Virtual pilgrimage to Mexico’s monument of Christ the King announced

Washington D.C., Mar 10, 2020 / 02:00 pm (CNA).- Pro-life advocates praised the Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS) Tuesday for stating that the right to life should be protected from conception.

Luis Almagro, formerly the Uruguayan foreign minister, has previously drawn criticism for the organization’s apparent support for abortion.

Last week, at a forum for candidates for OAS Secretary General, the current OAS head, Almagro, said that “definitely, the principles of religious freedom that I have mentioned and the principles of the right to life are fundamental principles and rights.” Almagro is running for re-election as secretary general.

Almagro also said that it is “essential” that Article 4 of the American Convention on Human Rights be fully applied.

That article states that “Every person has the right to have his life respected,” and that “[t]his right shall be protected by law and, in general, from the moment of conception.”

In response, two pro-life leaders—who opposed Almagro’s re-election last year in a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo—offered praise of the secretary general’s statements.

Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the Susan B. Anthony List, praised Almagro’s remarks March 10, expressing her hope that “they are heard throughout the region and the world.”

“He could not have been clearer: the right to life is a fundamental principle and right,” Dannenfelser said.

Alfonso Aguilar, president of the Latino Partnership for Conservative Principles, also applauded Almagro’s remarks on Tuesday, calling them a significant step toward respecting the decisions of OAS member states to uphold the sanctity of life.

Almagro “fully understands that multilateral organizations like the OAS should respect the sovereignty of members states on matters of their internal jurisdiction such as the issue of abortion,” Aguilar said.

In his remarks at the candidate forum, Almagro—who is running for a second term as secretary general—also defended the ability of pro-life groups to make human rights claims to the body.

The Organization of American States (OAS) is made up of 35 member states from the Western Hemisphere, and promotes cooperation and solidarity among member countries as well as sovereignty and independence.

It has attracted criticism in recent years for alleged abortion advocacy. In 2019, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced that the U.S. would be reduce funding to the OAS under the Siljander Amendment, which prohibits U.S. funding of pro-abortion lobbying. The U.S. cited “recent evidence of abortion-related advocacy” at the OAS for the decision.

“Our reduction equals the estimated U.S. share of possible OAS expenditures on these abortion-related activities,” Pompeo said.

Dannenfelser and Aguilar were two of more than two dozen pro-life leaders who called for the Trump administration to oppose Almagro’s re-election in October.

In a letter to Secretary Pompeo in October, the leaders pointed to Almagro’s alleged abortion advocacy and called it “gravely inappropriate.” The secretary general had met with the International Planned Parenthood Federation, as well as the Center for Reproductive Rights.

“Upon assuming the leadership of the OAS, Mr. Almagro made good on his promise to promote abortion as a human right,” they said at the time.

However, according to SBA List on Tuesday, the Trump administration subsequently reached out to Almagro, who assured them that he had no intention of promoting a right to abortion in member states.

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Missionaries of Charity / Credit: Willuconquer (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Denver Newsroom, Jun 29, 2022 / 17:00 pm (CNA).
The Nicaraguan Ministry of the Interior has ordered the closure of 101 nongovernmental organizations, including the Missionaries of Ch… […]

Santiago, Chile, Jan 16, 2018 / 08:13 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Francis met privately Tuesday with 6 victims of sexual abuse committed by priests in Chile, the papal spokesman has reported. The meeting had not been previously announced as a part of the Pope’s schedule.

“Today after lunch, the Holy Father met with a small group of victims of sexual abuse committed by priests, at the Apostolic Nunciature in Santiago. The meeting was strictly private, and there was no one else present: only the Pope and the victims. In this way, the were able to share their sufferings with Pope Francis, who listened to them, and prayed and cried with them,” reported Greg Burke, director of the Vatican’s press office.

At a press conference from Santiago, Burke told reporters that the meeting lasted half an hour.

The Pope’s visit to Chile has been marked by protests, including some from groups who allege a bishop appointed by the Pope covered up acts of sexual abuse committed by an influential Chilean priest.

Earlier Tuesday, during a speech to Chile’s civic authorities and diplomats, the Pontiff expressed his sorrow for the cases of abuses against minors.

“I can not help but express the pain and shame I feel at the irreparable damage caused to children by Church’s ministers. I join with my brothers in the episcopate, knowing that it is a matter of justice to ask for forgiveness, and to support the victims with all our strength. At the same time we must work so that it does not happen again,” he said at the event.

Later, in the afternoon, the Pontiff conveyed solidarity with priests and religious who, he said, suffer insults and misunderstandings because of the abuses committed by some ministers of the Church.

“I know that at times you have been insulted in the metro or walking on the street, and that by going around in clerical attire in many places you pay a heavy price. For this reason, I suggest that we ask God to grant us the clear-sightedness to call reality by its name, the strength to seek forgiveness and the ability to listen to what he tells us,” the Pope said.

This article was originally published by our sister agency, ACI Prensa. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

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