LifeZine No. 558: 17th Jan 08
Labour Party Criticised on Abortion Legislation Call
The Pro-Life Campaign (PLC) has labelled a call by the Labour Party’s Jan O’Sullivan for abortion legislation as “disingenuous and hypocritical”. Ms O’Sullivan had recently accused the Irish Government of reneging on promises made in the wake of the “X Case” to legislate for abortion. However PLC spokesman John Smyth accused the Labour Party of repeating the “same tired old pro-abortion rhetoric” to placate its more radical, pro-abortion members on the issue. “There is something inherently hypocritical about a political party claiming to want to build a more inclusive and compassionate society while at the same time denying the humanity of unborn children”, he said. Details: CLICK TO READ MORE.....
Constitutional Referendum on Children’s Rights May be Delayed until 2009
The Irish Government's planned referendum on children may be delayed until next year as a growing consensus emerges that it should not be held on the same day as the Lisbon Treaty poll. The chairwoman of the Joint Committee on the Constitutional Amendment on Children, Mary O'Rourke TD, said that many committee members felt the two referendums should not be held on the same day. The Government has yet to make a decision on the date of either referendum, while Minister for Children Brendan Smith has said he is still hopes to hold the referendum on children this year. The Joint Committee on the Constitutional Amendment on Children, meanwhile, has been tasked with agreeing proposed changes to the Constitution by the end of April. The amendments will be aimed at providing greater recognition for children's rights, as well as providing for more robust child-protection measures. Details: CLICK TO READ MORE.....
Lifesaving Treatment for Newborns in Scotland
Newborn babies in Scotland are being saved by a new series of blood tests, which allow early diagnosis of diseases such as rubella, hepatitis and HIV. All babies born in the greater Glasgow area are now routinely offered these tests. Dr Emilia Crighton, the leading doctor on the programme, said, "All pregnant women living in greater Glasgow and Clyde are routinely offered screening for HIV, rubella, hepatitis B and syphilis. Over the last few years, for example, we have diagnosed seven mothers who are HIV positive, who have been able to start life-saving treatment." The Herald. END.
Top Economist Criticises UK Government’s Teenage Pregnancy Strategy
As underage pregnancies in Britain continue to rise, the government has been criticised for its focus on sex education and easy access to birth control. Professor David Paton, an economist at the Nottingham University Business School, said, "The underlying social deprivation of an area, family breakdown rates and religion seems to have a greater effect on teenage pregnancy rates than more obvious policies such as sex education or providing access to family planning. There has been a tendency for the Government's teenage pregnancy strategy to focus on creating schemes where teenagers can get the morning after pill or other forms of family planning at school or clinics. The danger with this sort of approach is that it can lead to an increase in risky sexual behaviour amongst some young people. There is now overwhelming evidence that such schemes are simply not effective in cutting teenage pregnancy rates." The Telegraph. CLICK TO READ MORE.....
Well Over One Million Spaniards Demonstrate for Marriage and Family
Between one and two million people gathered in Madrid's Colón Plaza and surrounding streets recently to affirm the values of marriage and family, and to protest at the socialist government's attacks. The gathering, held only three months before Spain's presidential elections, was addressed by Pope Benedict XVI by video link from St. Peter's Square, where he told the crowds that "the family, founded on marriage, an indissoluble communion of man and woman, is the sphere where the life of man is protected." "It is worthwhile to work for family and marriage", said the Pontiff. LifeSite. CLICK TO READ MORE.....
Pro-Life Blog Says Catholic Colleges Should Boycott Amnesty International
Another pro-life blog in the USA said that Catholic colleges and universities should boycott Amnesty International (AI) because the human rights group now supports abortion. Ivory Tower Heretics Blog said, "In their twisted logic, AI believe abortion should be available due to violence against women in cases of rape and incest." The Catholic Church teaches that abortion is harmful to women, the group and its blog said. "Not only is the procedure itself harmful to women, causing elevated risks of infertility, bleeding, breast cancer and psychological trauma, but in many countries abortion is used for sex selection, with females the intended victims. Abortion is murder of an innocent human baby, plain and simple." Vatican officials and Catholic Bishops throughout the world have condemned AI's new pro-abortion position and have resigned from the group. "Amnesty International was founded by a devout Catholic but has turned its back on Catholic faith and morals as the basis for human rights. They should have no place on Catholic college campuses", Ivory Tower concluded. LifeNews.com. END.