Breaking News Archive 2007

Amnesty International Action Alert

Have you been following the Amnesty International(AI) abortion debate?

If not, let me bring you up to date on the controversy. In April of this year, AI released a series of documents and directives explaining their new position on abortion. Prior to this, AI had always declared itself abortion neutral. In fact, its founder, Peter Benenson, was a staunch Catholic. However, their new position states that AI wants to remove any form of punishment for the physician that performs an abortion or the patient that undergoes it - thus allowing legalized abortion.

On May 18^th, Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), the chairman of the House Subcommittee on Global Human Rights and International Relations, responded by calling AI "just another pro-abortion organization." He very succinctly points out, "when you decriminalize, you legalize."

On June 1^st, the National Catholic Register conducted an email interview with Cardinal Renato Martino, president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace. In this interview, Cardinal Martino encouraged Catholics to withdraw their support from AI if it persists with its new pro-abortion stance.

On July 2^nd, Bishop William S. Skylstad, president of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, issued a statement urging AI to reverse its change of position at its August International Council meeting in Mexico.

On July 6^th, AI dug its grave a little bit deeper. In an attempt to justify its new position, Larry Cox, Executive Director of Amnesty International USA, responded to Bishop Skylstad. In this communication, Mr. Cox presented the AI party line and then added insult to injury. Mr. Cox confirmed AI's support of partial-birth abortion stating, "AI opposes the specific provisions of the federal law upheld by the US Supreme Court in Gonzales v. Carhart that criminalizes doctors who perform particular types of abortions." First, it supports the gruesome human rights abuse of partial-birth abortion. Second, though AI denies this, they're advocating abortion-on-demand by opposing any law that "criminalizes doctors who perform particular (read any) types of abortions."

ACTION ITEM
Help us send a strong message to AI when they meet in Morelos, Mexico from August 14^th to August 20^th. Please click on this link* to sign a petition that will be delivered to delegates at this meeting. We want to collect 50,000 signatures, so please share this email with your friends and family. Time is short, so please act quickly!

Sincerely for life,
Bradley Mattes
Executive Director
Life Issues Institute

7/16/07

* The petition drive ended on August 20th, 2007.

Life Issues Institute is dedicated to changing hearts and minds of millions of people through education. Organizations and individuals around the world depend upon Life Issues Institute to provide the latest information and effective tools to protect innocent human life from womb to tomb.

Please visit our home page for more pro-life news!