Friday Fax/EU Opens Office to Investigate American Pro-Life Groups

Catholic Family & Human Rights Institute ^ | Thu, 29 May 2003 | Austin Ruse -- C-FAM c-fam@c-fam.org

[cpforlife.org]

Dear Colleague,

We report today on some amazing news. The European Parliament has announced they have created an office to investigate American pro-life groups that criticize UNFPA. I am delirious to report that they are opening this office because of the work of C-FAM (see report below).

The opening of this new office was the direct result of the work of one man, Douglas A. Sylva, who wrote a very important new White Paper on UNFPA. Doug presented the White Paper to the US Congress, the British Parliament and the European Parliament. The report has caused a literal earthquake in the European Parliament.

Doug came to us two years ago. He has a ph.d from Columbia University and used to write book reviews for the New York Times. And he is one of us. Doug has literally taken C-FAM to a whole new level. Based on his work as director of research of C-FAM, director of the International Organizations Research Group, and as the reporter and writer of the Friday Fax, I am pleased to announce that I have promoted Doug from Director of Research to Vice President of C-FAM (see action item below).

Spread the word.

Yours sincerely,

Austin Ruse President

Action item: Write a note of thanks for his work, and congratulations for his promotion to vice president to Doug Sylva at douglasasylva@c-fam.org. He is VITAL to C-FAM'S work protecting life, faith and family at the UN.

_________________________________________________________

FRIDAY FAX

May 30, 2003 Volume 6, Number 23

EU opens office to counter US pro-life groups, including C-FAM

The European Union has established a special office of the European Commission to combat US pro-life groups --- including the Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute and the International Organizations Research Group --- which EU officials believe have become too influential within the European Parliament.

In an internal memo obtained by the Friday Fax, Poul Nielson, European Commissioner for Overseas Development and Humanitarian Aid, deplored the efforts of this “small group of extremists.” Nielson continued, “The US anti-choice groups are powerful, well-funded and determined. They hold extreme views on religion and sexuality…Several of the US groups (Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute, International Organizations Research Group, Population Research Institute) have opened branches or have affiliates in Europe.” [International Organizations Research Group is the research arm of C-FAM.]

The European Union will now monitor and respond to these groups. According to Nielson, “Within the Commission, we need to be aware and alert for new campaigns to undermine the work of the EC [European Commission] and its partners in addressing reproductive health and we need to respond swiftly. A focal point to gather information and to coordinate a coherent rebuttal…has been established.” There was no immediate information on the location of this “focal point,” or how much EU money would be spent on the project.

Nielson justifies this seemingly unprecedented move to spend public funds to counter lawful political advocacy by citing the success of these groups. For instance, Nielson believes that “the shift in US policy,” specifically the US decision to defund the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) because of its support for coercive abortion in China, is the result of “effective lobbying” by these “anti-choice groups” who, “under the present US administration,” have gained “legitimacy and credibility.”

Now, Nielson worries that the groups have struck a chord with EU politicians. In the memo, Nielson describes a growing European movement against UNFPA, said, “The stealth and speed at which this campaign was mobilized was remarkable.” Nielson also worries that the groups may be convincing MEPs to interfere with the expansion of European support for abortion in the developing world, saying, “Several amendments…sought to ban abortion and sterilization from being included in the regulation [on reproductive health]. This time the amendments to ban abortion were rejected but 181 MEPs voted to accept them.”

According to Peter Smith, a lobbyist for the London-based Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC), the EU initiative is in direct response to a C-FAM/IORG White Paper on UNFPA, which was presented by C-FAM Vice-President Douglas A. Sylva to the European Parliament in January. “I have taken quite a few of my American colleagues to Parliament,” he says, “But this trip was most memorable. The White Paper on UNFPA has stirred up a hornets nest in the European Commission.”

In a press release, Irish MEP Dana Scallon called Nielson’s actions “an insult to democracy” and an example of “Big Brother.” Nielson is one of 19 unelected European Commissioners who make crucial EU funding decisions.

Copyright – C-FAM (Catholic Family & Human Rights Institute). Permission granted for unlimited use. Credit required.

Catholic Family & Human Rights Institute 866 United Nations Plaza, Suite 427 New York, New York 10017 Phone: (212) 754-5948 Fax: (212) 754-9291 E-mail: c-fam@c-fam.org Website: www.c-fam.org

[cpforlife.org]

"Isn’t it ironic that those who trumpet their beliefs that we should separate God from our political lives insist on playing God when it comes to their politics regarding what they like to label “quality of life” issues?" -- Pamela Rice Hahn (www.ricehahn.com)

[joesnuffy]

Anti-Christ is up and at em....

[cpforlife.org]

Please let me know if you want on or off my Pro-Life Ping List.

[John Beresford Tipton]

"I am delirious"

Sort of puts things in context?

[cpforlife.org]

YES HE IS

[Brad’s Gramma]

Huh?

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

Chilling.

