O'Sullivan's First Law ("All organizations that are not actually right-wing will over time become left-wing) has just received more empirical support from the very organization that first prompted his formulation: Amnesty International.

A bishop has become the first high-profile Catholic in England to withdraw support for Amnesty International after its decision to back abortion as a viable option for women who have been raped.

The Rt Rev. Michael Evans, Bishop of East Anglia, who had been actively involved in the human rights charity for 31 years, claimed he would be the "first of many" to cancel his membership after leaders voted overwhelmingly in favour of including access to abortion in their definition of human rights.

Evans, 55, said he was "very sad" at abandoning his work with the organisation.

"There are undoubtedly many Catholics who will now sadly have to withdraw membership. Bishops, priests and lay people will have to make a very serious decision about their memberships, and I would expect them to make the same decision.