LifeZine No. 471: 12th Mar 07
Special Book Offer From Family & Life!
In every age and every country, valiant men and women have rejected the empty pursuit of worldly comforts and devoted their lives to bringing the transforming truth of Jesus Christ to people who do not know Him. Here in this classic book, “Heroes of God”, we have the courageous deeds of these heroes, told with exhilarating vigour and immediacy by the master Catholic historian Henri Daniel-Rops. From pagan Rome and Aztec Mexico to forbidden Tibet, Muslim North Africa, and the farthest reaches of the earth, these intrepid Catholics cheerfully risked rejection, ridicule, imprisonment, and even torture and death in order to proclaim the saving message of Christ. These astonishing but true stories acquaint you with men and women who will strengthen your gratitude for your Catholic faith. Daniel-Rops inspires us to make a renewed commitment to the Catholic Faith, and to have the courage to stand up for it. This book is now available from Family & Life. Details: CLICK TO READ MORE.....
Senators Call for Debate on Crisis Pregnancy Agency
A prominent Irish Government Senator has called for a debate on the way the government-appointed Crisis Pregnancy Agency (CPA) operates. Speaking in the Seanad (Senate), Fianna Fáil Senator Jim Walsh called for a debate on the “Crisis Pregnancy Agency and its modus operandi”. Senator Walsh said he had received “reports and complaints from voluntary groups working hard in that area. These groups are finding it difficult simply because the CPA wishes them to deviate from their ethos.” “That is unacceptable”, he pointed out. The CPA has come in for widespread criticism in Ireland because of its demand that the Catholic pregnancy counselling agencies it funds eg. LIFE and CURA, promote the CPA’s pro-abortion “Positive Options” leaflets. The Senator’s call was supported by Senator Des Hanafin who said that “no group which stands for life (i.e. LIFE/CURA) should be asked to give information on abortion referral. It is contrary to what it believes”. Details: CLICK TO READ MORE.....
Statistics Highlight Failure of UK Government’s Teen Pregnancy Strategy
The UK Government has tried to defend its Teenage Pregnancy Strategy in the face of latest figures showing a jump in under-age conceptions. The Office for National Statistics revealed that in England during 2005, 7,462 girls under the age of 16 became pregnant, an increase of 281 on the previous year. The numbers translate to an increase in the rate of underage pregnancies per 1000 girls of 4%, the biggest single annual increase for 10 years. A pro-life spokesman said, “In recognition of its evident failure in this regard, the Labour Party have announced a major review of sex education policy.” He said he welcomed this latest vindication and looked forward to the day when pro-life views would be heeded by government policy-makers. Daily Telegraph. CLICK TO READ MORE.....
MAP For Children in UK
13-year-old girls in Portsmouth, England, will be able to obtain the morning-after pill (MAP) free of charge and without parental knowledge, provided they can prove their age. The pregnancy rate among 15 to 17-year-olds in Portsmouth is 26% higher than the national average. Canon David Hopgood, Dean of St John's RC Cathedral, has criticised the local health authorities plan, saying that it would not solve the problem. “They need to be looking at family life, the importance of marriage and good stable homes where children are brought up with stronger values”, he argued. The Portsmouth News. END.
Swedish Church Leaders May Oppose Government Re-Election Over Abortion
Two Church leaders in Sweden said they might urge Christians to oppose the re-election of the government in upcoming elections because of its recent proposal on abortions. Two weeks ago, government officials proposed to make Sweden an international destination for women seeking abortions. The Christian Democrats political party, which frequently has the support of religious groups, could find itself being hit the hardest over the fallout. Sweden's Catholic bishop Anders Arborelius and Sten-Gunnar Hedin, head of the evangelical Philadelphia Church in Stockholm, said they were “sad that this proposal is backed by a Christian Democrat social affairs minister, Goran Hagglund. It is incomprehensible that he is supporting this proposal while claiming that it was required by the EU, something that this country's leading EU law expert, Professor Ulf Bernitz, insists is not the case.” LifeNews.com. CLICK TO READ MORE.....
Pregnancy Centres Applaud ‘Time’ Magazine Story on their Work in Reducing Abortions
A recent issue of “Time” magazine featured a dramatic cover story highlighting the work of the USA’s pregnancy resource centres and the effect they have had on helping women in crisis pregnancies and reducing abortions throughout the country. Titled, the “Abortion Campaign You Never Hear About”, “Time” magazine focused on the centres and calls them “the new face of an old movement: kind, calm, non-judgmental”. Despite some examples of bias in the news story—it erroneously says childbirth is riskier than abortion—Care Net’s Kristin Hansen said the article was a good start in acknowledging their positive work. Hansen called the “Time” story a “long overdue recognition of the growth and impact of pregnancy centres”. She added, “We’re encouraged to see the society at large take notice and ask tough questions.” LifeNews.com. CLICK TO READ MORE.....