Female Latin American Leaders Respond to Obama
Battle Lines Drawn for Consistent Life Ethic
Jan 30, 2009
Calling President Obama's action "a horrible way to begin relations" with Central and South America, Christine Vollmer of the Caracas-based Latin American Alliance for the Family (ALAFA) joined other Latin American women leaders in what Catholic News Agency called an "outcry."
“Instead of a positive message of wanting to work to better conditions for every Latin American, President Obama has announced his willingness to fund the enemies of the people of Latin America, whose laws generally are very respectful of the right to life before birth.”
Vice-president of Argentina's Senate and president of the World Action of Parliamentarians and Political Leaders for Life, Liliana Negre de Alonso attacked President Obama’s decision.
“We can’t say we defend human rights if we don't defend the first human right, the Right to Life from conception to natural death,” she said. “To use public funds to finance groups that promote abortion is not respecting the First Human Right, Life.”
Congresswoman Martha Lorena de Casco of Honduras expressed “deep regret and sorrow…one of President Obama's first decisions is to revoke the Mexico City policy…the promotion of abortion and a threat to the national legislation of my country,”
El Salvador’s constitution and laws provide for the right to life from the moment of conception. Julia Regina de Cardenal of “Yes to Life” explained.
“Our organization works on a daily basis to provide practical help in a loving and life-enhancing way to poor women who have difficult pregnancies,” she said.
“Ours is the ideal situation: protective legislation and practical, life-enhancing help for people who need it. The U.S. government should follow our example; we shouldn't be pressured to repeat their tragic, anti-life experience!”
Life Advocates Draw Battle Lines
Although a media blackout was imposed for the Mach for Life on the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court decision which made abortion-on-demand available, Phil Lawler of CWNews.com reports that tens of thousands of pro-life advocates congregated in Washington just two days after the inauguration of President Obama, who had announced his commitment to abortion rights. Although the president was discreet regarding abortion rights during most of his campaign, his record showed that he was the most radical abortion rights candidate to run for a major political party. The president emphasized his commitment to unrestricted abortion at a Planned Parenthood appearance while otherwise alluding to a policy of reducing abortions. A new White House web site pledges support for unrestricted abortion and to immediately sign the Freedom of Choice Act should Congress approve the act, also known as FOCA.
Pro-life Challenges
Lawler said that the most important challenge for the pro-life movement today is to awaken concern and help Americans realize how dramatically the Obama administration means to change our government's approach to life. Lawler contends that defenders of President Obama say that “he will take a more productive approach, catering to the needs of women facing crisis pregnancies, but that argument is an insult to the thousands of pro-lifers who have counseled women on the sidewalks outside abortion clinics and supported the work of crisis-pregnancy centers. In fact, by making that argument, Obama's apologists show how little they know about the real activities of the pro-life movement in America today.”
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