LifeZine No. 599: 13th Jun 08
Push On to Target Children in Ireland for National HPV Vaccine Programme
Following a recommendation to Ireland’s Health Minister Mary Harney, girls as young as 12 could soon be vaccinated against the sexually transmitted virus which causes cervical cancer. The new vaccines protect against 70 per cent of the sexually transmitted infection known as human papillomavirus (HPV) behind cervical cancer. Asked if she expected controversy similar to that generated in the UK, her spokesman, Tracey Cooper, said the programme would be accompanied by an education and information campaign. Opponents of this vaccine programme say that parental rights and authority to make medical decisions for their children would easily be violated by a state-supported programme of vaccination for a highly preventable infection caused by sexual promiscuity. Details: CLICK TO READ MORE.....
IFPA’s ‘Disservice to Women’ as it Disputes Findings on Trauma Caused by Abortion
The Irish Family Planning Association (IFPA), which is a member of the International Planned Parenthood Federation, has disputed the recent Royal College of Psychiatrists' assertion that abortion can cause trauma in women. Mr Niall Behan, chief executive of the IFPA, was concerned these findings gave further credence to pro-life campaigners' long-held concerns that abortion damages women’s mental and physical health. Pro-life spokesman John Smeaton said, "As far as we know, no-one is saying that all women who have abortions are traumatised. To admit that some women are badly affected is to acknowledge that there can be problems. Abortion supporters' enthusiasm for promoting the practice can lead to their being in denial about the dangers. This is a disservice to women." Details: CLICK TO READ MORE.....
Bishop Angry Over 'Cheapened Life'
The Catholic Bishop of Lancaster, England, has lamented the cheapening of human life. Rt Rev Patrick O'Donoghue said: "Every embryonic human person is a wonder of creation, who possesses the inherent right to realise his or her potential for creativity, love, self-sacrifice, and joy." He added, “There was no evidence that animal-human embryos could be of any therapeutic use.” Cures for diseases should not be sought “at the cost of de-personalising the unborn and treating them as things to be manipulated and dissected.” Lancaster Guardian. CLICK TO READ MORE.....
Shock as Scottish Abortions Reach Record Levels
The number of abortions in Scotland was the highest ever last year with more than 13,700 performed, nearly four percent more than in 2006. A quarter of abortions were repeats, and terminations on under-16s increased. The Catholic Church said the news was disheartening and the numbers "beyond the imagination". It blamed value-free sex education. The Archbishop of Glasgow has defended the Catholic Church from a newspaper's accusation that it has stifled debate on abortion. Most Rev Mario Conti pointed out that the Church has often warned that the country's sexual health strategy would fail if it just taught safe sex and not responsibility. Scotsman/Herald/Daily Express. CLICK TO READ MORE.....
Vatican Daily Derides Package of UK Anti-Life Measures Passed
The Vatican newspaper has called hybrid embryo research “useless”, and criticised British MPs decision to abolish the requirement for IVF children to experience paternal care. L'Osservatore Romano said such fatherless children would be “orphans before they were conceived”. Catholic News Agency. CLICK TO READ MORE.....
Brazilian Bishops Deplore Approval of Law Allowing Research on Embryos
Brazil's Catholic bishops have deplored a Supreme Court decision to uphold a law permitting human embryo-research. They said science proves embryos are human and thus need legal protection. The issue was not just a religious one, but one of the promotion of human rights, they affirmed. Catholic News Agency. CLICK TO READ MORE.....