Dear Colleague:

I just visited Papua New Guinea, and I can report that people there are
resisting attempts to impose abortion and population control on their
country.

Steven W. Mosher
President

PRI Weekly Briefing
18 February 2005
Vol. 7 / No. 7

Proclamation of the Conference on Love, Life and Family Held in Vanimo,
Papua New Guinea

By Joseph A. D'Agostino

Population Research Institute President Steve Mosher recently returned
from a two-week trip to Australia and Papua New Guinea (PNG).  He gave
talks and met with Catholic and political leaders, including pro-life
members of Australia's parliament.  We will be writing a great deal more
about the positive developments in Australia soon.

However, one of the less positive developments in that part of the world
is an attempt by some in Australia and elsewhere to impose population
control on neighboring PNG and her native people.  Steve attended the
January conference on Love, Life and Family co-sponsored by the diocese of
Vanimo and its bishop, Cesare Bonivento; Family Life International; and
PRI.  We would like to let you know of the stand some people are taking in
this small country down under.  Here is the proclamation issued by the
conference participants, a declaration of resistance to abortion and
population control:

Proclamation
 
1. We believe that human beings are the ultimate resource.

2. We affirm that PNG has abundant undeveloped agricultural and mineral
resources, sufficient to support its existing or any projected future
population.

3. We believe that population is not a hindrance to economic development,
but the indispensable condition of development.  Population growth per se
is neither an automatic hindrance to development, nor an automatic
guarantee of successful growth.  Rather, other factors, such as good
governance and the creation of an adequate infrastructure, are far more
important.

4. We believe that the example of Uganda and the Philippines, not to
mention common sense, dictate that abstinence and marital fidelity are the
only way that sexual transmission of HIV/AIDS can be stopped.

5. We believe that abortion is the taking of a human life, and should
remain illegal.  Illegal abortionists should be vigorously prosecuted.
The trauma of abortion causes significant physical, psychological, and
spiritual harm to women.

For these reasons, we the participants in the first PNG conference on
Love, Life and Family respectfully call upon:

6. the government of PNG to reject population control programs imposed
from abroad and to urge donor nations to redirect giving to programs that
promote economic development.

7. the Ministry of Health of PNG to vigorously promote NFP in lieu of
dangerous and sometimes irreversible methods involving chemical or
surgical sterilizations.

More to come in future weekly briefings.
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Media Contact: Joseph A. D'Agostino
(540) 622-5240, ext. 204
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