wfn.org | Agency supports bill to reverse family planning 'gag rule'

[NewsDesk@UMCOM.UMC.ORG]

Feb. 16, 2001 News media contact: Thomas S.
McAnally·(615)742-5470·Nashville, Tenn.  10-21-71BP{082}

NOTE: A photograph is available for use with this story.

By United Methodist News Service

Banning U.S. funds for family planning efforts worldwide creates more
abortions, not fewer, argues the United Methodist Board of Church and
Society.

In a statement released Feb. 15, the international social witness and
advocacy agency of the denomination endorsed the proposed "Global Democracy
Promotion Act of 2001," introduced earlier in the day by Sen. Barbara Boxer
(D-Calif.) and Rep. Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.).

The bipartisan bill seeks to repeal the "global gag rule" restrictions on
U.S. international family planning assistance that the Bush administration
put into place Jan. 22.

Proponents of the bill said it would bar the imposition upon foreign
organizations of free speech restrictions that are not imposed on U.S.-based
organizations. It would also ensure that a foreign family planning agency
could not be disqualified from receiving U.S. aid for providing a health
care service that is legal both in its country and in the United States.

Speaking at a press conference, Lowey said the legislation is needed to
"stop foreign non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from being forced to
relinquish their right to free speech in order to participate in
U.S.-supported family planning programs." Calling the current restrictions
"un-American" and "unconstitutional in the United States," she said they
undermine the key foreign policy goal of supporting democracy worldwide. 

"Despite divisive rhetoric to the contrary, the legislation introduced today
is not about advocating abortion," said officials of the United Methodist
board. "Under existing law since 1973, no U.S. funds can be used or have
been used to promote or pay for abortions."

Board officials said the proposed act would "restore funding to the very
organizations that tackle the root causes of childhood, infant, and maternal
deaths and unwanted pregnancies through services such as health education
programs, prenatal care and access to birth control." Without this
information or these services, the board argues that the abortion rate in
developing nations increases.

One of President Bush's first actions was to reinstate the 1984 Mexico City
policy prohibiting NGOs from receiving U.S. family planning funds if, with
their own separate funds, they discuss abortion or make referrals to
physicians who perform the procedure.

Jim Winkler, staff executive for the Board of Church and Society, said the
U.S. Agency for International Development has found that abortion rates
decline in nations where information about contraception and access to
methods of birth control are available.  

"Far from being pro-life, restricting international family planning funds as
President Bush has done only ensures that more poor women and their children
will perish," he said.

The board is charged with implementing the social justice mandates of the
United Methodist Church, which has 8.4 million members in the United States
and more than a million members in Africa, Europe and the Philippines.

The church's General Conference, the only body that speaks officially for
the denomination, addressed the abortion issue at its meeting last May.
"Each couple has the right and the duty prayerfully and responsibly to
control conception according to their circumstances," the assembly said. "
... We therefore encourage all our churches and common society to: provide
to all education on human sexuality and family life in its varying forms,
including ... making information available so all can exercise responsible
choice in the area of conception controls." (2000 Book of Resolutions, page
121)

In its Social Principles, the church declares that "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 fertility, including voluntary sterilization." (2000 Book of
Discipline, Paragraph 162.I)

# # #

A full text of the statement issued by the board follows:

United Methodist Church Justice Agency Endorses 
Global Democracy Promotion Act of 2001

The General Board of Church and Society, the international social witness
and advocacy agency charged with implementing the social justice mandates of
the 8.5 million member United Methodist Church, endorses the bi-partisan
Global Democracy Promotion Act of 2001 introduced today by Sen. Barbara
Boxer (D-CA) and Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY). 

Despite divisive rhetoric to the contrary, the legislation introduced today
is not about advocating abortion. Under existing law since 1973, no U.S.
funds can be used or have been used to promote or pay for abortions. It
would instead restore funding to the very organizations that tackle the root
causes of childhood, infant, and maternal deaths and unwanted pregnancies
through services such as health education programs, prenatal care, and
access to birth control. Without this information or these services, the
abortion rate in developing nations increases.

The United Methodist Church has declared that "Each couple has the right and
the duty prayerfully and responsibly to control conception according to
their circumstances...We therefore encourage all our churches and common
society to: provide to all education on human sexuality and family life in
its varying forms, including... making information available so all can
exercise responsible choice in the area of conception controls..." (Book of
Resolutions 2000, p. 121)   

Our Church has also proclaimed that "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 fertility, including voluntary sterilization." (Social Principles,
Para. 162.I)

Last month, President Bush reinstated the 1984 Mexico City policy
prohibiting organizations (NGOs) from receiving U.S. family planning funds
if, with their own separate funds, they discuss abortion or make referrals
to physicians who provide it.  

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 being pro-life, restricting
international family planning funds as President Bush has done only ensures
that more poor women and their children will perish," said GBCS General
Secretary Jim Winkler. 

*  *  *
Only the General Conference, the elected body of United Methodists that
meets every four years, speaks for the entire denomination. The General
Board of Church and Society is charged by General Conference to "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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