Pro-Abortion Study of UNFPA-Population Control Link Called "Phony"

Pro-Abortion Study of UNFPA-Population Control Link Called "Phony"

by Maria Gallgher
LifeNews.com Staff Writer
September 22, 2003

Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- A "fact-finding" delegation conducted by a team of abortion advocates has concluded that there is no evidence the United Nations Population Fund supports China's forced abortion policy. But a number of leading pro-life experts on population control say the "investigation" is a sham.

A nine-member delegation of people claiming to be religious leaders representing the Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, and Muslim faiths traveled to half-dozen Chinese counties with UNFPA programs September 6 through 11.

The trip, which was privately-funded, was organized by the so-called "Catholics for a Free Choice." Roman Catholic leaders have condemned the organization for promoting abortion, an action in direct opposition to Catholic teaching.

"You can be sure this was a phony investigation," said Austin Ruse of the Culture of Life Foundation, a pro-life group that monitors the abortion situation in China. "You can be sure they did not really want to find out about coercion in China. You can be sure this is just a whitewash by pro-abortionists."

The delegation claimed that abortion rates have declined in areas where the UN’s Population Fund Family Planning programs operate. A Los Angeles rabbi who was a part of the delegation said that delegation members could not find anyone who knew of any recent cases of forced abortions.

"No one that we spoke to -- we're talking about close to 100 people, if not more than that -- said that they knew of any cases of forced abortion ... in recent years," said Rabbi Steven Jacobs of Temple Kol Tikvah in Los Angeles.

But pro-life leaders note that, given the current political situation in China, it would be unlikely that the Chinese would readily admit to a delegation of foreigners any evidence of forced abortions.

"They claim to have talked to 100 Chinese citizens," Ruse explained. "Now, what Chinese citizen in his right mind would talk openly to groups that are already supportive of the same kind of population control that brought them coercion in China? And I wonder how many interviews they conducted without the presence or even knowledge of Chinese officials. This is nothing more than poppycock from pro-aborts."

Last year, the Bush Administration decided to permanently withhold UNFPA funding, because it "tacitly perpetuates a ‘one-child’ policy in China that has led to abortions and sterilizations against women's will." The Bush administration says China coerces women into having abortions by charging them a "social compensation fee" for having children without permission.

The Catholics for a Free Choice delegation contends that UNFPA is working to end such anti-child fees and policies in China. But members of the delegation admitted that none of them are experts on China and that they had only spent a short time there.

Pro-life leaders believe the delegation's trip was a thinly-veiled attempt to pressure the Bush Administration to restore UNFPA funding.

Delegation member Carlton Veazey, president of the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice and pastor of a Baptist church in Washington, D.C., was quoted as saying he would "spread the word and mobilize support to get UNFPA re-funded."

Pro-life Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), an outspoken critic of China's forced abortion policies, responded to the delegation's conclusions by saying, "I am sure the oppressive Communist Chinese government appreciates UNFPA's persistence in whitewashing their terrible crimes against humanity. This most recent charade shows once again that UNFPA does not take forced abortion seriously and should not receive American taxpayer funding to support China's coercive population control program."

Meanwhile, Scott Weinberg of the Population Research Institute, a pro-life organization that is working to stop forced abortions and end the myth of "overpopulation," tells LifeNews.com that every member of the delegation that traveled to China supports legalized abortion. Weinberg also points out that infant and maternal death rates have gone up in several Chinese counties where UNFPA is operating.

Steven Mosher, President of the Population Research Institute, added, "It is a measure of UNFPA's desperation that they now seek religious sanction for their unconscionable involvement in China's one-child policy."

One member of the delegation has gone so far as to support coerced abortion.

James Martin-Schramm of Luther College claims that use of incentives to lower birth rates is morally justified. "The use of incentives like cash or consumer goods to promote family planning may be morally justifiable, but only if the incentive offers a significant gain in social or economic welfare and only if the recipient believes he or she benefits in a substantial way," Martin-Schramm has said.

According to the Population Research Institute, Chinese women who submit to
UNFPA’s coerced abortion programs can receive benefits such as state-subsidized health care, jobs, and schooling for their children.

Pro-life leaders say that, since UNFPA lost U.S. funding, the agency's supporters have attempted to downplay all evidence of coerced abortions in China.

In addition to the Catholics for a Free Choice trip, the International Planned Parenthood Federation has issued a number of press releases heralding slight changes in Chinese family law, such as a local relaxation of a law requiring government approval of the choice of one's spouse.

Mosher concludes, "The goal of this pro-abortion junket is clear: to try to restore the U.S. contribution to the UNFPA, despite UNFPA’s support of forced abortion in China."

