A Victory for the Family - EU-Parliament rejects the Estrela Motion

After a series of strong protests and a growing awareness of the MEP, European Parliament rejected the very controversial Estrela-Report

Estrela report rejected: Massive popular protest wins over well-funded lobby groups at the European Parliament

After a months-long intense debate about the ‘Report on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights’ (also called the Estrela report), a symbolic fight has been won today for democracy, for children, and for life. A majority of the European Parliament have just adopted the alternative resolution tabled by the EPP group and joined by the ECR group, and thus rejected the highly controversial report (with 334 votes in favour, 327 against and 35 abstentions). This is a historic setback for the abortion lobby and all their related stakeholders, as they have well-oiled machineries, huge EU-funded budgets and, therefore, great power of impact in political agenda setting.

Usually, such a non-binding report (that is precisely done for symbolic reasons and to create justifications for new laws and funding) would have passed plenary right away and without much attention, despite its radical content that disrespects the principle of subsidiarity, promotes a “right to abortion” against EU

law, infringes the rights of parents and the freedom of conscience of doctors. Since all this comes in the guise of “women’s health”, who can be against it?

This time, however, things went differently: citizens in Europe are no longer willing to be dictated an agenda that goes against their profound convictions: parents who don’t accept to be pushed away as the primary educators of their children and who want to give their children love and education, not aggressive and inappropriate sex education and contraception; citizens who want the European Parliament to respect democracy and the boundaries of EU law; doctors and nurses who do not want to be forced to perform abortions.

After this encouraging victory it is important that we are making a point on December 15, 2013 in Bern, where we will speak also about this problem of early sexualisation of children through our Department of Health, which is under the guise of “protecting children from sexual abuse” wants to push away parents as primary educators from their task of educating their children how they see fit. Please do come to the upcoming event on the family and participate in the debate. I can promise that there will be an exciting program and good speakers. If you can bring along a friend and/or guest please you can still do so. We have about 20 -25 seats left. Money isn’t a problem, if you cannot manage. We would like to have a full hall and make a press release at the end of the meeting, announcing clearly that FFES/FFPUS is going to represent good family values in the nation’s Capital, visible and to be heard by our politicians and decision makers. Therefore, all families, please be represented, all those who didn’t sign up yet, 1sth and 2nd gen. please do so asap and join the struggle. It is finally for the good of our children and grand- children.

Thanks and God bless you all,

Heiner & Carolyn Handschin UNIFICATIONIST COMMUNIAT SWITZERLAND FFWPU SWITZERLAND Chemin de la Pierreire 1D Case postale 84 1092 Belmont-sur-Lausanne