Contact: Lisa Correnti, Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute, 202-393-7002

NEW YORK, Jan. 17, 2014 /Christian Newswire/ -- C-FAM launched a global campaign today to support the Holy See -- the diplomatic seat for the Vatican -- at the UN table. It comes as a pro-abortion "Catholic" group seeks to remove the Holy See from the UN because it is effective in defending unborn children.

The Declaration in Support of the Holy See builds on a previous campaign that gathered support from 4,000 groups worldwide, including the largest Evangelical and Muslim groups in the world.

Today's launch opens the website DefendTheHolySee for individuals as well as groups -- all who agree with the vital role of the Holy See at the UN -- to sign the Declaration.

The Holy See is often in hostile territory at the UN. As one of 194, it is the most persistent member defending the right to life for the most targeted, those unborn. No other type of people have governments, UN agencies and wealthy foundations demanding the right to kill them.

"Catholics for Choice" is campaigning to kick the Holy See out of the UN. Its "See Change" petition gathered few signatures in its first effort over 10 years ago.

The DefendTheHolySee Declaration is available in English, French, Spanish, Portuguese and German. It was written by Professor Robert George of Princeton and William Saunders of Americans United for Life.

Austin Ruse, president of C-FAM, the Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute, said:

"The Holy See is the conscience of the UN. It is the only delegation that does not have political considerations in how they negotiate. They negotiate purely from first principles.

"The Holy See is a constant defender of life, faith and family at the UN. Governments look to the Holy See for leadership on these issues. The Holy See cannot be pressured by agencies like the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) that regularly threatens delegates with getting fired for not being sufficiently pro-abortion and threatens countries with losing funding. The Holy See cannot be pressured by donor countries in Europe that threaten poor countries with losing funding for not being pro-abortion, or pro-gender, or pro-gay."

 
People can sign the Declaration in Support of the Holy See at www.defendtheholysee.org.

The Declaration and signatures will be presented in New York, Geneva and Rome later this year.