Buenos Aires, Argentina, Nov 2, 2006 / 22:00 pm
Bishop Baldomero Carlos Martini of San Justo called on Argentinean senators this week not to ratify the controversial and pro-abortion Protocol of the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. Acquiescing to its recommendations in favor of abortion would mean Argentina would lose its sovereignty and become subject to the “whims” of ideologically-driven organizations, the bishop said.
Bishop Martini sent a letter to the Vice President of Argentina, Daniel Scioli, who presides over the Senate, arguing that there is no political or juridical need to ratify the Protocol. Argentinean President Nestor Kirschner has said he backs unconditional ratification.
The bishop called the UN Convention a “sort of ‘refuge’ for pro-abortion ideologues” and that ratification of the Protocol would mean the loss of sovereignty for the country. “Perhaps that is one of the goals of the current administration,” Bishop Martini questioned, noting the World Monetary Fund’s offer to cancel some of the country’s debt points to such a conclusion.
The bishop called on members of the Senate to be concerned for “the common good, which is the good of all Argentineans and of all people of good will who reside in our country.”
The UN created the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and left it to each country to ratify the protocol. Due to the markedly pro-abortion and feminist leaning of the international organism, numerous pro-life organizations have pressured their respective countries to abstain from ratification.