| Amnesty International and the Roman Catholic church | | | | and unimportant, that their well being is put at risk. It |
| appear to be heading for a show down over the | | | | is particularly astonishing to see that the Roman |
| contentious matter of abortion. AI has enjoyed the | | | | Catholic church could have this stance as none of the |
| backing of the Vatican since its inception in 1961. | | | | policy makers are women. How can men who have |
| Founder Peter Benenson, a British lawyer, was a | | | | no idea, as to the assault these women have had to |
| convert to Catholicism. The Catholic church could | | | | survive, decide over the well being of women abused |
| withdraw its support of AI which could impact on | | | | by an act of war? |
| Amnesty's ability to perform its mission. | | | | One would presume that the heads of the Catholic |
| Amnesty International has puzzled over the issue of | | | | church believe that they represent God's will and are |
| supporting abortion for two years. One can see that | | | | therefore able to act as God would. One surely |
| the organisation has not taken this step lightly. | | | | would find it difficult to believe in a God who would |
| However, the violation of women in Darfur where | | | | disregard a woman's rights to some help after she |
| rape has become a weapon of war, has persuaded | | | | has been totally violated. |
| AI that abortion should be supported in the case | | | | But then these are members of the same church |
| where these abused women wish to have abortions | | | | who in previous generations burnt people at the |
| or where the woman's life could be in danger should | | | | stake, all in the name and according to the command |
| the pregnancy continue. | | | | of the same God. It is presumable now frowned on |
| Amnesty's mission is to 'stand alongside the victims | | | | by the Catholic church. Could they be wrong this time |
| and survivors of human rights violation'. Amnesty | | | | as well? |
| feels that women who are raped as part of a | | | | Let's hope that Amnesty International stands strong |
| strategic weapon in a war, are having their human | | | | and upholds its new mission. Amnesty International is |
| rights abused and therefore should be able to have | | | | not pro-abortion per se. According to the deputy |
| the medical attention that could help them survive | | | | general secretary of the international human rights |
| these ordeals. | | | | group, Kate Gilmore who was quoted in the |
| I find it incredibly difficult to understand how the | | | | Independent, they are ' purely fighting for women's |
| Roman Catholic church could not be concerned for | | | | human rights to be free of fear, threat and coercion |
| the well being of victims of human rights abuses. I do | | | | as they manage all consequences of rape and other |
| get the concerns over the right to life. I am pro life | | | | grave human rights violations'. |
| myself. But I would weigh the life of the raped and | | | | I have been supporting AI's campaigns for years, I |
| abused woman higher than the life of an unborn, | | | | hope others who have done so as well, will continue |
| unplanned even unwanted fetus. | | | | to give their support, irrespective of the withdrawal |
| Iit is difficult to understand how women's rights, as in | | | | of the endorsement by the Catholic church. |
| those ravaged by acts of war, could be so irrelevant | | | | |