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Bishops to Amnesty International: We work with orgs who "do not oppose the fundamental right to life"

By John-Henry Westen

WASHINGTON, D.C., August 27, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The US Conference of Catholic Bishops has decried Amnesty International's recent decision to - as the bishops put it - "promote worldwide access to abortion," telling the organization that the Bishops' Conference will work with other organizations rather than with Amnesty International (AI) to carry out the good ends which AI was traditionally associated with.

Bishop William S. Skylstad, the President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops released a statement to AI Thursday saying: "In promoting abortion, Amnesty divides its own members (many of whom are Catholics and others who defend the rights of unborn children) and jeopardizes its support by people in many nations, cultures and religions who share a consistent commitment to all human rights."

"Amnesty International's action will lead many people of conscience to seek alternative means to end grave human rights abuses, fight injustice, and promote freedom of conscience and expression," said the Bishop.  "But we will seek to do so in authentic ways, working most closely with organizations who do not oppose the fundamental right to life from conception to natural death."

Bishop Skylstad's message also revealed that the Bishop of the United States had been in dialogue with AI over the abortion proposal for over a year. 

Explaining the USCCB position, Bishop Skylstad explained, "To some, the action of Amnesty International may appear to be a compassionate response to women in difficult situations of pregnancy, but this is a false compassion."  He added: "True commitment to women's rights puts us in solidarity with women and their unborn children. It does not pit one against the other but calls us to advocate on behalf of both."

The letter ended with a call to AI to reverse the policy.  "We call upon Amnesty International once again to act in accord with its noblest principles, reconsider its error, and reverse its policy on abortion."

Prior to AI's final decision on the matter of abortion advocacy, Vatican Cardinal Renato Martino, President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, warned that should the organization not change their minds Catholics would have to halt support for AI.  In June, the Cardinal stated: "I believe that, 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, AI has betrayed its mission."

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