|
Published: October 20, 2009
Head of Abortion-Supporting Group to Speak at USF
Even Daniel Berrigan Demurs
 On October 27, the Lane Center for Catholic Studies and Social Research of the (Jesuit) University of San Francisco will host a book signing and panel discussion by Irene Khan. Since 2001, Ms. Khan has been the secretary general of Amnesty International, a “human rights” organization founded in 1961. Under Mrs. Khan’s leadership, the organization has angered Catholics and others by changing its neutral position on abortion to one of support for what it calls abortion “rights.”
Amnesty International was founded by a Catholic layman, Peter Benenson, and had received much support from the Church over the years. But as news of the new policy leaked out, the Church responded. On September 12, 2006 the Most Reverend William S. Skylstad bishop of Spokane, representing the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, wrote to Mrs. Khan: “It is with a sense of great alarm that I write to you about the proposal by some within Amnesty International to abandon the organization's traditional neutral stance on abortion, replacing it with an assertive policy of advocating abortion on demand as a "human right." The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops believes a change in policy will erode the human rights of the most vulnerable members of the human family: unborn children.”
The bishops’ plea fell upon deaf ears. As the issue moved forward, Cardinal Renato Martino, president of the Vatican's Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, promised Catholics worldwide would boycott the human rights group: "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, Amnesty International has betrayed its mission."
The cardinal’s warning fell upon deaf ears. On June 14, 2007, Amnesty International responded with a press release headlined: “Amnesty International Defends Access to Abortion for Women at Risk.” The release opened: “Amnesty International today firmly stood by the rights of women and girls to be free from threat, force or coercion as they exercise their sexual and reproductive rights.”
In August, 2007 the organization’s nine-member executive committee formally voted to adopt the pro-abortion policy. The decision provoked outrage from Catholics the world over, and caused many Catholic dioceses and schools, including the Jesuit St. Aloysius College in Sydney Australia, to sever their ties with the organization. It also caused many resignations from the organization, including those of British Bishop Michael Evans, who had been a member for 31 years, and of Scottish Cardinal Keith O’Brien of St. Andrews and Edinburgh.
The objections to Amnesty International’s new pro-abortion policy came from across the Catholic spectrum. Noted activist priest Fr. Daniel Berrigan, himself a Jesuit whose record of left-wing social activism dates to the Vietnam War, responded: “My moral conviction on abortion and the rights of the unborn are more serious than 'a point of view' ... It's as close to my conscience as war and the death penalty.” He also said: “One cannot support an organization financially or even individually that is contravening something very serious in our ethic.”
Amnesty International is not the first pro-abortion activist group to be hosted at USF. On May 23, 2007 the university hosted the "Religion and Sexuality: What's the Connection" seminar, sponsored by the Religious Institute on Sexual Morality, Justice, and Healing. Although described as a seminar, an examination of the agenda indicates it could be more accurately described as an activists planning session. Speakers included the Rev. Lisa Sargent, Chaplain of Planned Parenthood Golden Gate, and the Rev. Ignacio Casteura, President of the Clergy Network of Planned Parenthood.
The USF webpage announcing Ms. Khan’s discussion says the event was sponsored by: “the Office of the President, University Ministry, Lane Center for Catholic Studies and Social Thought, and the Leo T. McCarthy Center for Public Service and the Common Good. For information contact University Ministry 422-4463.”
Posted Tuesday, October 20, 2009 5:41 AM By OneoftheSheep
When the Son of Man returns, will He find any faith left?
Let us intercede for our brothers and sisters at USF, that the Lord becomes primary and the world secondary to them.