Related web sites:
Population Research Institute - http://www.pop.org


Enter your email address to receive news from LifeNews.com via email. Do you prefer to receive news daily or weekly? Daily Weekly Do you favor or oppose abortion? Favor Oppose Click here to make a PayPal donation to LifeNews.com!	Pro-Abortion Study of UNFPA-Population Control Link Called "Phony" by Maria Gallgher LifeNews.com Staff Writer September 22, 2003 Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- A "fact-finding" delegation conducted by a team of abortion advocates has concluded that there is no evidence the United Nations Population Fund supports China's forced abortion policy. But a number of leading pro-life experts on population control say the "investigation" is a sham. A nine-member delegation of people claiming to be religious leaders representing the Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, and Muslim faiths traveled to half-dozen Chinese counties with UNFPA programs September 6 through 11. The trip, which was privately-funded, was organized by the so-called "Catholics for a Free Choice." Roman Catholic leaders have condemned the organization for promoting abortion, an action in direct opposition to Catholic teaching. "You can be sure this was a phony investigation," said Austin Ruse of the Culture of Life Foundation, a pro-life group that monitors the abortion situation in China. "You can be sure they did not really want to find out about coercion in China. You can be sure this is just a whitewash by pro-abortionists." The delegation claimed that abortion rates have declined in areas where the UN’s Population Fund Family Planning programs operate. A Los Angeles rabbi who was a part of the delegation said that delegation members could not find anyone who knew of any recent cases of forced abortions. "No one that we spoke to -- we're talking about close to 100 people, if not more than that -- said that they knew of any cases of forced abortion ... in recent years," said Rabbi Steven Jacobs of Temple Kol Tikvah in Los Angeles. But pro-life leaders note that, given the current political situation in China, it would be unlikely that the Chinese would readily admit to a delegation of foreigners any evidence of forced abortions. "They claim to have talked to 100 Chinese citizens," Ruse explained. "Now, what Chinese citizen in his right mind would talk openly to groups that are already supportive of the same kind of population control that brought them coercion in China? And I wonder how many interviews they conducted without the presence or even knowledge of Chinese officials. This is nothing more than poppycock from pro-aborts." Last year, the Bush Administration decided to permanently withhold UNFPA funding, because it "tacitly perpetuates a ‘one-child’ policy in China that has led to abortions and sterilizations against women's will." The Bush administration says China coerces women into having abortions by charging them a "social compensation fee" for having children without permission. The Catholics for a Free Choice delegation contends that UNFPA is working to end such anti-child fees and policies in China. But members of the delegation admitted that none of them are experts on China and that they had only spent a short time there. Pro-life leaders believe the delegation's trip was a thinly-veiled attempt to pressure the Bush Administration to restore UNFPA funding. Delegation member Carlton Veazey, president of the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice and pastor of a Baptist church in Washington, D.C., was quoted as saying he would "spread the word and mobilize support to get UNFPA re-funded." Pro-life Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), an outspoken critic of China's forced abortion policies, responded to the delegation's conclusions by saying, "I am sure the oppressive Communist Chinese government appreciates UNFPA's persistence in whitewashing their terrible crimes against humanity. This most recent charade shows once again that UNFPA does not take forced abortion seriously and should not receive American taxpayer funding to support China's coercive population control program." Meanwhile, Scott Weinberg of the Population Research Institute, a pro-life organization that is working to stop forced abortions and end the myth of "overpopulation," tells LifeNews.com that every member of the delegation that traveled to China supports legalized abortion. Weinberg also points out that infant and maternal death rates have gone up in several Chinese counties where UNFPA is operating. Steven Mosher, President of the Population Research Institute, added, "It is a measure of UNFPA's desperation that they now seek religious sanction for their unconscionable involvement in China's one-child policy." One member of the delegation has gone so far as to support coerced abortion. James Martin-Schramm of Luther College claims that use of incentives to lower birth rates is morally justified. "The use of incentives like cash or consumer goods to promote family planning may be morally justifiable, but only if the incentive offers a significant gain in social or economic welfare and only if the recipient believes he or she benefits in a substantial way," Martin-Schramm has said. According to the Population Research Institute, Chinese women who submit to UNFPA’s coerced abortion programs can receive benefits such as state-subsidized health care, jobs, and schooling for their children. Pro-life leaders say that, since UNFPA lost U.S. funding, the agency's supporters have attempted to downplay all evidence of coerced abortions in China. In addition to the Catholics for a Free Choice trip, the International Planned Parenthood Federation has issued a number of press releases heralding slight changes in Chinese family law, such as a local relaxation of a law requiring government approval of the choice of one's spouse. Mosher concludes, "The goal of this pro-abortion junket is clear: to try to restore the U.S. contribution to the UNFPA, despite UNFPA’s support of forced abortion in China." Related web sites: Population Research Institute - http://www.pop.org