LifeZine No. 514: 15th Aug 07
Irish Pro-Life Tide ‘Moving in the Right Direction’ as Abortion Figures Drop
The number of Irish women seeking abortions in Britain has fallen by almost a quarter in six years, according to new figures. This is the sixth consecutive year showing a clear and steady decline. Over the past six years the figure has decreased by 1,631. Significantly, the abortion rate—the number of abortions per 1,000 women aged between 15-44 in the population—is also down from a high of 7.5% per 1,000 women in 2001 to just 5.2% in 2006. A pro-life spokeswoman said that it “indicates the tide is moving in the right direction and that a trend towards abortion is not inevitable”. She continued, “While any reduction in the abortion rate is good news, nonetheless the figures remain extremely high and leave no room for complacency.” In particular, she pointed, “The Crisis Pregnancy Agency (CPA), has a responsibility to ensure that sufficient resources are put in place to provide real and positive alternatives to abortion.” This, however, does not appear to be the case at present. Details: CLICK TO READ MORE.....
Dublin Conference on ‘The Fragmenting Family’
Please note the forthcoming Conference on "The Fragmenting Family", which will take place in Dublin on Friday, September 14. It is being organised by the Iona Institute. The conference will discuss issues facing the family in Ireland today. In particular, the conference will examine trends in family life in the light of Census 2006. This shows that family breakdown in Ireland is increasing rapidly and non-marital family forms, especially cohabitation, are also increasing rapidly. The conference will also examine cohabitation as a sociological phenomenon and will look at attempts to redefine radically the meaning of family and even of parenthood. Currently, far-reaching legal changes are being proposed to family law in Ireland, and combined with social trends that are adversely affecting marriage, this conference is both timely and topical. Try to attend, and tell any of your friends who might be interested. Details:CLICK TO READ MORE.....
UK Birth Certificates ‘Should Tell Donor Children Who Their Real Parents Are’
The birth certificates of UK children born from donated eggs and sperm would be marked with details of the way they were conceived, under proposals advanced recently by MPs and peers. A legal requirement to register such births openly is the only way of ensuring that children conceived from donors have the right to learn of their biological origins, a parliamentary committee that is scrutinising fertility reforms said. The joint Commons and Lords panel said that it recognised “the force of the argument” for including this information on birth certificates, and urged ministers “to give this consideration as a matter of urgency” for legislation that will be included in the Queen’s Speech. The suggestion raises significant privacy issues, as birth certificates are public documents. Anybody would thus be able to find out whether any individual had been conceived from donated eggs or sperm. The Times. CLICK TO READ MORE.....
Polish Women Resent EU Programme Discouraging Stay-at-Home Mothers
Polish women are expressing their indignation at a new EU-funded government campaign that discriminates against stay-at-home mothers by pressurising women to work outside the home. Financed by the EU Structural Funds, the Polish government is launching a massive campaign to encourage women to work outside the home. Beginning in September, the "Woman Fulfilled in Business" campaign will launch TV ads, documentaries, billboards and a website. Women's rights activist Inga Kaluzynska is disturbed at the heavily biased message that the government is pushing. She noted that the campaign slaps stay-at-home mothers with a negative image. "This ideological project reminds me of socialist times", she said. "Communists also wanted to send women on tractors. This programme will only deepen negative stereotypes of women who stay at home and it will undermine the value of family life." The campaign is "simply harmful to womanhood," she continued. "As a mother and a conservative feminist, I don't find this project women-friendly." LifeSite. CLICK TO READ MORE.....
Cross-Country Pro-Life Walkers on the Move
A group of forty young Americans, who have completed four simultaneous walks across America and Canada, will conclude their three-month journey this Saturday with a rally on Capitol Hill, Washington DC. The keynote Speaker of the event will be former Reagan administration diplomat, two-time presidential candidate and Ambassador, Dr Alan Keyes. The walkers are part of an organization called Crossroads, and they have walked across America for each of the past thirteen summers to promote a cultural renewal in America to promote the dignity of human life. "I think every generation has a pivotal issue that defines the people who grow up during that time. For my generation, the issue of abortion is like the issue of slavery for the civil war generation", said Elizabeth Flessner, a 21 year-old Crossroads walker. "It is a huge epidemic that everyone has to face at some point in their lives." "America is a nation which should value every human life, no matter how weak or vulnerable", said Martha Nolan, Crossroads National Director. "We are dedicated to changing hearts and minds in order to help build a Culture of Life where all human life is respected and protected in law." Christian Newswire. END.
Abortionist Tiller Charged and Arraigned on 19 Criminal Counts
In the US, notorious abortionist George R. Tiller turned himself over to Sedwick County Sheriffs for his arraignment last Friday on 19 criminal misdemeanor counts for illegal late-term abortions. Tiller was processed and released by authorities, but did not appear in court himself. His attorney, Lee Thompson, entered "not guilty" to all counts on his behalf. Tiller was originally to be arraigned in Court, however his attorneys made the surprise move Friday a day after Operation Rescue (OR) had announced it planned to hold a prayer vigil outside the Sedwick County Courthouse for that day. Attorney General Paul Morrison charged Tiller with 19 counts of illegally using physician Ann Kristin Neuhaus of Nortonville who was financed by him to authorise his late-term abortions in 19 procedures from July to November 2003. LifeSiteNews.com. CLICK TO READ MORE.....