I used to belong to this organization many years ago. How easily one can coopt the goals and purpose of an organization to do evil these days. Pray, pray. Do penance and fast for the time grows short.
|
Posted Tuesday, October 20, 2009 7:31 AM By JLS
Not only should such sponsors be excommunicated, but their penances should include years of crawling on their knees on gravel, until they have prayed aloud before a faithful confessor for forgiveness at least once for each abortion committed by their collusion with the sin. After that they should commit themselves to ten years of monastic life in order to renew their warped brains.
|
Posted Tuesday, October 20, 2009 8:04 AM By Juliana
Good for Irene Khan! And good for Amnesty International.
|
Posted Tuesday, October 20, 2009 11:22 AM By Brian S
Could the Daily please clarify why the sub-head "Even Danial Berrigen Demurs" was used for this article? Does Fr. Berrigen have a history of vacillation or ambiguity on abortion, or is the CCD assuming an American "Right/Left" political dichotomy and supposing that those who oppose war must support abortion?
Fr. Berrigen's statement should serve as a reminder to us that opposition to unjust war and a commitment to social justice is as fully Catholic as opposition to abortion. As we are continually reminded by our Holy Father, these issues are unseverable.
|
Posted Tuesday, October 20, 2009 2:06 PM By MAD
Brian S should know that abortion is never negotiable -
it is an intrinsic evil. War is not an intrinsic evil and is
negotiable.
|
Posted Tuesday, October 20, 2009 3:00 PM By Observation
Note to tin pot dictatorships the world over: in order to get Amnesty International off your backs for imprisoning dissidents, just abort them. Note to USF: just when we thought you couldn't go any lower...
|
Posted Tuesday, October 20, 2009 5:10 PM By Christopher Zehnder
As to the characterization of Fr. Berrigan as "left-wing" -- is the support of total war, such as occurred in Vietnam, "right-wing"? Is opposition to abortion "right-wing" as well? If so, why are two positions espousing the absolute inviolability of innocent human life relegated to the extremes of some political continuum? Or is it that "right wingers" oppose murder only under some circumstances, while "left wingers" oppose it only under others? Or is it, maybe, that the mindless political dichotomies of America serve to draw lines where none should be drawn? I would suggest it is long past time for Catholics to abandon the terminology of a dying society and rediscover (dare I say it in "right-wing" company?) the seamless garment of Catholic truth.
|
Posted Tuesday, October 20, 2009 6:59 PM By garvan
Kudos to those Catholic luminaries who had the moral courage to separate themselves from pro-abortion Amnesty International. A pox on those who did not.
|
Posted Tuesday, October 20, 2009 7:44 PM By HGP
Abortion is a blood sacrifice to the Devil. Irene Khan promotes it. The people at the USF enable her to spread the culture of death onto their campus. Where do they worship?
|
Posted Tuesday, October 20, 2009 8:11 PM By Dan
"Good for Irene Khan! And good for Amnesty International. " Why, Juliana, is this something good?
|
Posted Wednesday, October 21, 2009 9:28 AM By Gibbons in SF
Perfect timing by USF. Amnesty International just issued a press release: "Peru must build on plans to legalise abortion."
|
Posted Wednesday, October 21, 2009 10:01 AM By Christopher Zehnder
MAD,
But **unjust** war is an intrinsic evil.
|
Posted Wednesday, October 21, 2009 12:24 PM By JLS
Isn't the big problem with unjust war to determine whether it is just or unjust; whereas, with abortion, it is always an unjust killing.
|
Posted Wednesday, October 21, 2009 12:29 PM By Grisha
Christopher.: Good to read you again. It was clear to me from the beginning that the Iraq invasion was an unjust war. I also felt that our initial going into Afghanistan was a Just War. Now ,I'm not sure that whether to, or how to, continue our efforts meet the Churches traditional requirements or the American bishop's '84 Pastoral's teachings. I'd really be interested in your thoughts!
|
Posted Wednesday, October 21, 2009 5:13 PM By Chantell
Abortion IS A SIN! No exceptions. It's murder. Pro-abortion "Catholics" need to either repent or quit whining about not being able to receive communion. What was Amnesty thinking becoming pro-abortion? I'm sure they're founder is turning over in his grave!
|
Posted Wednesday, October 21, 2009 6:40 PM By LJL
The Jesuits have not been Catholics since the mid 1960s, so why the uproar? The right thing to do is to make de jure what is de facto. Why don't the bishops have the courage to merely read these colleges out of the Church and remove their standing as Catholic institutions?
|
Posted Thursday, October 22, 2009 12:00 AM By Patrick
I am a USF student, and a Catholic. I am once again ASHAMED of my school.
