Amnesty, abortion and human rights
I hadn't anticipated that today's on-air encounter between Kate Gilmore, the deputy secretary-general of Amnesty International, and the distinguished journalist Hugh O'Shaughnessy would be quite so pugilistic. After Kate Gilmore explained AI's new policy on , Hugh O'Shaughnessy, one of the founders of Amnesty and an opponent of the new policy from the beginning, argued that the abortion policy was a sign of the growing "Americanisation" of the organisation -- the importation of an alien culture war. Within seconds, Kate Gilmore launched into a forceful challenge. There was quite a bit of over-talking as I tried to persuade Kate to permit Hugh to make his point before she respond to it. In the end, I managed to move them away from the genesis of the new policy to the Vatican's reaction to it. On this they were both agreed. In the words of Hugh, a committed Catholic, "ought to be ashamed of himself." You can listen again to their pretty heated exchange here.
Comments
Having just listened to this Will you did a good job of moderating the debate. I certainly don't envy your position!!
I'm a fan of Kate's work in Amnesty. But she really did lose it in that interview with Hugh. Rather embarrassing. I could tell that she was desperately trying to change the audience's perception of her performance when she repeatedly praised Hugh for his legendary work in human rights. I was astonished that she would talk to him so aggressively and ignore the presenter's undestandable efforts to shuther up. Not a good moment for Amnesty.
Amnesty was wrong to do this, for strategic reasons. It will hurt te organisation. Even though I agree with the principle.
Interesting exchange! I had a chance to hear it briefly yesterday in Santa Monica on the internet; I wondered if the Girls of Amnesty were always this much fun? She certainly seemed to be in a fiery mood.
Amnesty is supposed to be neutral on abortion, at least until the issue has been discussed at a plenary session later this year in Mexico. Some National Sections (such as the UK) have voted to support abortion rights (though it has to be said the consultation was minimal and this was driven from the centre) while others like the Irish Section have voted to leave the current policy in place.
Arguing for decriminalisation is not neutrality and an attempt by the secretariat to preempt further discussion in Mexico.
Do they think we are stupid? Decriminalisation equals legalisation equals a right and before you know it they are trying to force Catholic hospitals and doctors to perform them or lose their jobs.
hear hear Pad
what about human rights of the unborn?
I am objecting on behalf of all the males aborted around the world who never had a voice to object for themselves.
Not even the most staunch pro-choice advocate will argue that abortion is a good thing, simply a right.
Abotion is a huge physical, emotional and spiritual injury to women and the hidden wake it leaves is terrible.
PB
Check your facts Padraig. Amnesty's international section has changed policy
Well the thing is Sam Scott - it is very hard to check the facts since Amnesty are so shy on the issue, including in the UK imposing a ban on talking about the changes. But here are two facts - the Irish Section has not changed its policy and the Mexico meeting has not yet happened. So if the Secretariat are spouting a changed policy they do so without a valid mandate. And if they do change in Mexico I, and othe pro life members in Ireland will be calling for the Irish Section to go it alone.
I am a former very active member of Amnesty International, who is deeply disturbed by the new policy. I have followed this "consultation" very closely. In its official documentation for its members, AI made absolutely NO attempt to take a long, hard and objective look at abortion. NO concrete facts about foetal developemt or the types and methods of abortion or prolife arguments were presented in this documentation: NONE. No presentation was made with regard to or by the women and men suffering the aftermath of abortion; of very recent studies showing clear links between depression, suicide and abortion; from the survivors of rape and abortion who speak of abortion as a second rape, or from the survivors of incest and abortion who say that abortion only hides the crime of incest against them. STOP VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN - PROTECT THE HUMAN: if Amnesty was faithful to its original mission, it would be doing all in its power to expose the inherent violence of abortion for the unborn, women and society at large. It would also be working to change attitudes with regard to the women who have been raped and ostracized, and working for the provision of life-affirming protection and support.
It is also the case that Amnesty did NOT want the news of their new policy to get out as their letter to its volunteer leaders made very clear (20 April). Anyone wishing to learn more would be advised to read "Amnesty for Abortion?" at www.katolsk.fo (English).Finally, I congratulate Amnesty Ireland on resisitng this change in policy. Courage!
I wonder what percentage of the people writing these blog comments are men? It is easy to sit in judgement when this situation will NEVER be able to happen to you. When you will not be the women living in a country where abortion is illegal and your pregnancy is ectopic and you will almost certainly die without an abortion. How nice it is to be a middle class man in the western world sitting high on his pedastal.
Get a grip.