|
Politics in Europe
European Christian Party (about to) abandon Pro-Life and Pro-Family Positions
By Susan Yoshihara, Ph.D. Katharina Rothweiler
(NEW YORK – C-FAM) The European Parliament's largest umbrella group backed away from its strong pro-life and pro-family positions in a new draft position statement for the 2009 European elections. Members of the mainly Christian Democrat group pushed back last week with a host of amendments aimed at restoring the organization's traditional role of safeguarding human life and the family at the European Parliament.
In a position statement released in January entitled "Draft EPP Election Document 2009," the European People's Party (EPP) removed some bedrock principles supporting traditional marriage and human life found in their 2004 position statement. The EPP is the largest group in the European Parliament with 288 members from 74 coalition parties, primarily Christian Democrat Members of the European Parliament (MEPs). Members of the EPP will use the final version of the statement in the course of campaigning in the upcoming continent-wide elections, scheduled for the 4th through 7th of June.
According to the IONA Institute, an Ireland-based pro-life and pro-family non-governmental organization, the EPP dropped explicit opposition to "euthanasia, eugenics, human cloning" which it opposed in its 2004 statement, while retaining language defending "human life in all its forms (including embryos) and at all stages; to respect the human dignity in medical and genetic advancements." Similarly, the 2004 EPP document urged the European Union (EU) not to fund "biotechnological practices that are illegal to Member states," such as the current practice of the EU to fund embryonic stem-cell research.
The EPP's 2009 statement is also weaker on the protection of the traditional family, IONA says. Whereas the 2004 document pointed to the institution of marriage as a "unique tie of man and woman," the phrase was deleted from the 2009 draft text. Conversely, in its discussion of the “demographic winter” in Europe -- a graying population having too few children -- the new text adds a proposal that EU member states change national policies to recognize "the growing diversity in family relationships," a phrase conservatives warn can be interpreted to include homosexual "marriage."
National parties represented in the EPP have submitted proposed amendments to the text. A copy of proposed amendments obtained by the Friday Fax aims at restoring the strong pro-life and pro-family language deleted since the 2004 EPP statement. For example, one party proposes restoring references to protecting human dignity through a proper understanding of subsidiarity, a principle whereby decisions are made at the level closest to those affected by policy, and not by unaccountable bureaucrats and committees in Brussels.
Another proposed amendment focuses on replacing secular-humanist language in the 2009 text with explicit reference to Europe's Judeo-Christian heritage, arguing that while "there are of course other philosophical and political trends in Europe," it is through the Christian Democrats that "the Christian inspiration [of European culture] must be declared."
Final approval of text is scheduled for March 29th in Warsaw. Given the venue, the role of the Polish MEPs is thought to be pivotal and they are expected to lobby for a return to strong pro-life and pro-family statements.
Link to draft EPP document for Elections 2009
For comparison:
EPP Action Programme 2004 - 2009
EPP Basic Program - Athens document (1992)
Draft EPP manifesto favours ‘family diversity’ over marriage
The draft manifesto of the European People's Party (EPP) for the 2009 European Parliament elections has removed the reference to “unique ties between man and woman” in the context of the family and replaced them with a reference to family diversity.
The EPP consists mainly of Christian Democratic parties from around Europe.
The new manifesto has also moved in a more radical direction in other respects. For example, it has removed references to the party's opposition to euthanasia, eugenics and human cloning. In addition, it removes opposition to ‘community funding of biotechnological projects that are banned in any given member-state, for example, embryo stem-cell research.
The draft manifesto is being debated this week. The deadline for amendments is tomorrow and they must be tabled by national parties belonging to the EPP. In Ireland’s case that is Fine Gael.
The 2004 manifesto referred to the “apparent crisis” affecting the “institution” of the family, describing the institution as “this unique tie of man and woman”. It added that the family thus defined “deserves [the] special and concrete support of society. What is good for the family is good also for society.”.
However, in the equivalent section of the 2009 manifesto headed "Reconciliation of Family and Work Life", these references are removed. Instead, it calls on member states to adapt their policies "in support of family life to take account of demographic ageing and the growing diversity in family relationships".
The 2004 document also referred to the party's respect for “human life in all its forms (including embryos) and at all stages; to respect the human dignity in medical and genetic advancements”.
“This is why EPP opposes euthanasia, eugenics, human cloning,” it added. However, the draft 2009 manifesto removes these references.
In the context of research and development funding, the 2004 EPP document calls for the withholding of EU funding for “biotechnological practices that are illegal in at least one of the Member states”.
This was, according to the document “in order to protect and safeguard human dignity and to fully respect subsidiarity”. This reference has also been removed from the 2009 draft manifesto.
European Parliament - Links related to the upcoming elections
Check out how many MPs can be elected per country using the interactive map.
Current members of parliament - check out your current MPs and with what European parties they are associated. E.g.: Germany has 99 MPs, Malta 5 MPs.
Lesbian MP - Top Green Candidate for European Parliament in Austria
18.1.2009: Austrian Greens vote for Brigitte Lunacek as top candidate. She is lesbian and known for her aggressive politics towards the rights for homosexuals. She has studied English and Spanish. 1995 she coordinated Media-work of NGOs at the UN-World Womens Conference (where Gender Mainstreaming lifted off). From 1999 onwards she was member of the Austrian Parliament. (source: www.erhoert.at)
German Elections - Bundestag elections End 2009
According to statements from Guido Westerwelle and Angele Merkel the elections this year could bring first gay minister of foreign affairs (more).
|
