I know I've said that I don't want to get into heated debates about "hot button issues" but I feel like I have to speak up here. I haven't seen any mention of this recently on any other Catholic blogs out there. Check out the Friday Fax issued by C-FAM August 10, 2006.
(NEW YORK - C-FAM) United Nations delegates will assemble in New York on Monday to finalize a new human rights treaty. The International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities will be “hard” international law, joining other human rights instruments which are binding on the countries that ratify them. Most documents negotiated at the UN are non-binding. Treaties, such as this one, require governments to change their domestic laws based on the treaty.
Conservative legal experts have complained that the draft text contains ambiguous and undefined language - such as “reproductive health,” the right to “experience sexuality,” and the right to “have sexual and other intimate relationships” -- that has never before appeared in a treaty-level document. [emphasis mine]
As I understand it, according to Article II, Section 2, Clause 2 of our country's constitution, a treaty can be signed by the president only with agreement of two-thirds of the senate. So if the UN does produce this treaty, it will still require the approval of the senate and our president. I think. I really don't know anything about how all that stuff works. Here is a link to the UN's working document and to the UN Committee's web page with other documents. They make the language sound harmless by saying they are merely giving the disabled access to the same "reproductive health" services they give everyone else. Another example of the "slippery slope."
So I have a prayer request as the UN delegates meet to finalize this treaty. This week please remember to pray that God's will be done, that the UN treaty will defend life, and that the UN and the government of the United States will promote authentic human rights and the dignity of every human being, and adopt policies that will strengthen families and assist the poor, hungry, and sick.
**UPDATE 8-18-06** According to C-Fam's current Friday Fax (check the one dated August 17th if you go to the archives) there is some heated debate over the controversial phrases. Let us continue to pray that they will do the right thing.
From John Paul II's encyclical Evangelium Vitae:
O Mary,
bright dawn of the new world,
Mother of the living,
to you do we entrust the cause of life.
Look down, O Mother,
upon the vast numbers
of babies not allowed to be born,
of the poor whose lives are made difficult,
of men and women who are victims of brutal violence,
of the elderly and the sick killed
by indifference or out of misguided mercy.
Grant that all who believe in your Son
may proclaim the Gospel of life
with honesty and love
to the people of our time.
Obtain for them the grace
to accept that Gospel
as a gift ever new,
the joy of celebrating it with gratitude
throughout their lives
and the courage to bear witness to it
resolutely, in order to build,
together with all people of good will,
the civilization of truth and love,
to the praise and glory of God,
the Creator and lover of life.
AMEN!
(Image Source) I will "mark this post as featured" for the rest of this week.