Europe Rejects “Human Right to Abortion”
Yesterday, in a move heralded by pro-life advocates, the European Union declined to adopt a measure that would have declared abortion to be a human right. If adopted, the proposal would have approved a violation of the right to life, marring the very concept of human rights. Moreover, abortion advocates sought to use this opportunity to step on the rights of pro-life medical professionals, compelling them to commit or refer for abortions.
This is great news, not only for unborn children in EU nations, but for unborn children everywhere. Human rights expert Bill Saunders, speaking at last weekend’s Vita et Veritas conference at Yale University, emphasized that abortion advocates have been trying for decades to manufacture an “international custom” against the prenatal right to life. He predicted that when Roe v. Wade is overturned in the United States, pro-abortion legal groups will immediately file lawsuits arguing that abortion is a “right” under creative interpretations of international treaties, even if it is not a right under the United States Constitution. The EU’s decision makes this argument less persuasive. So does the adoption of pro-life human rights documents in many Latin American countries, as Saunders pointed out.
Europe still has a long way to go, no question. But, despite the stereotyped liberal reputations of many European countries, most are far ahead of the USA when it comes to life issues. Few allow abortion after the first trimester, and European rates of abortion, unplanned pregnancy, and maternal mortality are relatively low. Europe’s rejection of a so-called “right” to kill babies is another feather in its cap. (It is also an illustration that abortion need not be a religious issue; most European countries are considerably more secular than the United States.)
This is great news. If the Union would have considered this a "human right," that would have been a travesty. Killing a defenseless child is not a human right, and only a corrupt government would pretend that it is.
Also, as difficult as it is to imagine, Canada is actually behind the United States as far as trapling on pre-natal rights. They rely on ancient scientific information, rather than keeping up with scientific progress, and refuse to admi that the unborn really are human beings bioloially.
Any theories as to why Europe can be so much more liberal than the U.S. on many issues, but more conservative when it comes to abortion? That's always fascinated me.
I think a major factor is that more or less all of the countries over there had their laws written entirely by their democratically elected legislature, while American abortion policy was forced by the Supreme Court. That is to say that America likely would have much stricter abortion laws now if the court had not intervened.
Interesting point. I had never thought about that before.
Because currently in this world, we have a serious definition problem. Some progressive humanists are okay with destroying the youngest of humans.
But the fact is liberalism and rights to life go hand in hand.
It's really a great thing, that they send the bill back.
Concerning the last paragraph: I agree with you that " abortion need not be a religious issue" ,but the fact is that leading the pro-life marches across Europe you mostly see practicing catholics, orthodox protestants and other religious people. I think it is also important to say that the tags "liberal" and "conservative" have different meanings in Europe as in the USA. Just see the reports of the politicians who wanted to pass the bill, they call their counterparts conservative nutcases, anti-woman, blah blah blah…
Regarding the rates of abortion and unplanned pregnancy I think it's important to remember that women have the option of the pill and other types of abortion inducing contraception or contraception in general. Maybe also because here(Germany) it's not seen as a business(at least not in the sense in the USA, although you see Planned Parenthood involve here to sooo, and of course the bill could be a way of giving money to abortion)
I live in northern Germany and I can tell you that there is few talking about abortion. Unfortunately it's look at as something normal and a decision that only concerns the pregnant woman.
I think in Europe we have the same problem as you guys. The lies told to women and men, the agendas ( one of the contributors to the bill is from Planned Parenthood) the cowardice and the relativistic thinking of our time.
Last but not lease, thank you for your work Secular Pro-Life!
It's really a great thing, that they send the bill back.
Concerning the last paragraph: I agree with you that " abortion need not be a religious issue" ,but the fact is that leading the pro-life marches across Europe you mostly see practicing catholics, orthodox protestants and other religious people. I think it is also important to say that the tags "liberal" and "conservative" have different meanings in Europe as in the USA. Just see the reports of the politicians who wanted to pass the bill, they call their counterparts conservative nutcases, anti-woman, blah blah blah…
Regarding the rates of abortion and unplanned pregnancy I think it's important to remember that women have the option of the pill and other types of abortion inducing contraception or contraception in general. Maybe also because here(Germany) it's not seen as a business(at least not like in the USA, although you see Planned Parenthood involve here too sooo, and of course the bill could be a way of giving money to abortion)
I live in northern Germany and I can tell you that there is few talking about abortion. Unfortunately it's look at as something normal and a decision that only concerns the pregnant woman.
I think in Europe we have the same problem as you guys. The lies told to women and men, the agendas ( one of the contributors to the bill is from Planned Parenthood) the cowardice and the relativistic thinking of our time.
Last but not least, thank you for your work Secular Pro-Life!
This gives hope me for European Union but just a little.
Pro-aborts rely on outdated information in general, not just science. Listen to them talk about adoption, it's like they haven't moved out of the 1800's yet.
That is the question I want to know too.
European rates of abortion, unplanned pregnancy, and maternal mortality are relatively low because we have sexual education in school, access to birth control (often subsidized) and our maternal care isn't controlled by corporate/business interests and greed that push for unnecessary procedures just to make a bigger profit.
So this is the kind of world you want?
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/20/world/europe/jury-cites-poor-medical-care-in-death-of-indian-woman-in-ireland.html?_r=0
All about the money. Nothing else.