Pope Francis challenges all of us to stand up for the rights of the unborn no matter what
Yesterday, on International Human Rights Day, Pope Francis sent a message to an international conference in Rome and challenged all of us to stand up for the rights of the unborn no matter what.
We ALL have a responsibility - those of us with or without a faith - to have a "renewed commitment in favour of the defense of human dignity, with special attention to the most vulnerable members of the community."
There is no human right to abortion under any international legal treaty, convention or instrument. There is, however, the most fundamental, universal human right to lif enshrined in international human rights law. In reference to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), on its 70th Anniversary, Pope Francis noted that "the Family of Nations wished to acknowledge the equal dignity of every human person, from which fundamental rights and freedoms derive that, in as much as rooted in the nature of the human person - inseparable unity of body and soul - are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interconnected."
In reflecting on contemporary society, Pope Francis noted that "numerous contradictions are found that induce us to ask ourselves if the equal dignity of all human beings, solemnly proclaimed 70 years ago, is truly recognized, respected, protected and promoted in every circumstance."
Pope Francis raised the failure to protect the dignity of the unborn child as one of the 'human rights contradictions' stating, "I think, among other things, of the unborn who are denied the right to come to the world".
It is also the 25th Anniversary of the Vienna Declaration and Program of Action this year. Therefore, Pope Francis urges all of us to have "a renewed commitment in favour of the defense of human dignity, with special attention to the most vulnerable members of the community."
Pope Francis went on to say, "This exigency of justice and solidarity has special significance for us Christians, because the Gospel itself invites us to turn our gaze to the littlest of our brothers and sisters, to be moved to compassion (Cf. Matthew 14:14) and to commit ourselves concretely to alleviate their sufferings."
Pope Francis concluded, "On this occasion, I wish to make a heartfelt appeal to all those that have institutional responsibilities, asking them to put human rights at the center of all policies, including those of cooperation for development, even when that means going against the current."
These words from Pope Francis are an inspiration and encouragement to all those in the pro-life movement across the world fighting "against the current" of today's culture often subject to ridicule and personal attack.