Rev Michael Evans Quits Amnesty International

The Rt Rev Michael Evans, Bishop of East Anglia quit Amnesty International after the group decided to back abortion in the case of rape. the Roman Catholic bishop is the highest Catholic in England to leave the Amnesty over this issue.

The Bishop has been working with the human rights charity for 31 years. Stating that although he is "very sad" at abandoning his work with the organization he couldn't continue working for a group that supported abortion whatever the reason.

There are undoubtedly many Catholics who will now sadly have to withdraw membership," he said. "Bishops, priests and lay people will have to make a very serious decision about their memberships, and I would expect them to make the same decision.

Amnesty International defended it's change to policy by stating first and foremost they do not support abortion under normal circumstance.

"The policy is not pro-abortion, but it allows women to make a decision about their sexual health free from coercion, discrimination and violence," he said. "We recognise the protection of the foetus as inseparably linked to the right to health and life of the mother."

The organization has gained more followers than it has lost though with this change. The Vatican though has urged Catholics to shun the group that is a watchful eye on the wrongs of the world's people. The Vatican has said that Amnesty is showing double standards with the new policy. Amnesty is a staunch supporter of the end of the death penalty. The Vatican says that this policy is allowing the killing of an unborn child in some circumstances but not capital punishment for any reason.

Bishop Evans said, "The most important human right is the right to life. A human rights organisation should take account of the most vulnerable human life that there is: the unborn child in the mother's womb. We need to show compassion for women who've been raped, but you shouldn't deny the human rights of the child."

The group was founded in 1961 by a Catholic convert. It has never been affiliated with the church in an official way although many Catholics do back it.