Why I Resigned from White Ribbon Australia. And Why You Should Too.

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This morning I sent a letter of resignation to the convenor of our local White Ribbon Day Australia Convoy. White Ribbon Australia has for many years campaigned against domestic violence in all its forms and worked hard to educate Australians. This is commendable and nothing that follows should be read as a rejection of the principles that underly that work.

However, over the past few days I was made aware that White Ribbon Australia also have a position statement on abortion that they published in February 2017 where they effectively advocate for unlimited abortion to birth. This has placed me in an impossible situation. I am outraged by the death of over 50 Australian women a year through domestic violence but I cannot even begin to find the words to respond to the death of perhaps 80,000 unborn babies over the same period. White Ribbon Australia present themselves as advocating for the protection of some of the most vulnerable in our community while at the same time promoting the active killing of even more vulnerable babies with the consequent often life-time trauma caused to those parents who are persuaded to participate in such acts.

The frustration in all this is that it is totally unnecessary. If White Ribbon had simply stuck to their core campaign then they would not place me and many others in this impossible situation. We want, along with the organisations that we represent, to work with whoever we can to eradicate family violence. But we cannot be associated with what is an even greater evil.

For that is what it is. I’m sure most readers do not need me to rehearse the arguments around abortion. Babies are human, made in the image of God and deserving our protection in their vulnerability (Psalm 139:13-16). Jesus spoke clearly about how children are of equal worth (Matt. 19:14) and deserving of prioritisation in our protection (Matt. 18:6). But they are not the only victims of abortion as those who counsel parents can testify.

Yesterday the Catholic Leader published on the growing controversy:

Controversy growing after White Ribbon pledges support for decriminalising abortion in Queensland

WHITE Ribbon Australia, known as the “Say no to violence against women” organisation is under scrutiny for supporting late-term abortion.
The nationally-recognised charity has also entered the Queensland election fray by supporting the “It’s Not 1899 Campaign” by Pro Choice Queensland.
White Ribbon is named alongside organisations supporting candidates in the current Queensland election who have made a “pro-choice” pledge to “vote to remove abortion from the criminal code”.
Ahead of White Ribbon Day on November 25, South Australian Christian high school teacher Trevor Grace and his wife Robyn, who runs Pregnancy Help SA, are leading a national campaign to inform organisations of the charity’s pro-abortion stance.
“Few people are aware that White Ribbon supports and endorses full-term abortion,” Mr Grace, a long-standing political activist, said.

Mr Grace said it was “hypocrisy” for White Ribbon Australia to come out quite publicly to advocate for late-term abortion and even the decriminalisation of abortion.
“The charity (which is being supported by public figures, media personalities, politicians and social justice advocates) claims to be ‘the world’s largest movement of men and boys working to end men’s violence against women and girls’,” he said.
“The irony there is that fifty per cent of the children killed in the womb are female.”
Hillsong Church, which opposes abortion but is committed to stopping family violence, has already dropped its partnership with White Ribbon.
Brisbane archdiocese is among Catholic organisations to have supported White Ribbon.
“In light of these developments, which are obviously a concern to us, the archdiocese is looking into any associations it has with White Ribbon,” the archdiocese said in a statement.

Decisions like this are difficult. However they will be necessary from time to time. Today this one has presented itself. If you think the systematic killing of children in the womb is wrong then I want to urge you to reconsider your association with White Ribbon Australia, despite the good work that they do.

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This Post Has 13 Comments

  1. Andrew

    I have never been a supporter of White Ribbon, and I am pleased to now have an “acceptable” reason for not being one. I have always been criticised for not supporting them.

    I am, however, a little bit troubled by this statement from the Catholic paper you quoted.
    Mr Grace said it was “hypocrisy” for White Ribbon Australia to come out quite publicly to advocate for late-term abortion and even the decriminalisation of abortion.
    Maybe it’s just the way that it is expressed, but I read that as saying that Mr Grace would have preferred that White Ribbon didn’t express their support publicly, but had done it secretly.

    1. David Ould

      hi Andrew. I think the hypocrisy they outline (and I also note in my letter) is that they speak out against violence in one place but in another advocate its use against the unborn.

  2. Jon

    David,

    Would you allow abortion in a case of rape victim being pre-teen when child birth would most likely kill both, at least the mother? There was a recent case is Brazil.

    Would you allow abortion in a case of adulterous wife just like in Numbers 5? To me it looks like this is God approved abortion.

    1. David Ould

      I think extreme cases make bad law, Jon. What’s the purpose of your question? If it’s to find an extreme outlier in order to attack a general principle then I have no interest in that method.
      Actually, I should be clearer. I have no interest in that conversation with you because my experience is that you aren’t really interested in a conversation at all.

      1. carmelo grasso

        well said!!!

      2. Jon

        I wasn’t talking about law or making anything a law, I just wanted to understand your world view how to handle those situations. But I notice when people avoid the question they know their views have problems… and yes you will blame my “style” or “conversation”.

        Interesting how you don’t want to discuss with people with different opinion, you didn’t publish my comment in previous thread and probably will not publish this one either. I guess preaching to choir is easier, but that of course makes a blog less interested or relevant. And looks like carmelo grasso is with you not to discuss hot topics with people with different views.

        I came to your blog to interact with you, but it is you who does not want it. It was a bit like that when we met. Shame.

        1. David Ould

          Interesting how you don’t want to discuss with people with different opinion, you didn’t publish my comment in previous thread and probably will not publish this one either.

          On the contrary, this website is full of my interactions with people who hold all manner of opinions. That’s not how I decide whether to expend my energy.

  3. Kylie M

    Societies that practice child sacrifice never last long, and it certainly looks like ours is crumbling fast. It is deplorable that there is little mention of what White Ribbon is doing from the churches. Looking at the info about them this has been their stance for about 2 years. Thanks David for bringing this out and those who are doing this. Hopefully lots of White Ribbon supporters drop out and speak out. white Ribbon should be shunned and called out for what it is: a barbaric and Godless organisation; oh, yes, under the guise of “ending violence against women”. Not!

  4. Alan Dungey

    David, what you’re experienced seems to me part of a broader and disturbing trend. Amnesty International, an organisation founded to support prisoners of conscience, came out in favour of abortion in 2007 and now campaigns in favour of repealing laws against abortion in Ireland and other places. Another example is “Beyond Blue”, which came out in favour of same sex marriage. I don’t know if it as a deliberate policy, but the effect is to drive serious Christians out of these organisations. We are gradually being marginalised in the civil life of this country.

  5. Simon Gabb

    Why is violence against men OK. #whiteribbonday

    1. David Ould

      hi Simon. I’m not aware of anyone who suggests it is.

  6. GregColby

    I totally agree with you on this issue. I am a supporter of a woman right to choose with regards to ealry stage abortion, however nothing cold convince me that late stage abortion is ever acceptable. If a foetus is viable, then it’s right to survive trumps all other considerations.

  7. Lisa

    No one ever seems to mention the fact that many women are pressured into having abortions because of men. Surely, this is yet another form of violence against women? I won’t support White Ribbon or Amnesty partly because of their stand on abortion. And, most certainly, hard cases make bad law – I agree, David.

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