[votelife]

Dear President Bush,
With the Surpeme Court session getting ready to close, it may well be time for perhaps the most important domestic decision of your presidency: the appointment of a Supreme Court Justice(s). The main reason why I supported you in 2000 and why I wanted Daschle out of power in 02 (and 04) has to do with the courts. I want America courts to interpret law, not write law. During your presidential campaign you said Thomas and Scalia were your two model justices. Those are excellent models. The High Court needs more like them. Clarence Thomas recently said to students that the tough cases were when what he wanted to do was different from what the law said. And he goes by the law. This should be a model philosophy for our justices. Your father, President Bush lost his reelection campaign for 3 main reasosn, as far as I can see. 1. he broke the no new taxes pledge 2. David Souter 3. Clinton convinced people we were in a Bush recession (which we had already come out of by the time Clinton was getting sworn in)

I urge you to learn from all three of these: 1. on taxes, you're doing great. Awesome job on the tax cut. 2. good job so far on judicial appointments. I want to see more of a fight for Estrada, Owen, and Pickering, but I commend you on your nominations. 3. by staying engaged in the economic debate you'll serve yourself well

I have been thoroughly impressed with your handling of al Queida, Iraq, and terrorism. You have inspired confidence and have shown great leadership.

But I want to remind you that your Supreme Court pick(s) will be with us LONG after you have departed office. I urge you to avoid the tempation to find a "compromise" pick. Go for a Scalia or Thomas. Don't go for an O'Connor or Kennedy. To be specific, get someone who is pro-life. Roe v Wade is one of the worst court decisions I know of, and it's the perfect example of unrestrained judicial power.

I know the temptation will be tremendous on you to nominate a moderate. But remember who your true supporters are. I am not a important leader or politician. I am "simply" a citizen who has been an enthusiatic supporter of you. I am willing to accept compromise in many areas of government but I will watch your Court nomiantions extremely closely. What the Senate Dems are doing right now is disgusting, but as the President you have the bully pulpit to stop it. Democrats will back down if you turn up serious heat on them.

Moreover, I think public opinion is shifting towards the pro-life position. Dems will want you to nominate a moderate, but almost all will vote against you anyways. Pro-choice Repubs will likely still vote for you if you nominate a Scalia, after all, you campaigned on it. So Mr. President, I urge you to stick with your campaign statements and nominate justices who believe in judicial restraint, like Scalia and Thomas.

Happy Memorial Day and may God bless you and your family.

[Qwerty]

"I am delirious"

I thought that was pretty funny as well.

[patton]

Well done.

[cake_crumb]

This would be funny, if it weren't so scary. If I understand this right, they've opened a propaganda office to counter what they feel is threatening propagnda coming from America....

Over saving unborn babies.

In order to protect the Third Way tenets of the UN. Will they hire Bill Clinton to head it? Can't be Hillary, since she's otherwise engaged at playing senator.

This is really....amazing. I'll think of a decent descriptive later, once I get over the shock.

[Flora McDonald]

“...The stealth and speed at which this campaign was mobilized was remarkable....”

Shock & awe, baby, shock & awe.

By the way, is EU pronounced EEEEEEEEU? (I realize it is spelled a-n-t-i-c-h-r-i-s-t).

[cake_crumb]

Pronounced 'EEEWWWW'

[patriciaruth]

specifically the US decision to defund the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) because of its support for coercive abortion in China, is the result of “effective lobbying” by these “anti-choice groups”

Mindboggling.

[pops88]

Please add me to your ping list.

[Flora McDonald]

EEEEWWWWW! Got it! Thanks.

[cpforlife.org]

Welcome to the Pro-Life Ping List!

Also, please take time to visit my two websites:

Christian Patriots For Life at: http://www.cpforlife.org

AND

NATIONAL AMERICAN HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL at: http://www.cpforlife.org/memorial

Thanks

[freepatriot32]

Nielson believes that “the shift in US policy,” specifically the US decision to defund the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) because of its support for coercive abortion in China, is the result of “effective lobbying” by these “anti-choice groups”

Does this stupid shit know what the word coercive is? The women in china dont have a choice in it therefore nielson is the anti choice prick. the anti abortion group wants the chinese women to have a choice. Is neilson really this much of an illiterate dumb ass or is he just faking it for the eu newspapers?

[David Isaac]

First and foremost, the term "European Parliment" both sickens and frightens me, greatly.

With you, I can only hope that GWB nominates a conservative to the USSC. But am well aware of how his father acted in a similar situation. The Court would be decidedly conservative today if Sr. had chosen a conservative, unless O'Connor or Kennedy pulled a "Jeffords".

Bush Sr. was also wildly popular after war with Iraq, though he squandered that popularity rather quickly. We can still hope the son will make better decisions.

An afterthought: I still have to wonder how, with all that money and all those brains invested in the U.S. security organizations, we have let these little pissant terrorists become such a major problem, considering they have been considered to be the major threat to our security, following the fall of the Soviet Union.

[Seeking the truth]

If you look closely, I think this baby is smiling at this development!

Choose Life