeting - the top policy-making body for the worldwide organization - in Mexico in August.

Bishop William S. Skylstad, president of the bishops' conference, said the new stance "undermines Amnesty's longstanding moral credibility, diverts its mission, divides its own members - many of whom are Catholic or defend the rights of unborn children - and jeopardizes Amnesty's support by people in many nations, cultures and religion."

Skylstad backed statements by Cardinal Renato Martino, president of the Vatican's Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, who recently said that if AI persists with the new stance, Catholic individuals and organizations must withdraw support.

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Previous Pro Ecclesia posts on this subject:
Vatican Urges Catholics to Stop Donating to Amnesty International

First Things on "Amnesty International’s Dirty Little Secret"

Just to Let You Know Where Amnesty International is Coming From