wfn.org | Church exec objects to Bush's order on family planning

[NewsDesk@UMCOM.UMC.ORG]

Feb. 1, 2001   News media contact: Joretta Purdue ?(202) 546-8722?Washington
10-21-30-71B{052}

WASHINGTON (UMNS) - The United Methodist Church's social action agency is
objecting strongly to one of President Bush's first official acts, which
restricts the use of U.S. funds for international family planning groups.

Jim Winkler, top executive of the Board of Church and Society, has sent the
president a letter decrying the imposition of a restriction commonly known
as "the gag rule" in regard to international women's health and reproductive
issues.

The letter protests the president's Jan. 22 executive order denying funds to
international organizations that provide information about pregnancy and
birth control methods if they mention abortion or refer patients to doctors
who provide abortions. Winkler notes that the new order denies women of
other countries information that is guaranteed to U.S. women under their own
constitution.

"Your action means that the U.S. government will control what
non-governmental recipients of U.S. international family planning assistance
do and say with their own funds," Winkler wrote. "You have imposed on the
poorest women of the world a halt to information that women in the United
States are guaranteed."

Moreover, under a law that has been in place since 1973, no U.S. funds can
be used or have been used to promote or provide abortions, Winkler noted.

In the developing world, on average, a woman dies "every minute of every
day" in childbirth or from complications related to pregnancy, Winkler said.
Access to reproductive planning and education are the two most important
determinants of life and death for these women, he said.

"The U. S. Agency for International Development has found that in every
nation where information about contraception and access to methods of birth
control are available, abortion rates decline," Winkler stated. "Far from
pro-life, your action ensures that more poor women and their children will
perish."

Winkler cited the Social Principles of the United Methodist Church to Bush,
who is a member of the denomination. 

"Since the growing worldwide population is increasingly straining the
world's supply of food, minerals, and water and sharpening international
tensions, the reduction of the rate of consumption of resources by the
affluent and the reduction of current world population growth rates have
become imperative. People have the duty to consider the impact on the total
world community of their decisions regarding childbearing and should have
access to information and appropriate means to limit their fertility,"
Winkler said, quoting the Social Principles.

Only General Conference, the highest legislative assembly of the church,
speaks for the denomination. The church's positions are outlined in various
documents, such as the Social Principles, which are included in the
denomination's Book of Discipline and are subject to review and revision
when General Conference meets every four years.

The Board of Church and Society is authorized by General Conference to
"conduct a program of research, education and action on the wide range of
issues that confront the church" and to "speak its convictions,
interpretations and concerns to the church and to the world."

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The full text of Winkler's statement follows:

Press Statement 
General Board of Church and Society 
100 Maryland Avenue NE Washington DC 20002 
202-488-5600         gbcs@umc-gbcs.org

January 31, 2001                    
Contact: Erik Alsgaard 
(202) 488-5631 
General Board of Church and Society Decries 
President's Reinstatement of Family Planning Funding Restrictions
GBCS General Secretary Jim Winkler has sent a letter to the President
expressing concern over the decision to deny U.S. funds to international
organizations which provide education about pregnancy and birth control
methods, if these non-governmental organizations spend their own money to
discuss abortion or make referrals to physicians who provide abortions. 
 
"In the developing world, one woman dies every minute of every day in
childbirth or from pregnancy complications. In Niger and Rwanda, one woman
in nine will die in pregnancy or childbirth; only one in 7,300 will die in
Norway and one in 3,500 in the United States.  Access to reproductive
planning and education are the two most important determinants of whether
these women and their children will live or die.
 
"On January 22, 2001, you issued an executive order asserting that "taxpayer
funds should not be used to pay for abortions or advocate or actively
promote abortions either here or abroad." In fact, under existing U. S. law
since 1973, no U. S. funds can be used or have been used to promote or pay
for abortions.
 
"The United Methodist Church's Social Principles strongly affirm that:
Since the growing worldwide population is increasingly straining the world's
supply of food, minerals, and water and sharpening international tensions,
the reduction of the rate of consumption of resources by the affluent and
the reduction of current world population growth rates have become
imperative.  People have the duty to consider the impact on the total world
community of their decisions regarding childbearing and should have access
to information and appropriate means to limit their fertility. 
paragraph 162.I   United Methodist Book of Discipline, 2000
 
"Your action means that the U.S. government will control what
non-governmental recipients of U. S. international family planning
assistance do and say with their own funds.  Imposing these same
restrictions within the United States would be a violation of the U. S.
Constitution.  You have imposed on the poorest women of the world a halt to
information that women in the United States are guaranteed.  The poorest
women and men around the globe will no longer have access to basic means "to
limit their fertility" as The Social Principles affirm, or to safely plan
pregnancies to enhance the potential that both mothers and their babies will
thrive.
 
"The U. S. Agency for International Development has found that in every
nation where information about contraception and access to methods of birth
control are available, abortion rates decline.  Far from pro-life, your
action ensures that more poor women and their children will perish."

Only the General Conference speaks for the entire denomination. The General
Board of Church and Society is the international social witness and advocacy
agency of The United Methodist Church, charged by General Conference to
"conduct a program of research, education, and action on the wide range of
issues that confront the church. It shall speak its convictions,
interpretations and concerns to the church and to the world."(Paragraph
1004, 2000 Book of Discipline) 

# # #

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United Methodist News Service
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