LifeZine No. 561: 29th Jan 08
Lisbon Treaty Could Deliver Abortion to Ireland—Treaty Expert. Irish MEPs Challenge Contention
A “yes’ vote in this year’s referendum on the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty could provide a backdoor entry for abortion and euthanasia, according to one expert in European Law. Klaus Heeger, a German legal advisor in the European Parliament who has spent the past two years studying the treaty, admitted that abortion and even euthanasia could be forced on Ireland with both the Irish Government and people powerless to stop it, as a result of the treaty being ratified. Speaking to the “Irish Catholic” at the European Union offices in Dublin recently, Mr Heeger highlighted the supremacy of European law over national constitutions, with an end to national vetoes, as the main threat to Ireland’s democracy. “Once the Treaty is passed, all national laws will become subject to the European Supreme court. When the two are in conflict, the European law will be upheld.” Details: CLICK TO READ MORE.....
‘Don’t Ignore the Terrible Harm That Abortions Cause’—‘Sunday Times’ Challenged
A recent editorial in “The Sunday Times” (January 6) under the heading “Courage on abortion” suggested that abortion is a safe and appropriate health policy for Ireland. It said the time for talk was over—instead “it is action we need” and called for legislation to allow abortion in Ireland. It stated that “the demand by the Irish Labour Party that the government add abortion legislation to its ‘to do’ list for 2008 is timely and appropriate”. It continued, “What is required is for the Oireachtas (Parliament) to pass an Abortion Act. Given that Labour has raised the issue, the party should now table a private members’ bill.” However, the newspaper was subsequently inundated with letters challenging the editorial. Under the heading “Don’t Ignore the Terrible Harm That Abortions Cause”, correspondents from all over Ireland took “exception to the tone and content” of the editorial. Details: CLICK TO READ MORE.....
Embryos Challenge Fails in Lords
An attempt to ban the creation of human-animal hybrid embryos failed recently when the UK’s House of Lords rejected Lord Alton's amendment to the British government's Human Fertilisation and Embryology (HFE) Bill by 268 votes to 96. The bill allows research on hybrid embryos for 14 days after their creation. The Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of Winchester (Anglican) spoke in favour of the amendment, as did Lord Tebbit. BBC. CLICK TO READ MORE.....
IVF Clinics Told to Reveal Costs Before Treatment Starts
IVF clinics in Britain will have to reveal the likely costs of treatment to patients before they start to provide it, under new regulations from the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority. The decision came after a survey of 1,000 current and former IVF patients, which showed that, while 85% of patients paid for treatment themselves, only 20% of them were given a costed plan at the outset and more than 25% had to pay fees that they had not expected. The Times. END.
EU Report on Children Described as ‘a Cyanide Cocktail’
The European parliament recently voted for sexual and reproductive health and rights for children. MEPs approved “Towards an EU strategy on the rights of the child”, a report on children's rights by the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs. One of the report's articles calls: "... for Member States to ensure that all children and adolescents in and out of school are provided with tailored and comprehensive scientific information on sexual and reproductive health in order to make informed choices..." Pro-life spokesman Patrick Buckley said, “The report is a cyanide cocktail. There is not, and never can be, a right to abortion. The sooner our children are protected from the anti-life propaganda that passes as sexual and reproductive health education the better." Details: CLICK TO READ MORE.....
Another Study Shows Connection between Abortion and Substance Abuse
An Australian research team has found a close connection between abortion and abuse of drugs and alcohol. The work is added to a growing body of scientific research showing the long-term negative psychological effects of abortion on women. Young women who have had abortions are more likely to drink heavily and abuse hard drugs, the study found. The study of 1,122 young women showed that about one third had had an abortion. These were three times more likely to have abused methamphetamine, heroin or sniffed glue. They were twice as likely to be binge drinkers or alcoholics, and 1.5 times more likely to suffer depression. Researcher Kaeleen Dingle, from the University of Queensland, commented, "This is a very interesting but also a very controversial finding but there's also some evidence to suggest the procedure itself could put women on the path of a riskier and more abusive lifestyle." LifeSiteNews.com. CLICK TO READ MORE.....