I do not feel that I can love God and my neighbor without a consistent ethic of life. How can Amnesty Internation call for human rights withour promoting a basic right to life?
|
Posted Thursday, October 22, 2009 3:17 AM By crane glen
Perhaps the question is this: do we remain in dialogue with those we have deemed to be 'wrong' or even 'sinner's or do we 'divorce' them from our self righteousness? What would Jesus do? Pope Benedict recently hosted President Obama at the Vatican, who is also an abortion 'supporter'. One wonders if that makes the Holy Father, 'no longer Catholic' as some have deemed USF to be in these posts. At which point do we cross the line into a demonization that refutes Christian teaching itself: to love our enemies and, as Christ modeled, even die for them? In what way would we 'die' for someone who contradicts our moral stand in this deeply distressing issue of abortion? Perhaps by reining in our pride and aggressive language. Perhaps by a return to 'dialogue' as Jesus did, evangelizing through persistent challenge, engagement and humility. It’s much easier to dismiss someone that we don't know. It is much harder to dismiss a friend that we love. Christian Charity is what will change the world. Contempt and self righteousness is a stasis that locks us in polarity. I understand the deep concern but then, I wish I'd heard such moral outrage at the pre emptive strike against Iraq, a people who never attacked us or over the profiteering and exploitation of poor cultures throughout the world in a fast and furious economic boom. There was nary a peep. To end abortion, we must address its causative factors.
Demonizing USF and Jesuits, as some posts here have done, is an absurdity and another tool of enemy making. There are some 'Catholics' who really are becoming those who 'love to hate' and are using the gravity of the abortion issue to disguise that predilection and indulge its appetite. Such hateful divisiveness threatens the body of Christ. Sometimes we must remind ourselves of Jesus' admonition: "Judge not, lest you be judged." Jesus didn't have much time for hypocrites. We must object to wrong but I believe we are being called to peace and charity. Whatever is not done in peace and charity, is a labor done in vain. If we spent more time in those enterprises, there would be far fewer desperate persons in the world seeking abortion.
|
Posted Thursday, October 22, 2009 6:36 AM By terri
I'm not surprised by this. The Jesuit priests at our parish NEVER mention the evils of abortion. A "40 Days for Life- Pray to end abortin" sign was not allowed on church property. St. Ignatius would not be proud!
|
Posted Thursday, October 22, 2009 10:02 AM By apb
I applaud USF for supporting Amnesty International and for having the courage to stand up for those whose voices have been silenced: the poor, the abused, victims of violence, rape, and subjugation...Having an open dialogue about the wrongs that are committed against humanity each and every day is not a sin. Jesus listened to everyone, sinners included. He did not ignore or expel or judge them. Stop with the anti-abortion rhetoric, you hypocrites. Have mercy and compassion for those who are struggling with this issue.
|
Posted Monday, October 26, 2009 1:27 PM By Paul
I go to USF and quite frankly it feels as if the animosity towards righteous living comes more from the administration that from the faculty or student body. Keep the prayers coming!
|
Posted Friday, October 30, 2009 12:50 AM By abqdad
Let's be honest... USF has NO connection to Catholic teaching and we need to STOP assuming anything to the contrary! It is NOT a Catholic Institution, just as the Jesuit leaders are NOT Catholics! Just as the church should have denied any association with Luther before he finally broke away, the church needs to be pro-active and deny ANY ASSOCIATION WITH USF! The church destroys its credibility by NOT disassociating itself from the heretic organizations like USF. The same is true for heretic politicians! I know that it is all about money, but when is the church leadership going to stop being cowards and stand up for GOD! It is better to be totally broke than to dishonor God! We need to stand up for truth! Abortion is WRONG...ALWAYS. How is that difficult to understand...or promote? Until the church leadership is able to stop all of the games, God can NOT bless it, and that is tragic!
|
© California Catholic Daily 2009. All Rights Reserved.
|