Democracy alone is not enough says Pope
In an address at the reception of the new Fijian Ambassador to the Holy See Pope Benedict XVI praised the democratic system for giving "a voice to all the different sectors of society and encourages shared responsibility." However he went on to say "Democracy on its own is not enough, unless it is guided and enlightened by values rooted in the truth about the human person."Pope Benedict said it is in promoting values that the Holy See can "make an important contribution to the common good." "While governments take responsibility for the political ordering of the state, the Church unceasingly proclaims her vision of the God-given dignity and rights of the human person," he added.
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Canadian high school students unaware of consequences of sexual behaviour
A new survey carried out in Canada found that a very high proportion of Canadian high school students are unaware of risk factors for infertility, survey findings suggest. The survey carried out by Susan Quach, of Sunnybrook and Women's College Hospital Fertility Center in Toronto and reported by Reuters Health, found for example, most students were unaware that some sexually transmitted infections can cause infertility. More than 94 percent of the students did not know that sexually transmitted infections, such as chlamydia or gonorrhea can lead to infertility, Quash and co-investigator Dr. Clifford Librach at the University of Toronto report in the journal Fertility and Sterility.
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| Greetings!
In the final days of 2008 as we look forward to the new year we wish all our readers a happy and prosperous 2009.
2009 is already shapiing up to be a difficult one for the unborn. The Conscience Rule for health professionals enacted by the US Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS) is under fire from Hillary Clinton who has commenced legislation to overturn it.
The US acted as a counterbalance in the United Nations over the last eight years to the anti-life and anti-family policies of the EU, Canada and New Zealand. It appears now with the incoming US administration that this counterbalance will be removed and will inevitably result in making support for life and family issues more difficult.
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US pro-abortion wish list
A group US pro abortion organisations that provided major funding for President elect Barack Obama during his election campaign have together produced a 55 page wish list of policies they want to see implemented by the incoming administration. Their so called "smart and strategic" list includes the restoration of funding to the United Nations Population Fund UNFPA and the reduction in the price of birth control pills at college health centers. "We're going to be smart and strategic about our policy agenda to bring people together to make progress for women's health," Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, told the Wall Street Journal. "The Freedom of Choice Act is very important... but we have a long list of things to get done that I think can address problems immediately that women are facing, that are really immediate concerns." What the group did not expect is that the list would end up in the public domain. Barack Obama's transition team has posted the memo on his website. |
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New US Conscience Rule
The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has issued a " Conscience Rule" to uphold Federal laws that protect the right of health care providers not to participate in services to which they have a moral objection such as abortion. The new law which will enter into force just before President Bush leaves office ensures that health professionals cannot either be discriminated against or driven out of their profession for refusal to participate in such services. It also ensures that patients can access health professionals who share their ethical viewpoint. Wendy Wright President of Concerned Women for America (CWA) said, "Abortion groups are desperate to change the topic from abortion to birth control, and to deny health care providers the right to choose not to commit abortions. Forcing doctors, nurses and other health care providers to commit abortions would drive pro-life professionals out of the profession at a time when we need more doctors and nurses. It would deny patients the ability to choose doctors and health care providers who share their strong moral views. Many patients cannot trust their health to a doctor or nurse who commits abortions," According to Ms Wright Barack Obama is expected to undo this conscience rule once he enters the White House at the demand of abortion groups. If he does, "he will diminish the health care field of exceptional professionals who devote themselves to saving lives, corrupt the profession by requiring providers to violate their Hippocratic Oath to 'do no harm'." And he would harm women by denying them access to ethical health care providers,"
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Huge Pro-Life/Pro-Family Rally in Madrid
Many hundreds of thousands of people attended a Pro-life, pro-family rally in central Madrid on Sunday Dec 28th the Feast of the Holy Family to show solidarity for, and to promote traditional family values. The rally which included Mass started with a strong message from Pope Benedict XVI, who urged Spanish Catholics to uphold life and family values. "Dear families", the pope said in his message, "do not let love, openness to life and the incomparable links that join your homes weaken, the Pope is by your side." The Mass was concelebrated by Archbishop of Madrid, Antonio Maria Rouco Varela along with five other archbishops, 22 bishops and more than 300 priests. Neither police nor city officials would give an estimate of how many people attended, but the crowd according to conservative estimates numbered in the hundreds of thousands. In chilly, overcast weather, the Plaza de Colon was completely filled and the crowds spilled out into streets running off from it in all directions. see also Boston Globe Article |
Hillary Clinton in final Senate pro-abortion move
An article in the Albany Times, hostile to the unborn and to the new US conscience rule, says that Hillary Clinton has one final task as Senator, before she leaves office. She needs according to the article to help preserve the abortion rights and access to birth control that the Bush administration is trying to restrict on its way out of power. | |
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