LifeZine No. 535: 24th Oct 07
A Victory for Unborn Children as Northern Ireland Politicians Unite in Opposition to Abortion
The Northern Ireland Assembly’s passing of a motion against abortion has been described as “a victory for unborn children.” Director of Precious Life Bernadette Smyth said, “Our petitions were signed by thousands of people from all across the community in Northern Ireland. The pro-life motion received massive cross-party support. Our Assembly Members—Catholic and Protestant, Unionist and Nationalist—represented the people of Northern Ireland by coming together to unite in their opposition to abortion.” Bernadette Smyth concluded, “We are overjoyed that the majority of our Assembly members voted in support of the motion. This was a victory for our unborn children. Together with our 120,000 petitions, the passing of this motion has sent out a clear, unanimous message to the world, that the people of Northern Ireland will stand for nothing less than the protection for our unborn babies and their mothers from abortion.” Details: CLICK TO READ MORE.....
‘Heinous Nature of Abortion’ Discussed in Ireland’s Seanad
Strong support was expressed in Ireland’s Seanad (Senate) for continued state funding for CURA, the Catholic pregnancy-counselling agency. The Crisis Pregnancy Agency (CPA) has threatened to withhold funding to CURA unless it provides the pro-abortion Positive Options leaflet to its clients. Fiona O'Malley (PD) and Ivana Bacik (Ind.) had objected to further funding. Maria Corrigan (FF) challenged them and said it would be “absolutely outrageous” if that body was not getting public funds when in fact CURA should receive extra State funding to enable it to continue its valuable work. Jim Walsh (FF) said a recent television programme had shown aborted babies "with hands and fingers and it showed the heinous nature of abortion. If Senators O'Malley and Bacik watched that programme, it would change their views on the issue.” Rónán Mullen (Ind) pointed to the “increasing disquiet in Britain about abortion and how it was taking place. Even abortion practitioners were saying that the culture was ‘copping out morally’ and that society required of them things with which they were increasingly uncomfortable.” Details: CLICK TO READ MORE.....
RCOG Challenges Abortion Industry on DIY Abortions
A parliamentary inquiry into abortion legislation in Britain has been advised that chemical abortions are safe to carry out at home. Abortion-inducing drugs are given in two doses with an interval of two days. Current UK law requires that both should be administered in a clinic or hospital, but the Independent Advisory Group on Sexual Health and HIV testified that it was safe for the second stage to be carried out at home. The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists warned that more research was needed before the law was changed. The "Independent Advisory Group" is chaired by veteran pro-abortion campaigner, Baroness Gould and also includes people from the Family Planning Association, Brook and the Sex Education Forum, as well as abortion practitioners, besides a number of AIDS/HIV experts. The Daily Telegraph. CLICK TO READ MORE.....
Halt Embryonic Stem Cell Research and Protect Human Life, Insists Pope
The Pope has appealed to scientists to stop using human embryos. Speaking to the ambassador of South Korea, where there are moves to ease restrictions on human embryo research and cloning which were put in place following the 2006 scandal over forged research, Benedict XVI said that scientific research should follow ethical principles, and that a human being may never be manipulated or used as an object of research. CNA on EWTN. CLICK TO READ MORE.....
Maltese Overwhelmingly Reject Dutch Abortion Ship
Rebecca Gomperts, a Dutch pro-abortion activist was met with protests when she arrived in the Maltese capital of Valletta October 10 to deliver a lecture advocating abortion. The visit however was met with “overwhelming opposition”. As the strongly pro-life Maltese protesters, organized by Gift of Life Foundation, stood in a silent candlelight vigil outside, Ms Gomperts spoke to media at an invitation-only event at the Castille Hotel in Valetta. Gomperts runs the abortion organisation Women on Waves which uses a converted fishing boat as an “abortion ship”. LifeSite.net. CLICK TO READ MORE.....
Australian Bishops Urge Break with Amnesty International
The Australian Catholic bishops' conference has called on Catholics to break off ties with Amnesty International (AI) because of the organisation's new policy of endorsing legalised abortion. Archbishop Philip Wilson of Adelaide, President of the episcopal conference, said that AI had adopted a position which goes against the Catholic understanding of the human person and the sacredness of life, such that membership was no longer compatible with Catholic teaching and belief. He urged Catholics to seek other avenues for defending human rights. CWN on EWTN. CLICK TO READ MORE.....