Passport to Controversy

In light of my previous post, you can understand why this latest development concerns me greatly.

Passport to Controversy

In a move that took even member nations by surprise, the Council of Europe has passed a resolution of "unconditional" support for abortion. The body, which shapes policies that are often adopted by the European Union (EU), deals a painful blow to global pro-life efforts. In a rushed move, the group's Parliamentary Assembly allowed just three minutes of discussion on the abortion issue, then proceeded to vote with only 185 of the 316 members present. The few amendments that pro-lifers scrambled to introduce to water down the language were rejected. The Council declared a "right to unlimited legal abortion" by a 33-vote margin. Although the Council of Europe doesn't create policy, it does influence it, which makes this decision significant as the EU's clout increases. If there's a silver lining, it's that the vote isn't "legally binding." However, it sends a disturbing message about the Council's utter disregard for the sanctity of human life. As Pat Buckley of the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children said, "Nothing in the European Convention on Human Rights recognizes a right to abortion. The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that the issue of when the right to life begins is a question to be decided at the national level." Clearly, the Council is vastly overstepping its bounds. We urge member nations to denounce the declaration and call for an honest debate.

Additional Resources
Council of Europe Declares Unlimited Abortion an Unconditional Right for all of Europe
from FRC's Tony Perkin's Washington Update, April 18, 2008