NEWS & VIEWS
from a CATHOLIC perspective

      NEW YORK (CWNews.com) - A Catholic pro-family organization warned parents on Friday that money they drop into UNICEF boxes carried by Halloween trick-or-treaters may actually be used to support abortion throughout the world.

      "Two years ago the Holy See Mission to the UN withdrew its money from UNICEF because the agency was involved in supporting abortion overseas, especially in refugee camps," said Austin Ruse, director of the Catholic Family & Human Rights Institute (CAFHRI). "We are told the Holy See would be happy to return to UNICEF under certain conditions. Those conditions have not been met."

      Each year, UNICEF sponsors a special program for US children who carry the small donation boxes, often distributed at schools, door-to-door as they collect candy on Halloween. The funds are then returned to UNICEF to support its programs.

      Ruse cited UNICEF's assistance in the preparation of a field manual for use by relief workers in refugee camps. "The field manual overtly supports the use of things like vacuum aspirators that are used for abortion. And they urge their use in refugee camps, the most dangerous and disease-ridden places on earth."