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Spanish Bishops Conference president described as very pro-life
The new president of the Spanish bishops' conference is being described as very pro-life. Cardinal Antonio María Rouco Varela, Archbishop of Madrid, has criticised government policy on abortion. The media sees the cardinal's election as an act of defiance. [LifeSite, 4 March]
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New Centre to commemorate victims of Nazi euthanasia programme
Brandenburg, Germany, is to open a centre to commemorate 9,000 mentally ill people killed there as part the Nazi euthanasia programme, "Operation T4". Over 100,000 people in total are thought to have been killed in T4 between 1940 and 1945. [Reuters, 4 March]
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High levels of alcohol consumed by pregnant women in Ireland A survey of Irish women suggests that half of them drink alcohol in pregnancy and that one in 20 consumes more than 100ml (10 units) a week. [Irish Independent, 29 February ]
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German Politician links free availability of abortion to higher murder rate of born children
A German politician has suggested that freely available abortion in the former (east) German Democratic Republic led to a lack of respect for human life and was linked to a higher murder rate of children who had been born than in the western part of the now-unified country. Mr Wolfgang Böhmer, who practised gynaecology in the former GDR, and is now prime minister of Saxony-Anhalt, has been accused of criminalising mothers. [Observer, 2 March]
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Malta, Poland and Ireland reject Reproductive Health language at UN
Malta and Poland have dissented from the European Union's line on reproductive health at UN's Commission on the Status of Women meeting in New York during week 1 of the conference. Mr Saviour Borg, Maltese ambassador, said that any position on women's issues "should not in any way create an obligation on any party to consider abortion as a legitimate form of reproductive health rights, services or commodities". Mr Radosław Mleczko, Poland's labour and social affairs minister, made a similar statement. The EU seldom splits on social policy. [Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute, 28 February]
Note:
During week 2 of the Commission on the Status of Women conference in New York Ireland joined Malta and Poland in dissenting from the pro-abortion language
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Dr. Ian Paisley to resign as First Minister of Northern Ireland Assembly
The first minister of Northern Ireland is to step down from that job and as leader of his Democratic Unionist Party in May. [Telegraph, 5 March] Rev Dr Ian Paisley is an outspoken opponent of liberal abortion and takes a pro-life stance on several issues. He will continue as a member of the Northern Ireland assembly and as a Westminster (national) MP where he is expected to speak out in opposition to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology bill. John Smeaton, SPUC national director, has commented on the retirement in his blog.
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Catholic Cabinet Ministers to rebel on Embryology Bill ?
The press are speculating that three British cabinet ministers could defy an instruction from their party to support their government's Human Fertilisation and Embryology bill. Ms Ruth Kelly and Messrs Des Browne and Paul Murphy, all Catholic MPs, are said to be contemplating a rebellion. The government calls the bill "vital". [Telegraph, 6 March] John Smeaton, SPUC national director, commented: "Of course it's right that politicians should demand the freedom to vote according to their consciences, without being penalized by their party, on a bill which, if passed, will cost the lives of countless human beings. However, we must not confuse the issues. Whatever their party leaders may threaten, politicians have a moral duty to vote against the bill. No punishment meted out by Gordon Brown on cabinet ministers or backbench politicians, however dreadful, absolves them of their moral responsibility to vote against such a bill."
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Woman, one of first to have abortion in UK, expresses regret
A woman who was among the first in Britain to have a legal abortion 40 years ago regrets it to this day. Remorse struck Ms Jo Woodgate, 62, of Devon as she held her niece's newborn baby. She writes: "I was wrong in thinking abortion was the easy way out of what, at the time, felt like an intolerable situation. With hindsight and maturity, I now know that I could have coped and, with each year that has passed, I've only felt a growing sense of guilt and regret over my actions." [Daily Mail, 5 March] | |
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