LifeZine No. 533: 17th Oct 07
Irish Bishops Critical of Amnesty International on Pro-Abortion Stance
In a statement issued at the end of their October meeting in Maynooth, the Irish Catholic Bishops announced that they have joined forces with the English, Welsh and Scottish Bishops to focus public opinion in both islands on the importance of protecting all human life. The bishops condemned the recent decision by Amnesty International to support access to abortion "in limited circumstances". While expressing their "sensitivity" to the personal distress experienced by women in crisis pregnancy situations, the bishops criticised Amnesty for its "failure to recognise life as the most fundamental of human rights." However, the bishops expressed their support for the membership of Amnesty International's Irish Section for not favouring this change in policy, and for its continuing commitment not to campaign for abortion in any context. Details: CLICK TO READ MORE.....
Manipulative Wording of RTÉ Contraception Poll
Readers will doubtless have noted the continuing decline in the listenership figures of Ireland's national broadcasting network, RTÉ. Independent figures show that listeners are moving elsewhere, in particular to local radio. “Is it any wonder given the declining standards emanating from RTÉ”, opined one of our readers. Family & Life recently highlighted the scandal over the station’s Amnesty Poll. (See “LifeZine” No. 512: CLICK TO READ MORE.....
) It seems that RTÉ quickly closed that poll once they got a pro-abortion majority of 51%. Anyone who doubts that there was a pro-abortion bias at work regarding this poll has only to consider the way it was worded. Likewise, the wording of RTÉ’s recent “Contraception” poll is also heavily biased and is most certainly not a neutral poll. The poll question was: “On this World Contraception Day, should the Catholic Church update its policy on birth control?” The choices given were: “a: Yes, it could save lives; b: No, contraception is a sin; c: I don’t care what the Church does.” RTE. END.
Significant Advance in Adult Stem Cell Research
Tens of thousands of patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) could benefit from a revolutionary treatment if the tests taking place at the Frenchay Hospital, near Bristol, in the UK, are successful. The procedure involves patients being injected with stem cells taken from their own bone marrow, in the hope that these cells will travel to damaged parts of the brain and repair them. Researchers are confident that the stem cell therapy will be a major breakthrough for the 85,000 people in Britain who suffer from MS, many of whom are left wheelchair-bound and paralysed. Neil Scolding, Professor of Clinical Neurosciences for North Bristol NHS Trust, who is leading the trial, said: "We believe that bone marrow cells have the capability to repair precisely the type of damage that we see in the brain and spinal cord in MS. So by giving patients very large numbers of their own bone marrow cells we hope that this will help stabilise the disease and bring about some repair." The Daily Telegraph. CLICK TO READ MORE.....
Italian Court Upholds Food and Water for Patient
An Italian court has denied a request by a disabled woman's father to remove her feeding tube and authorise her death by starvation and dehydration. Eluana Englaro has been a coma for 15 years after being seriously injured in a car accident. Earlier this year, her father had asked a Milan court for permission to remove her feeding tube. This isn't the first time Englaro's case had been in court. In April 2005, the Italian Supreme Court confirmed a lower court ruling that her feeding tube should be kept in place. Englaro’s father, who believes that she would have preferred to die, had also brought that case. The court rejected the argument because there was no specific evidence on Englaro's views of life and death. LifeNews.com. CLICK TO READ MORE.....
Europe Proceeds With Death Penalty Day Despite Poland's Abortion Protest
The European Union moved ahead with its day of protest against the death penalty despite objections from Polish officials, who wanted to include a condemnation of abortion as well. Polish leaders say nations are united against death penalty and insist the event should also be used to mark the deaths of people from abortion. The European Day Against Death Penalty went ahead after the Council of Europe approved a resolution to that effect. Krzysztof Bosak, Polish member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, said any discussion of the protection of human life should acknowledge those people who lose their lives to abortion or euthanasia. "If we are to discuss life issues, let us be honest and not hypocritical," he told Polskie Radio. "It is not the death penalty, but abortion and euthanasia that kills millions of innocent European citizens every year. This is a real problem that should be highlighted." LifeNews.com. CLICK TO READ MORE.....
New Study Shows Abortion is 'Best Predictor of Breast Cancer'
“The Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons” recently published a study entitled, “The Breast Cancer Epidemic”. It showed that, among seven risk factors, abortion is the "best predictor of breast cancer". The study by Patrick Carroll of the Pension and Population Research Institute (PAPRI) in London showed that countries with higher abortion rates, such as England & Wales, could expect a substantial increase in breast cancer incidence. Where abortion rates are low (e.g. Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic) a smaller increase is expected. Where a decline in abortion has taken place, (e.g. Denmark and Finland) a decline in breast cancer is anticipated. LifeSite.net. CLICK TO READ MORE.....