Canberra, Oct. 4, 2007 (CWNews.com) - The Australian Catholic bishops' conference has encouraged Catholics to break off ties with Amnesty International because of the group's commitment to endorse legal abortion.
 
 Archbishop Philip Wilson of Adelaide, the president of the Australian episcopal conference, noted in a public statement that many Catholics had embraced Amnesty International membership because of the organization's dedication to human rights.
 
 “However Amnesty International has now adopted a position which goes against the Catholic understanding of the dignity of the human person and the sacredness of life,” he said. Because of that stand, he said, "membership of Amnesty International is no longer compatible with Catholic teaching and belief on this important point.”
 
 “After due consideration, we now also urge Catholics, and all people who believe in the dignity of the human person from natural conception until natural death, to seek other avenues of defending human rights," the archbishop said.