Major campaign on abortion planned

BRITAIN is likely to be one of the major focal points in the church's renewed international campaign against abortion and euthanasia.
The campaign, which will see a stepping-up of the church's on-going fight to outlaw what the Pope has termed "anti-life" policies, was agreed to by the 112 cardinals who attended last week's extraordinary meeting in Rome. And, because of plans to introduce the so-called abortion pill into this country in the near future, Britain is likely to be one of the major battle grounds.
As a first step Cardinal Basil Hume, who was at the Rome meeting. has written to Professor Wolfgang Hilger, the chairperson of Hoeschst AG, the parent company of Roussel Uclaf which manufactures RU486, the abortion pill.
In his letter the cardinal says the Catholic bishops in England and Wales are "looking closely" at the implications of allowing the drug, which induces an abortion using oral tablets, onto the UK market. "Following this the matter will be brought to the attention of the Council of European Bishops' Conferences to decide what concerted action should be taken at European level," says Cardinal Hume.
The method is, he continues, "abhorrent to Catholics as it is to all men and women of goodwill", and he urges Professor Hi!ger to consider with the greatest care the possible effects on society of the introduction of such a drug.
"There must be a real danger that the introduction of more efficient means of procuring abortions will encourage the greater use of abortion as an easy form of birth control, and so further weaken our society's reverence and respect for new human life," Cardinal Hume continues.
His letter coincided with a visit to senior officials at Hoeschst by a delegation representing groups who oppose the introduction of RU486 into Britain. The Catholic community was represented by Dr Anthony Cole, of the Catholic Union, and Dr Peter Doherty, of the Guild of Catholic Doctors.
Also included in the delegation were Islamic representatives and members of other faiths. Working more closely with other religious groups opposed to abortion is likely to be a hallmark of the new campaign. However, the bishops are less likely to give overt support to more militant forms of pressure, including a proposed boycott of Hoechst products, which are being planned by anti-abortion groups such as the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC).
As well as abortion, the Catholic campaign will focus on the issue of euthanasia. Several European bishops, including Cardinal Hume, believe moves are afoot to make euthanasia, or "mercy killing", more acceptable to the public.
In an attempt to update their now well-known and oftrehearsed arguments against abortion and euthanasia, the Catholic bishops are likely to make more use in the future of the language of human rights in speaking and writing on pro-life issues. Their campaign is likely to emphasise, too, that Catholic concern about human life does not focus on the unborn and handicapped or elderly at the expense of other imperilled groups — the forthcoming centenary of the social justice encyclical Rerum Novarum is being seen as an opportunity to show that pro-life causes are among a wide range of justice issues championed by the church.