Pro-life Anglicans ask why Amnesty International supports violence against children who are at their most vulnerable stage of existence
A coalition of leading Anglicans in the UK has written a letter to the editor of the Church Times expressing their disquiet over advertisments in seeking support for Amnesty International’s campaing to legalize abortion in Ireland. The group, which includes members of General Synod, the Director of the Church Society, the Chairman of the Prayer Book Society, a Prolocutor of General Synod, the director Anglican Mainstream, a chaplain to the Queen and the lead Bishop of the Anglican Mission In England argue it support for violence against children who are at their most vulnerable stage of existence makes it an inappropriate partner for the church.
In April 2007, Amnesty International announced its support for abortion rights. The organization’s official policy states that it does “not promote abortion as a universal right” but “support the decriminalisation of abortion”. The Catholic Church’s Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace in June 2007 issued a statement urging Catholics not to donate to Amnesty because of its abortion stance.
May 15, 2016
Dear Sir,
We are concerned that we continue to receive leaflets inside Church Times from an organisation that purports to be a ‘voice for the voiceless’ yet is relentlessly pushing for the killing of the most vulnerable in our society in Ireland.
We regard this as inconsistent on the part of Church Times which has a noble record of standing up for the powerless. We call upon you to cease giving support to Amnesty International until such time as it is as sensitive to the need to eradicate the killing of preborn children as it is to defending the rights of other vulnerable human beings. “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy” (Proverbs 31: 810); ”Before I formed you in the womb I knew you…’ (Jeremiah 1:5)
Yours sincerely,
The Rev. James Paice, St Luke’s, Wimbledon Park
The Rev. Nigel Atkinson, St John’s, Knutsford
The Rev’d John Telford, St Peter’s Anlaby and St Mark’s Anlaby Common, Diocese of York
The Rev’d Dr Peter Sanlon, St. Marks Church Tunbridge Wells
The Rev Neil Barber, Vicar, St Giles’, Normanton, Derby.
The Rev Trevor Johnston, Rector, All Saints’ Church, Belfast
The Revd Ian Fletcher, Priest in Charge, Eastleigh
Dr Thomas Woolford, Church Society Council
The Revd Adam Young, Emmanuel Church, SaltburnbytheSea
The Revd Pete Matthew, St John’s Church, Woking
The Revd. Dr. Stephen Watkinson, St Luke’s and St Peter’s, Rochdale.
The Revd James Oakley, Priest in Charge of Kemsing with Woodlands
The Rev. Dr. Rohintan Mody, PriestinCharge, St.Paul’s Throop
The Revd Dr Lee Gatiss, Director, Church Society.
The Revd Carl Chambers, Christ Church Brighton
The Rev’d Canon Dr Gavin Ashenden, Chaplain to the Queen, Vicar of St Martin de Gouray, Jersey.
Canon Dr Chris Sugden, Chairman, Trustees of Anglican Mainstream.
The Revd Dr Daniel Newman, Parish of Radipole and Melcombe Regis
The Rev. Mike Smith, Vicar of Hartford
The Revd Timothy Edwards, Eden, Gelt, and Irthing Team Ministry, and Church Society Council
The Revd Philip Highton, Chaplain, Hartford Church of England High School
The Revd James Taylor, St Luke’s West Hampstead and Church Society Council.
The Rev. Will PearsonGee, Rector of Buckingham
The Rev’d Ross Northing, Rector of Stony Stratford with Calverton
The Revd Peter Ould, PTO, St Mary Bredin, Canterbury
Mrs Lorna Ashworth, General Synod member, Chichester Diocese
The Revd Dan Young, St John the Evangelist, Toft
The Rev Andrew Greenhough, Vicar, St Mark’s, New Ferry
The Rev Simon Gales, Vicar, St John’s Lindow
The Rev. John Cook, Vicar of St Mary’s,Wargrave
James Durbin, Curate, Barnston Parish, Chester Diocese
The Rev. Chris Collins, St John’s Hartford
The Rev. James GoodwinHudson, Parbold and Appley Bridge, Blackburn Diocese
The Rev Peter Kane, Clacton on Sea, Essex
The Rev Andy O’Brien, St Luke’s Wimbledon Park
The Rt. Rev. John Ellison, Hon. Ass. Bishop, Winchester, Chairman AMiE Panel of Bishops
The Revd Richard Brown, The Church of the Ascension, Middlesbrough
The Revd Paul Benfield, Vicar of St Nicholas, Fleetwood
Rev’d Christopher Pierce, Rector, Parish of Clondehorkey w/Cashel & Mevagh, Diocese of Derry & Raphoe
