Cardinal quits over Amnesty's backing for abortion rights

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

Cardinal Keith O'Brien became the most senior British cleric to leave the human rights pressure group after Amnesty said it was backing abortion rights.

Cardinal O'Brien, who has been a member of the charity for 40 years, said the group's pro-choice stance undermined the church's work.

"As a matter of conscience and with great sadness I have decided to resign from Amnesty International having first joined as a student and supported it over many decades," he added.

His comments echo those of the Catholic Bishop of East Anglia, Michael Evans, who stood down last week after 30 years with the organisation.

Cardinal O'Brien said he had also been influenced by a statement released by the Vatican, which said Amnesty had "betrayed its mission" by abandoning its traditional neutral policy on abortion.

Earlier this month, Amnesty voted to back the right of women to abortion in defined circumstances - for example, when their health or life is in danger, or when they have been the victims of rape.

The charity added, however, that it does not believe abortion is a basic human right.

Amnesty's Scottish head John Watson said: "Our position on abortion has been informed by our work in, for example, Darfur, where rape is used systematically as a weapon of war."

American Catholic bishops have already warned the group that it risks losing the support and funding of 60million U.S. Catholics over the issue.