Coming under heavy pressure from the European Union and some pro-abortion Latin American delegations, the Bush Administration, along with the Holy See and various Muslim states, stopped efforts to include the right to abortion in the final document produced at the UN Child Summit, which ended late Friday night.
"The Bush administration, and the Holy See were attacked in the liberal newspapers all over the world for standing against abortion for children," said Austin Ruse, president of the Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute (C-FAM). "The US, the Holy See and various Muslim states drew a line in the sand against abortion a year ago and no matter what they never wavered from their commitment to life and family."
More than 180 UN delegations labored for more than a year to finish a document meant to advance protection for children around the world. UN documents are occasion for UN radicals to advance their controversial agenda including abortion but also redefinitions of the family.
The European Union was able to keep language in the document promoting "various forms of the family," which includes homosexual couples. The Bush administration made its opposition to this known in its speech to the UN General Assembly late Friday night in which they pointedly left homosexual couples out of their definition of the family. The US statement said, "As regards the phrase 'various forms of the family exist,' the United States understands this to include single parents and extended families."
"Pro-family conservatives are rightly proud of the Bush administration and the Holy See for defending life and family at this vitally important Summit. They came under severe attack but held firm," said Austin Ruse. "We owe them a debt of gratitude."
Headquartered close to the UN, the Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute is the only pro-family group working exclusively on UN matters.
Source: CATHOLIC FAMILY AND HUMAN RIGHTS INSITUTE, May 13, 2002, FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Douglas Sylva, 212-754-5948.