LifeZine No. 557: 15th Jan 08
Irish Taxes Funding Abortion
According to Anne Scott, writing in the “Irish Catholic” newspaper, the “Church authorities” should oppose “head-on” the Crisis Pregnancy Agency (CPA) and “its abortion-promoting efforts”, instead of affording it “validity and recognition”. She was writing in the context of the recent agreement between the Catholic Bishops’ pregnancy counselling agency, CURA, and the CPA, whereby the CPA will continue to fund CURA which will in turn continue to be one of the cohort of organisations affiliated to the CPA. She noted that Irish taxpayers “might be even more peeved to know that [their] own money is being used to promote the same ill-gotten cause, i.e. abortion”. “Yes”, she said, “because the CPA is a government agency, our taxes help fund the CPA”. Details: CLICK TO READ MORE.....
Debate Looms on Best Way to Protect Children
The Irish Government proposes to include new protection for children’s rights in the Constitution. According to Fr Kevin Doran, writing in the current issue of the family newspaper “Alive!”, “Most people agree that children are vulnerable in many ways and that their rights should be protected. But how ought this be done?” He pointed out that “we adults also need to face up to our responsibilities. We make the decisions on many key matters because children are simply not mature enough. If children today are particularly at risk it is partly because some adults are so taken up with themselves that they take no real responsibility for what is going on in the lives of their children”. He noted, “parental neglect is a serious matter. But social workers and judges can make mistakes. There is no room for system failure in dealing with the lives of children.” Alive! January. Details: CLICK TO READ MORE.....
Fertility Doctor Faces Legal Action over IVF
Former clients of Dr Mohamed Taranissi plan to sue him after it was revealed that his IVF clinic in London was unlicensed. The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority ruled that his Reproductive Genetics Institute had treated an estimated 250 patients in 2005 without a valid licence. Muiris Lyons, a London lawyer who is handling the case, said: "Potentially all would be eligible to make a claim. Even if they were satisfied with the treatment they received, at the very least they may be entitled to have the cost of the treatment back because it was provided without a licence." The Observer. CLICK TO READ MORE.....
The Breast Cancer Epidemic
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," and fertility is also a useful predictor. The study, by Patrick Carroll of 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 (i.e., Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic) a smaller increase is expected. Where a decline in abortion has taken place, (i.e., Denmark and Finland) a decline in breast cancer is anticipated. Carroll used the same mathematical model for a previous forecast of numbers of breast cancers in future years for England & Wales based on cancer data up to 1997 that has proved quite accurate for predicting cancers observed in years 1998 to 2004. CLICK TO READ MORE.....
Quins Born to Russian Couple Who Refused to Abort Three of Them
In the UK, a Russian couple became the parents of quintuplets after they ignored the advice of doctors to have three of the babies aborted. It was claimed that it was not possible for all five to survive. Mr Dimitri Artamkin, father of the quintuplets, said: "Having the abortions was not an option. We believe God has given them to us and sent us here to Britain." The Sun. END.
Stem Cell Breakthrough Seen as Providential
The president of the International Federation of Catholic Medical Associations has welcomed the news of a stem cell research method that doesn't destroy human embryos, saying divine providence is indicating a path to researchers and doctors. Doctor Josep Simón said the recent breakthrough is particularly appealing to Western results-based societies. Two reports published in November showed how scientists generated pluripotent stem cells from human skin cells. The method avoids the ethical concerns raised by embryo-destructive research. "It appears that providence is indicating the path to doctors and other researchers", Simón said. "Catholic doctors still have some difficulties bringing many people to understand and accept that nascent human life is worthy of all respect. Nevertheless, only the research and treatments based on adult stem cells are giving results. "With adult stem cells, embryos are not destroyed and “besides we have results”, he noted. Simón said he is glad the breakthrough shows that a morally acceptable technique is also the best from a medical point of view. Zenit.org . CLICK TO READ MORE.....