Pro-Life Group Says Amnesty International Mislead Musicians on Abortion 
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by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
August 27, 2007
London, England (LifeNews.com) — The controversy over Amnesty International pro-abortion position has taken another turn. A pro-life group for youth is accusing the human rights organization of misleading the artists who appear on a recent benefit CD by not telling them that its proceeds would be used to promote abortion.
The pro-life group Rock for Life, which works with bands and artists who oppose abortion, says Amnesty is misleading those who appear on their benefit album.
The artists on the CD include stars such as Christina Aguilera and Avril Lavigne and the album was billed as project to raise funds for survivors of the atrocities in Darfur.
Two weeks ago, and just one month after the release of the album, AI reaffirmed its newfound pro-abortion position at an international meeting of its national affiliates.
Erik Whittington, director of Rock for Life, talked with the London Times about his concerns.
“The human suffering going on right now in Darfur is horrific. To add insult to injury, however, using this tragic abuse of human rights to raise money for a pro-abortion organization is hypocritical and beyond belief," he said.
“The manipulation of musicians to fund this hypocrisy is maddening,” he added. “We are writing to all the artists to ask for their views.”
Responding to the concerns, Widney Brown, Amnesty’s director of policy, told the newspaper, “We don’t know the personal opinion of the artists on abortion but the CD has been launched to raise awareness of the situation in Darfur.”
The CD in question includes numerous artists who perform covers of songs written by former Beatles star John Lennon. His widow Yoko Ono gave the rights to all of the songs to Amnesty in 2003.
Artists who appear on the project include U2, Green Day, Aguilera, Lavigne and others.
