LifeZine No. 532: 15th Oct 07
Bishop Defends Politicians on Abortion Legislation
The Catholic Bishop of Kilmore, Dr Leo O’Reilly, has defended Ireland’s politicians, following criticisms that they had been inactive on the abortion issue. Speaking at a press conference in Maynooth, Bishop O'Reilly said: "To be fair, the politicians are confronted with a very complex and difficult situation. On the one hand there is the decision in the X case and on the other hand there is the democratic decision of the people of Ireland in a referendum that there should be no abortion in Ireland." The situation was "not an easy one to square", he said. Bishop O'Reilly repeated that it was a core value of the Catholic Church that "human life is sacred at all stages". The Church of Ireland Bishop of Cashel and Ossory, the Right Rev Michael Burrows, had attacked the "systemic spinelessness" of politicians in failing to enact legislation to allow for abortion following the X case. Details: CLICK TO READ MORE.....
CURA to Forego CPA Funding if Necessary
In their joint statement for the country’s Day for Life, Ireland’s Catholic bishops said that "Christian compassion means that the right to life of the unborn child is an absolute". They also defended the Church's pregnancy counselling agency CURA as "an organisation that has sought to value and respect the life of mother and child”. The bishops, they said, were "determined that it will continue to do so without in any way compromising the faith and the principles that have motivated it from the beginning." The Crisis Pregnancy Agency (CPA) board is expected to discuss once again its difficulties with CURA's refusal to distribute a pro-abortion "positive options" leaflet. CURA receives funding from the agency, but a spokesman for the bishops said they would forego this if a solution were not reached. Details: CLICK TO READ MORE.....
UK Doctors' Code of Silence on Teen Abortions
The General Medical Council (GMC), which regulates doctors in the UK, has advised doctors that they need not, and in most cases should not, tell the parents of girls between 13 and16 if they have abortions, treatment for sexual infections, or birth control. Doctors are advised to try to persuade children between the ages of 13 and 16 to inform their parents, but have been told not to tell parents unless the child gives them permission. Family groups Christian Voice and Family and Youth Concern condemned the new guidelines. One of their spokesman said the guidance seems geared to bring GMC advice into line with the 2003 Sexual Offences Act and the 2004 Children's Act, which critics regard as seeking to normalise sexual activity for 13 year-olds. Daily Mail. CLICK TO READ MORE.....
British Pro-Life Lawyers’ Group to Protest 40 Years of Legal Abortions
A British group for pro-life lawyers is calling for support for its protest against 40 years of legalised abortion, as the UK marks the anniversary of the 1967 Abortion Act. The Lawyers’ Christian Fellowship (LCF) wants pro-life people to lobby their members of parliament (MPs). The LCF said that this autumn the Church was “facing one of the most critical moments in the fight against abortion” since the act was initially approved. “This October, 40 years after the passing of the Abortion Act, Christians across the nation are standing up and being counted, refusing to be silent about the taking of innocent lives and the trauma that has been caused to women and families who have been affected by abortion”, the group said. The organisation is planning a rally outside parliament for the afternoon of October 27 to “demonstrate that the current situation is no longer acceptable.” “This is a chance for the Church to show we are serious about making a difference, and to make up for the lost time when we have been all too silent on behalf of the unborn child”, the group added. LifeNews.com. END.
Portugal Sees Less Than Half the Number of Abortions Officials Expected
A leading health official in Portugal said the country is seeing less than half of the number of abortions predicted when its abortion law was relaxed. Currently about 25 abortions are done on a daily basis there. Jorge Branco, coordinator of the National Reproductive Health Programme, says the number is less than half of what he and others predicted. He said the figures are based on numbers from public hospitals and private abortion centres and called them a "photograph" of how many abortions are done in Portugal. Branco had told the “Portugal News” that about 20,000 abortions were expected to be done annually after the nation's parliament relaxed the abortion law. LifeNews.com. CLICK TO READ MORE.....
Abortion Predicts Breast Cancer Better Than Other Factors, Study Shows
A new study published in the “Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons” found that abortion is the best predictor of whether women will contract breast cancer. Abortion also is a better indicator of future breast cancer than six other commonly used factors. Patrick Carroll of the Pension and Population Research Institute in London conducted this new study and showed that countries with higher abortion rates, such as England & Wales, could expect a substantial increase in breast cancer incidence. "Induced abortion is found to be the best predictor, and fertility is also a useful predictor", he wrote. "The increase in breast cancer incidence appears to be best explained by an increase in abortion rates, especially nulliparous abortions, and lower fertility." He found that, when abortion rates are low such as in Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic, a smaller increase is expected. And in nations experiencing a decline in abortions, like Denmark and Finland, a similar decline in breast cancer is anticipated. LifeNews.com. CLICK TO READ MORE.....