LifeZine No. 477: 29th 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. 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 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.....
Irish Government Minister Considers HPV Cervical Vaccine for Children
Minister for Health Mary Harney is looking at the possibility of a cervical cancer immunisation vaccine programme for girls aged nine to 11. Questioned about the introduction of a vaccine programme, Ms Harney said Canada was considering an immunisation programme for nine-year-olds while other countries were looking at a programme for 11-year-olds. "We have asked the national expert group, which advises on immunisation programmes, first, whether we should do it and second, how we should do it." She said the most effective way to introduce a programme would be through schools. Opponents of her views however say parental rights and authority to make medical decisions for their children would be violated by state-enforced vaccination for a highly preventable infection caused by sexual promiscuity. They also pointed out that such a programme presumes that all children are going to be sexually active, and in fact, encourages them to be sexually active. Furthermore, they have pointed out that little is known of the side effects this vaccination might cause in children. F& L.The Irish Times. CLICK TO READ MORE.....
Adult Stem Cell Hope for Eye Patients
People suffering from a rare genetic eye disorder have been successfully treated using adult stem cells. Doctors at the Queen Victoria Hospital in East Grinstead, England, are transplanting adult stem cells from dead donors, living relatives or the patients themselves onto the cornea of patients who were born without an iris. Four have reported improved comfort and vision. NetDoctor. CLICK TO READ MORE.....
Euthanasia Doctor Avoids Prison
A French doctor convicted of poisoning a terminally-ill patient has been given a one-year suspended sentence and permitted to continue medical practice. Dr Laurence Tramois faced a possible 30-year jail sentence, the BBC reported, after the hospital authorities reported the lethal injection administered in 2003. Dr Tramois claimed that Mme Paulette Druais, who was suffering from pancreatic cancer, told him she did not want to die "in filth”. BBC. CLICK TO READ MORE.....
United Nations Committee Criticizes Poland for Prohibiting Abortions
A United Nations committee has criticized Poland for prohibiting abortions. During a recent meeting at its headquarters, the UN’s CEDAW committee said Poland has not done enough on the abortion issue. The Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute (CFAM), a pro-life organization that lobbies at the UN, said CEDAW committee members questioned the Polish government on its stance on abortion. Committee members criticized Poland for allowing a conscience clause for physicians who don't want to do abortions. The committee also questioned the Polish representative about illegal abortions in the nation. According to CFAM's report, the Polish official said, “Every abortion is a tragedy” and said the biggest problem is the ability to provide support for single women who are pregnant. He said that need, not abortion, was the biggest question to address. The European Union and the United Nations have consistently put pressure on Poland to change its pro-life laws. LifeNews.com. CLICK TO READ MORE.....
Merck Drops Campaign for Mandatory HPV Vaccine
The drug company Merck & Co. has cancelled nationwide lobbying efforts in the USA to make its new vaccine against the sexually transmitted human papilloma virus (HPV) mandatory for all schoolgirls. Growing opposition among family and medical organizations, along with allegations that the vaccine was inadequately tested and had produced serious side effects, convinced Merck to pull back from its campaign efforts promoting the Gardasil vaccine. Among the groups opposed to the campaign was the American Academy of Pediatrics and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). “Merck’s early push was not the way to go”, said Larry Pickering of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) for the CDC. The vaccine’s benefits were sharply questioned by the National Vaccine Information Center (NVIC) prior to the CDC’s approval of the Gardasil vaccine for all pre-adolescent girls in June 2006. In a statement to the press June 27, 2006, the NVIC criticized the Food and Drug Administration for “fast-tracking” the vaccine without adequate tests of its safety, and accused Merck of obscuring side effects noted in the clinical trials of the vaccine. Apart from the revelation of serious health concerns and inadequate testing of the vaccine, parents and concerned groups have objected to the vaccine’s promotion for girls and young women, since HPV is a sexually transmitted disease linked to promiscuity. LifeSiteNews.com. CLICK TO READ MORE.....