Bishop resigns over Amnesty move

Bishop Michael Evans resigns from Amnesty International

A bishop who has been a member of Amnesty International for 31 years has resigned from the organisation over its changed attitude to abortion.

The organisation wants women to have access to abortion where pregnancy is a grave risk to their life or health.

As part of a campaign on women's rights the group is highlighting the issue of rape in society and war zones.

The Rt Rev Michael Evans, Bishop of East Anglia, said he could not agree to their stance and therefore resigned.

Roman catholic Bishop Evans, who wrote a special prayer for the organisation, told the BBC's Sunday programme, a move away from neutrality on abortion had caused him a problem.

It is this move away from neutrality that is causing the problem The Rt Rev Michael Evans

"If Amnesty International becomes an organisation which affirms the right to abortion, even under certain circumstances, it is free democratically to do so.

"But it cannot expect those of us who are just as passionate about the human rights of the unborn child to feel at ease being part of such an organisation."

He added: "It is this move away from neutrality that is causing the problem."

Bishop Evans is the head of the Roman Catholic Church in Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk.