A senior British Roman Catholic bishop is to resign from Amnesty International after 31 years over the human rights group's new policy on abortion.
Dr Michael Evans, Bishop of East Anglia in eastern England, said he would be ending his long-standing membership in protest at a decision taken by the organisation earlier this month.
Bishop Evans said on the diocese's website that many Catholics would find it difficult to support an organisation that backed 'violence' against unborn children, whatever the circumstances.
He said the decision would almost certainly divide Amnesty's membership and thereby undermine its vital work.
The International Council of Amnesty International met in Mexico between 11 and 17 August.
It affirmed its policy on selected aspects of abortion: support for decriminalisation of abortion, campaigning to ensure women have access to health care when complications arise from abortion, and defending women's access to abortion, within reasonable gestational limits, when their health or human rights are in danger.
Amnesty spokesman Philippe Hensmans said the policy decision had been taken by the whole movement after a two-year debate in all sections in the world among members, believers and non-believers.
On 13 June, the Vatican called for Catholics to reconsider their support for Amnesty, accusing it of promoting abortion.
Amnesty responded saying they were not advocating abortion as a right but defending the right of women to be free from 'threat, force or coercion as they exercise their sexual and reproductive rights'.
