LifeZine No. 583: 11th Apr 08
Embryo Bill Could Bring Legal Abortion into Northern Ireland by ‘Back Door’
Pro-life groups in Northern Ireland warn that Britain's Human Fertilisation and Embryology (HFE) bill could result in a constitutional crisis. Northern Ireland's pro-life group, Precious Life, said the bill could be used to bring abortion into Northern Ireland by the back door against the wishes of the majority of the people. Dr Ian Paisley, the First Minister of Northern Ireland and leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), has also warned British Prime Minister Gordon Brown that the Labour government's bill must not be used to bring legalized abortion into Northern Ireland. Dr Paisley said that the matter is one for the Northern Ireland Assembly, not the UK Parliament to decide. He reminded Mr Brown that all political parties in Northern Ireland are opposed to the bill. Details: CLICK TO READ MORE.....
Knights Launch Marriage Guide
The Knights of St Columbanus have launched a guide for all involved in the Sacrament of Marriage. “What God Joins—Towards a Meaningful Understanding of Sacramental Marriage”, has been designed to be, according to the group, “a user-friendly and supportive guide to any person whether they are involved in its celebration or who support and promote in any way the institution and the Sacrament of Marriage in the Catholic tradition. From the outset and throughout, the booklet offers both realistic and reassuring advice, as an extract from the foreward written by Supreme Knight Paddy Byrne suggests: “It’s [marriage] not always easy but it is certainly rewarding … We must be blessed. There must be someone looking after us. We could not do it alone. There must be a third party. I believe it is the Lord. We continue our journey.”” Knights of St Columbanus. CLICK TO READ MORE.....
Study: Abortion Can Cause Mental Illness
The Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCP) has reportedly endorsed studies suggesting that abortion adversely affects women's mental health. They are also said to have recommended that women seeking abortion should be informed about such risks. British Victims of Abortion (BVA) commended the RCP's draft position statement and welcomed the recommendation for a review of the mental health risks associated with abortion. Secondhand Smoke/Wesley J. Smith. CLICK TO READ MORE.....
Nearly 200,000 Abortions a Year ‘Not a Problem’ for UK's Biggest Abortion Company
In 2006, there were 193,700 abortions in Britain, most committed for "social reasons" unrelated to the mother's health. This, however, is "not a problem" according to the current chairman of the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS), Britain's busiest abortion company. Ann Furedi of BPAS responded to the concern in Parliament and the media in the last weeks of March over the rates of abortion and repeat abortions in Britain, saying that women simply have better things to do with their time than be mothers and that legal abortion has been a boon. Catholic priest and leading British pro-life advocate, Fr. Timothy Finigan, acknowledged a selfish unwillingness to take on responsibilities such as parenthood to be at the root of the problem: "People don't want to have children. The bottom line is there's an anti-life mentality where children are seen as a bad thing."LifeSiteNew.net. CLICK TO READ MORE.....
Italian Politicians Promoted More Restrictive Abortion Laws in Election Campaign
Silvio Berlusconi, the new Italian prime minister, has said he would approve of a “moratorium” on abortion. "I think that recognizing the right to life from conception to natural death is a principle that the UN could make its own, just as it did with the moratorium on the death penalty", he said in an interview. Giuliano Ferrara, the well known journalist first raised the issue following the UN's adoption of a resolution against the death penalty in December. CNA on EWTN. CLICK TO READ MORE.....
Health Secretary Asks Physicians Group to Respect Pro-Life Doctors on Abortion
A senior member of President Bush's administration has written in support of doctors' right to conscientious objection. Mr Mike Leavitt, the US Secretary for Health and Human Services, has written to the American Board of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists concerning a new policy being considered by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (ACOG), which would oblige practitioners to refer women to abortion centres. Mr Leavitt said such a policy would "would force physicians to violate their conscience by referring patients for abortions or taking other objectionable actions, or risk losing their board certification" and asked for clarification that the Board would not rely on the ACOG's policy when considering registrations. LifeNews.com. CLICK TO READ MORE.....