School advised to close down Amnesty branch

A Belfast school in the Catholic diocese of Down and Connor has been advised to close down its Amnesty branch.

The Guardiannewspaper reports today that this is due to Amnesty's recently announced pro-abortion stance. Amnesty has argued that rape and incest victims should be entitled to abortions and that the issue of abortion arose particularly following the mass rape of women in war zones such as Darfur and Congo.

A spokesman for Ireland's Catholic bishops has confirmed to The Irish Times that the Belfast school sought advice on its Amnesty group and was told it should be disbanded.

He said, "an inquiry did come from a school principal, on behalf of the teacher who is in charge of the school Amnesty group, asking for guidance on the future of the Amnesty group in the school. The advice to the school is that it would be inappropriate for the school branch to continue in existence in the context of Amnesty International's new position regarding abortion."

He also said that "the sacredness and protection of all human life will be discussed at the next general meeting of the Irish Bishops' Conference." That meeting, the Bishops' Conference autumn meeting, will take place early next month.

In Dublin, Amnesty International's Irish section announced last July it would not be promoting the organisation's new campaign to allow abortion in cases of rape, incest or threats to the life of the mother.

The decision followed a two-year consultation with members here.