Pope ‘gratified’ by UN goals: but they demand ‘universal access to sexual and reproductive health’

By Voice of the Family

September 2, 2016 (Voice of the Family) — Pope Francis has said that he is “gratified” by the adoption of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Among the 17 goals of the SDGs is one that calls on member states to “ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health” by 2030. The term “sexual and reproductive health,” as generally defined, includes access to contraception, including abortifacient methods, and, often, other forms of abortion.

In a message entitled “For the celebration of the world day of prayer for the care of creation,” Pope Francis stated that he was “gratified that in September 2015 the nations of the world adopted the Sustainable Development Goals, and that, in December 2015, they approved the Paris Agreement on climate change.”

The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, agreed by nation states in September 2015, consist of 17 goals and 169 targets, which will determine the direction of international aid and action until 2030. These goals were endorsed by the Paris Agreement on climate change.

The Sustainable Development Goals call on member states to: “ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health care services, including for family planning, information and education, and the integration of reproductive health into national strategies and programs” (Goal 7 Target 3)

The term “sexual and reproductive health care services” is defined by United Nations bodies as including contraception, including forms that have an abortifacient mode of effect. The United Nations Population Fund states that “sexual and reproductive health” includes access for all to “the safe, effective, affordable and acceptable contraception method of their choice.” Furthermore, it is used by many international governments, including that of the United States, and by agencies such as Planned Parenthood, to include other forms of abortion.

The World Health Organization also considers abortion to be integral to “sexual and reproductive health”. The WHO: “develops norms, tools and guidelines on reproductive health in general and abortion services in particular, and supports countries in reforming their health systems. Its role includes:

distributing existing evidence on abortion;

assisting Member States in evaluating health systems’ response to the needs of women with unwanted pregnancies;

promoting methodology in quality control of abortion services; and

training of trainers in, for example, counseling and abortion care.”

The WHO, as part of its work to promote “sexual and reproductive health,” actively works to “improve access to abortion and the quality of their abortion services” in “countries such as Ireland,” which currently have restrictive abortion laws.

The implementation of the SDG’s call to “ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health care services” will necessarily involve the further extension of attempts by UN agencies and international organisations to radically increase contraception use and access to abortion worldwide. It will be instructive therefore to consider what is already being done in the name of “universal access to sexual and reproductive health care”.

The “Maputo Plan of Action for the Operationalisation of the Continental Policy Framework for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights” aimed at “Universal Access to Comprehensive Sexual and Reproductive Health Services in Africa.” It was produced in 2006 following a special session of the African Union Conference of Minister of Health in Maputuo, Mozambique.

The document specifically identified “Abortion Care” as an integral part of sexual and reproductive health. It’s plan of action for “Implementing the Continental Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Policy Framework ” included the following resolutions:

5.2.1a Train service providers in the provision of comprehensive safe abortion care services where national law allows

5.2.2 Refurbish and equip facilities for provision of comprehensive abortion care services

5.3.1a Provide safe abortion services to the fullest extent of the law

5.3.2 Educate communities on available safe abortion services as allowed by national laws

The “Maputo Plan of Action” targets for attaining “universal access to sexual and reproductive health” explicitly included access to “family planning” and “emergency contraception. The document also specifically targeted its children, stating that “Addressing the sexual and reproductive health needs of adolescents and youth”  is a key component of sexual and reproductive health.”

The “Maputo Plan” is one of many projects in which the promotion of abortion and contraception is integral to efforts to achieve “universal access to sexual and reproductive health” around the world. The implementation of the SDGs will lead to the further spread of abortion and contraception worldwide, bringing about the deaths of countless numbers of unborn children and causing immense harm to individuals and societies.

Pope Francis has professed himself “gratified” by international targets that will result in unimaginable devastation and suffering for an untold number families around the world.

This is perhaps the most tragic example of the now well-entrenched collaboration between the Holy See and the world’s leading proponents of abortion, contraception and population control, under the guise of promoting sustainable development.

 

Reprinted with permission from Voice of the Family.

 

https://www.lifesitenews.com/opinion/pope-gratified-by-un-goals-that-demand-universal-access-to-sexual-and-repro