LifeZine No. 560: 23rd Jan 08
Promoting Marriage an Excellent Start on Children’s Rights Amendment
According to the “Irish Independent’s” David Quinn, “our Government is currently trying to decide whether or not we're going to have a children's rights amendment this year. Well, if we're to have an amendment, then shouldn't we include in it the right of a child to be told of his or her biological origins? Or, if not in an amendment, then in legislation?” He added, “Liberal societies do overvalue adult freedom. Adults are permitted, nay encouraged, to pursue their own self-fullfilment in pretty much anyway they want and it's the children who have to accommodate themselves. The children's rights movement needs to address itself to this fact. For starters, it needs to ask itself whether children do, indeed, have a right to a mother and father and then to say what it intends doing to ensure that this right is realised for as many children as possible.” “Promoting marriage would be an excellent start”, he added. Details: CLICK TO READ MORE.....
'Frankenstein Science' Slammed by Northern Ireland Politician
A Northern Irish parliamentarian has warned that the Human Fertilisation and Embryology bill, recently passed by the UK’s House of Lords, will lead to "Frankenstein science". Lord Morrow, chairman of the Democratic Unionist Party, said: "The sanctity of human life is an issue which transcends any party political considerations. We tinker with the delicate fabric of human life at our peril and any moves which would undermine or reduce the value which we place on it must be resisted at all costs." Lord Morrow argued the bill could open the way for the development of a human-animal hybrid embryo and for genetically modified babies to have three parents. Along with a number of Northern Ireland peers, Lord Morrow voted against the Bill during sessions in the Lords over the past few weeks. Details: CLICK TO READ MORE.....
Women Donate Eggs for Cheaper IVF
A UK fertility centre has started a scheme offering half-price IVF treatment for women who donate their eggs to research. The Newcastle NHS Fertility Centre for Life has selected 15 women to take part in the scheme after 100 came forward. Six patients will begin treatment this month and receive £1,500 off their IVF treatment—about half the usual cost. Scientists say extra eggs for research could progress stem cell therapies for conditions like Parkinson's. The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority issued the licence for the two-year project to start. The human eggs, which are donated to research, will be used in the creation of embryos from which stem cells can be extracted, thereby destroying the embryos. BBC. CLICK TO READ MORE.....
MP Introduces Bill to Stop Throwing Away Life Saving Blood
A British MP is planning to present a bill to Parliament to encourage the preservation of umbilical cord blood for medical treatment and research. David Burrowes, Conservative MP for Enfield Southgate, said: "Through my Bill I want to stop the waste of life saving cord blood and open up the opportunities for treatment of diseases and ethical stem cell research." He particularly called attention to the total lack of awareness of the value of umbilical cord blood in the public consciousness: "Despite having had six children, and living adjacent to one of only three [state] hospitals which collect cord blood, my wife and I have never been informed of the benefits of donating the umbilical cord blood." The bill has gained cross-party support as well as that of the Anthony Nolan Trust, the UK Leukaemia Society and the UK Thalassaemia Society. Christian Today. CLICK TO READ MORE.....
Spanish Abortion Rate Skyrockets to over 100,000 Annually
Spain's annual abortion rate, which has increased dramatically since the socialist government's decriminalization of the practice in 1985, has now reached over 100,000 annually, according to recently released government figures. The increase represents a doubling of the number of surgical abortions since 1997, when the rate was a little less than 50,000. As the Spanish pro-family website Forum Libertas observes, this increase has occurred despite the promotion of contraception and the introduction of the "morning after pill", which are touted by their promoters as a means of avoiding the "necessity" of a later abortion. According to Forum Libertas, the use of contraceptives has increased 60% since 1997, and "morning after pill" use has increased 67% since it was introduced in the year 2000. And still, or more likely because of these factors and some others, the abortion rate has doubled since 1997. In reality, "morning after" drugs are abortifacient themselves, and therefore their use has actually added to the total number of surgical abortions performed annually. LifeSiteNews.com. CLICK TO READ MORE.....
UNFPA Annual Report Puts ‘Reproductive Health Services’ Before Development
In a newly released report, the UN's population agency (UNFPA) has stated that its primary focus is the promotion of contraception, especially among the young. UNFPA also intends to put pressure on governments to spend more money on “reproductive health services”, and to promote the increased use and quality of contraceptive services. Despite claiming to be abortion-neutral, the UNFPA has been long involved in China’s forced abortion programme. C-fam. CLICK TO READ MORE.....