The Articles contain a series of affirmations regarding the inviolability of human life and the fact that there is no international “right” to abortion. It is meant to be an aid to counter affirmations by agencies and representatives of the United Nations who continue to insist such a right does exist.
The document has been signed by leading academics, such as Robert George of Princeton, John Haldane of St. Andrews, and John Finnis of Oxford. It is also supported by prominent politicians, including Anna Zaborska of the European Parliament and former French Cabinet Minister Christine Boutin.
According to the latest issue of the Friday Fax, published by the Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute, the Articles were recently launched in the Philippine’s Cebu City during the National Philippines for Life Congress.
Among those present were the former Majority Leader of the Philippine Senate Francisco Tatad and Archbishop Jose Serofia Palma of Cebu.
“The San Jose Articles are primarily meant to shut down the false claim of an international right to abortion; but they constitute one of the biggest boosts so far to our fight against foreign-dictated contraception and sterilization,” Tatad told the Friday Fax.
The Friday Fax also reported that a spontaneous launch of the Articles took place in the national legislature of Uruguay this month. Those present included numerous politicians, including several former high-ranking ministers.
In October the Articles were launched in Madrid, London and Strasbourg.
Earlier in November the Rome launch took place. Among the Italians present were Giuseppe Benagiano of La Sapienza University of Rome, who is also the secretary general of the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics, and Luca Volonte, president of the European Popular Party group in the Council of Europe.
