Personhood USA taking its case outside the U.S.

Personhood USA has been taking its cause outside of the country lately. The group, which works to criminalize abortion and some forms of birth control, recently applauded Hungary for adopting a new constitution (.pdf) that it says “goes further in protecting the personhood rights of all humans by protecting humans from trafficking, medical experimentation and human cloning.” #

In a press release, Personhood USA cofounder Keith Mason said that the country’s constitution should be “an example to the entire EU and to us here in the USA.” #

According to the release, Personhood sought to establish a similar constitution in the Dominican Republican in 2009, teaming up with San Jose-based group Live Action. According to its website, Personhood petitions are currently active in all 50 states. #

The group has extended its reach in other countries, as well. In April, the group announced a new website, filipinofamilyvalues.com, aimed at Filipinos in both America and the Philippines. #

The site is an effort to petition opposition to the country’s proposed “Reproductive Health Law,” which would have required that contraceptive information to be distributed in public and private schools, and allowed for the use of government funds to buy contraceptives. #

Says Personhood USA: #

Under the guise of reducing poverty, the “Reproductive Health” law would in fact take away limited government funds from many high priority medical and food needs, transferring them to fund harmful and deadly abortifacient and anti-family programs, open the door to abortion on demand, increase teenage pregnancy, and force public and private institutions under penalty of law to teach “sex education” in a manner that violates the deeply rooted cultural, social, and religious norms of the Filipino people. #

The bill has proved to be divisive in the Catholic-dominated country. According to the Philippine Star, some of the country’s bishops have “threatened to excommunicate Catholic government leaders supporting the bill.” Personhood USA called the bill a “highly unethical and coercive use by the current administration of tax payer funds to undermine Filipino culture, to undermine the constitution of the Philippines, and to undermine the deeply held religious beliefs of the overwhelming majority of Filipinos.” #

Though Personhood is thought by many to be extreme, it has the potential to make headway with the endorsements from more powerful anti-choice groups. Though many state representatives have distanced themselves from the group’s attempts at a Personhood amendment in Florida, a backing by a group like Live Action could ultimately yield results. #