As a Creighton senior, I recall that many of the same organizations that helped foster the university’s mission four years ago are hard at work at doing the same today. But it is with a twinge in my heart that I see that one organization has unfortunately departed from this mission in a fundamental way.
Almost one year has passed since Amnesty International’s executive board decided to add the organizations support to the “decriminalization of abortion—when [women’s] health or human rights are in danger.”
It is surprising that, despite this fact, almost one year later, Creighton still has a student organization affiliated with Amnesty International. As its members know, Amnesty International added government-sponsored abortion to its charter as a human right last April. Now AI stands for international abortion promotion, alongside Planned Parenthood International.
The Rev. Daniel Berrigan S.J., an icon in pacifist and human rights circles said of Amnesty’s new position, “One cannot support an organization financially or even individually that is contravening something very serious in our ethic.” Cardinal Renato Martino, president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace said, “I believe that, if in fact Amnesty International persists in this course of action, individuals and Catholic organizations must withdraw their support because, in deciding to promote abortion rights, AI has betrayed its mission.”
Catholic bishops, universities and other organizations have cut their ties with AI in the wake of this decision. Why is Creighton’s AI chapter dragging its heels?
Creighton’s Amnesty International student organization was started in the 1989-1990 school year, according to Student Activities Office records. Since its inception, it has consistently advocated for human rights within Creighton’s community. Now is the time to once again advocate for human rights, from conception to natural death. For Creighton students concerned with international human rights, there is an abortion-neutral alternative with which they can easily re-affiliate. The Benenson Society is an abortion-neutral human rights group for students.
It is named after Peter Benenson, the founder of Amnesty International. The Benenson Society cooperates on specific issues with AI, while not having any formal link to it. It also works with other groups, such as Consistent Life, Christians Against Torture, Aid to the Church in Need, Christian Solidarity Worldwide and Human Rights First. No Creighton student should stand with an organization that celebrates a grave violation of human rights; I invite Creighton’s student organization of Amnesty International to rethink its affiliation.