Archbishop Gracias Flays Amnesty International's Move To Review Policy On Abortion By Henry D'Souza, SAR NEWS
NEW DELHI (SAR NEWS) -- "I'm indeed surprised at the Amnesty International's move to review policy on abortion. Amnesty International has been a credible organisation which was always known for protecting human rights of all, more particularly of weaker sections of society," declared Archbishop Oswald Gracias of Agra, who is also the president of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India. Archbishop Gracias was responding to the Amnesty International's move to decide by the end of 2006 whether to adopt a new position that would favour the "decriminalisation of abortion", "access to quality services for the management of complications arising from abortion" and "legal, safe and accessible abortion in cases of rape, sexual assault, incest, and risk to a woman's life." "If the much-respected organisation adopts a pro-abortion policy, it would mean that Amnesty International is bidding goodbye to human rights, which has been its hallmark for over forty years," the archbishop said. "The Catholic Church believes that in the case of a rape and the incest, no doubt that human rights of the victim is violated, but it does not take away the right of the unborn child. In the case of mother's life being in danger, the Church's position is that both the mother and the child have equal rights to live. Efforts should be made to save both the lives. One cannot posit an act which takes away the right of either the mother or the baby," affirmed noted Canon Law expert Archbishop Gracias. Amnesty International is considering changing its thus far held neutral policy on abortion to one that would affirm 'legal abortion' to be an international human right. The organisation has asked members to submit their responses to the proposed changes to their "Sexual and Reproductive Rights Policy." The Amnesty International's current policy on abortion declares, "Amnesty International takes no position on whether or not women have a right to choose to terminate unwanted pregnancies; there is no generally accepted right to abortion in international human rights law." What needs to be done? "Firstly, we need to appreciate and uphold the much-acclaimed UN Declaration of the Rights of the Child which states, 'the child, by reason of his physical and mental immaturity, needs special safeguards and care, including appropriate legal protection, before as well as after birth'," the archbishop stated. "Secondly, we need to endorse the Church's point of view which upholds the human rights of all, even of the unborn child. The pro-life organisations and individuals need to publicise the correct teaching of the Church and promote advocacy on the matter." (The writer is executive secretary of the Commission for Social Communication, Catholic Bishops' Conference of India, New Delhi). _____________________________________________ Do not post admin requests to the list. Goanet mailing list ([email protected])
