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Emmanuel Macron calls for abortion to be added to EU rights charter

CNA Staff   By CNA Staff for CNA

Pope Francis shakes hands with French President Emmanuel Macron during an audience at the Vatican Nov. 26, 2021. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)

Strasbourg, France, Jan 19, 2022 / 06:15 am (CNA).

French President Emmanuel Macron called on Wednesday for abortion to be added to the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.

Speaking to members of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, eastern France, on Jan. 19, Macron said that the rights charter, ratified in the year 2000, needed to be revised.

“Twenty years after the proclamation of our Charter of Fundamental Rights, which enshrined, among other things, the abolition of the death penalty throughout the Union, I hope that we will be able to update it, in particular to be more explicit about environmental protection or the recognition of the right to abortion,” he said.

He added: “Let’s open this debate freely with our fellow citizens and great European minds to give new life to our set of rights that forges this Europe strong in its values, the only future of our common political project.”

The French news channel BFM TV reported that Macron’s reference to abortion was applauded by lawmakers.

His appeal came the day after the European Union’s law-making body elected the pro-life Maltese politician Roberta Metsola as its new president.

Metsola succeeds David Sassoli, who died on Jan. 11 at the age of 65. Her election was welcomed by both EU bishops and Maltese Church leaders.

The EU charter recognizes the right to life but does not mention abortion. It states that “Everyone has the right to life” and “No one shall be condemned to the death penalty, or executed.”

The European Parliament voted in June 2021 in favor of a report describing abortion as “essential healthcare” and seeking to redefine conscientious objection as a “denial of medical care.”

Members of the assembly voted by 378 votes in favor, 255 against, and 42 abstentions to adopt the text, known as the Matić Report, at a plenary session in Brussels, Belgium.

The report also declared that violations of “sexual and reproductive health and rights” are “a form of violence against women and girls.”

Most of the EU’s 27 member states permit abortion on demand or broad social grounds, except Malta and Poland, which have strong pro-life laws.

On Jan. 1, France took over the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union, which negotiates and adopts EU laws with the European Parliament.

Macron, who is expected to run for re-election in April, met with Pope Francis at the Vatican in November 2021.


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15 Comments

  1. We read from the EU Charter: “Everyone has the right to life” and “No one shall be condemned to the death penalty, or executed.” But now, “the right to abortion.”

    It’s not only about natural rights (as still affirmed by religion), but rather it’s also about abrogation of the non-demonstrable first principle of non-contradiction. In the lost ability to consistently carry two realities or ideas at once between one’s closed ears, we might be reminded how Pope John Paul II dealt simultaneously with the prudential judgment pertaining to capital punishment and with the most elementary human right to life…

    In his “Gospel of Life,” of capital punishment John Paul II first found “such cases are very rare” (n. 56), and then, with this affirmation as a segue (!), he then affirmed that “‘You shall not kill’ has absolute value [!] when it refers to the innocent person [italics]. And all the more so in the case of weak and defenseless human beings, who find their ultimate defence against the arrogance and caprice of others only in the absolute binding force of God’s commandment” (n. 57).

    As for the euphemism of “health care,” and as it has been said elsewhere, “Indeed, there is no ‘compelling argument’ not to slit anybody’s throat except for the Commandments given on Mount Sinai.”

    Ironic and now tragic name from the Hebrew, this: “Emmanuel” [God is with us] Macron.

  2. It boggles my mind why these people are so intent on making abortion a “right”. Do they not have a soul? How can snuffing out the life of a human being be called a “right”? It’s all so evil.

  3. I have little doubt that Macron and The Pontiff Francis agree on the Macron agenda, whatever the topic.

    Perhaps The Pontiff will award Macron with another papal medal like the one he gave to his esteemed abortion-promoter-friend Frau Ploumen of Belgium, right after Macron completes the Disney-fication of Notre Dame, which I’m sure The Pontiff eagerly awaits.

    • Liliane Ploumen was a Dutch politician. Emma Bonino an Italian politician and abortion promotor was also lauded by the Pope.
      Renate Brauner an Austrian politician and abortion promotor was
      lauded by Cardinal Schönborn in agreement with the Vatican.

  4. Were it an historically lesser Catholic nation than Catholicism’s eldest daughter, that a ‘right’ to abortion is promoted to the EU by French President Emmanuel Macron, Catholic by baptism regardless of agnosticism spells the secularization of Catholicism, not doctrinally rather practically. America’s Catholic pres, the greatest abortion implementer in our history.
    His Holiness’ interface smile with Macron November at the Vatican increases angst, whether it’s approval of the issue or simply protocol friendliness. As referenced in weigel’s Marching Toward a Different Future Francis has given us a mixed message on abortion with effect leaning toward approval, largely based on sidelining the USCCB on Eucharistic cohesion as well as his friendly rapport with notorious abortion advocates.
    This world is rapidly changing culturally based on a revision of Man and justice. An ideological anthropology that confers all the rights, and liberty possible, all the justice protection to the individual, to the exclusion of the birth of human life itself. A self adulation devouring itself.
    Who will speak, will this staggering bloodied Church produce the likes of the great Alexandrian Fathers Athanasius and Cyril? Has the flame of faith flickered to ash? Will the great synodal journey, now expanded by Vatican request to all quarters of belief, faith, atheism and error thrust the estocada? God can do all things.

  5. Macron lauds the Charter of Fundamental Rights, “which enshrined, among other things, the abolition of the death penalty throughout the Union,” and hopes twenty years later to enshrine “the recognition of the right to abortion,” which is a death penalty for those who have never been able to commit any infraction that would warrant the death penalty. Wait, What?

  6. Making murder legit so people can indulge in sexual license. More than a little disgusting. More disgusting that so many of those pushing such “rights” are supposed Catholics. An issue the current Pope prefers not to address, as he clearing give warm welcomes to the likes of Pelosi, Biden, Macron, and their ilk. “Who am I to judge” doesnt wash when you are the POPE and its ABSOLUTELY your job to judge and set standards for church members. If such people with a big public profile insist ion giving scandal, they should be excommunicated and shown the door. One is not OBLIGATED to be a member of the church, nor is it a civil right. Stop talking out of both sides of your mouth by pretending to be a practicing Catholic and then advocating for abortion. The Pope needs to start taking a genuine stand on church standards in ALL areas. Or maybe he should retire in favor of someone who CAN.

  7. Macron stands there with his smiling face hanging out saying,

    “Twenty years after the proclamation of our Charter of Fundamental Rights, … I hope that we will be able to update it, in particular to be more explicit about environmental protection or the recognition of the right to abortion,” he said.

    Ya, sure, protect the environment, skid the babies———

    Ya, well, he’s alive, got that? French President Emmanuel Macron is alive! Yup, he was allowed to live. He’s lucky the “update” didn’t occur sooner.

    Now let’s hold hand with the Pope. Them’s is scarry eyes, I tell ye!

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