Francesca DiGiovanni is the first woman — and first layperson of either sex — to hold a managerial position in the Secretariat of State of the Holy See. Last Thursday, the 25th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference On Women in Beijing, DiGiovanni declared at the United Nations:
A third crucial area involves health care. Hundreds of millions of women and children lack basic health care and adequate nutrition and sanitation. Rather than investing resources to remedy those deficiencies and improve the overall health and wellbeing of women, some have overemphasized certain aspects of a women’s sexual and reproductive health, including the suppression of their capacity for motherhood. Others are constantly seeking recognition of so-called new rights, which are not found in the mandate of the Fourth World Conference nor in international human rights treaties: women deserve better. Their health must be cared for in a more holistic way, in particular, in those situations of emergency, where what sometimes is considered an “immediate solution” actually involves further violence, isolation and despair.
“FFL has long advocated for holistic, woman-centered solutions, including on campus, in the workplace, and in society, a society that supports the role of mothers, values the role of fathers, and helps parents provide both financial and emotional support for their children. A culture in which parents are respected, whether they decide to stay at home or return to work,” said FFL President Serrin M. Foster. She created the Women Deserve Better® campaign for the 30th anniversary of Roe v. Wade.
The late pope (and now saint), John Paul II, called for a “new feminism” 25 years ago in section 99 of his encyclical, Evangelium Vitae:
In transforming culture so that it supports life, women occupy a place, in thought and action, which is unique and decisive. It depends on them to promote a “new feminism” which rejects the temptation of imitating models of “male domination”, in order to acknowledge and affirm the true genius of women in every aspect of the life of society, and overcome all discrimination, violence and exploitation.
Earlier this year, Pope Francis agreed with American bishops in “identifying the protection of the unborn as a preeminent priority.”
Feminists for Life is nonsectarian (as well as nonpartisan), and as we continue to celebrate Respect Life Month, we join people of all faiths and no faith in upholding the worth of every human life, from conception until natural death.
Because women deserve better,
Damian J. Geminder
Editor
Feminists for Life of America
P.S. Join our Respect Life Month celebration! Please support our upcoming events and send a kit to campus. Thank you.
