BREAKING NEWS UN Human Rights Council passes pro-family resolution

The United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council today passed a resolution for the "Protection of the Family" (link), despite opposition from the United States, the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. The resolution was passed by 26 votes in favour, with 14 votes against the resolution and six abstentions. Supporters of the resolution included the Russian Federation, India and Indonesia.

Earlier the Council rejected an amendment, designed to undermine the resolution, which promoted the false concept of "various forms of the family", as opposed to the natural family based upon marriage between a man and a woman.

Patrick Buckley, representing the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC) www.spuc.org.uk at Geneva, described the vote as "truly historic". He said: "Rarely has a resolution been so vigorously resisted by anti-life and anti-family forces."

The resolution:

• calls for "concerted actions to strengthen family-centred policies and programmes as part of an integrated comprehensve approach to human rights and development"
• recognises that "the family has the primary responsibility for the nurturing and protection of children"
• says that the family is "the natural environment for the growth and well-being of all its members and particularly children"
• describes the family "the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State"

Roll-call of votes on the resolution:

Yes (26):

• Algeria
• Benin
• Botswana
• Burkina Faso
• China
• Congo
• Cote d'Ivoire
• Ethiopia
• Gabon
• India
• Indonesia
• Kazakhstan
• Kenya
• Kuwait
• Maldives
• Morocco
• Namibia
• Pakistan
• Philippines
• Russian Federation
• Saudi Arabia
• Sierra Leone
• South Africa
• United Arab Emirates
• Venezuela
• Vietnam

No (14):

• Austria
• Chile
• Czech Republic
• Estonia
• France
• Germany
• Ireland
• Italy
• Japan
• Montenegro
• Republic of Korea
• Romania
• United Kingdom
• United States of America

Abstained (6):

• Argentina
• Brazil
• Costa Rica
• Mexico
• Peru
• The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

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Must-read pro-life news-stories, Thu 14 Nov

Top story:

Want to donate to The Philippines? Consider Caritas Manila

Archbishop Fisichella's prominence risks creating moral confusion

My picture shows Archbishop Fisichella (right), president of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization, with the co-authors of "Light of the World", a book-length discussion between Pope Benedict XVI and Peter Seewald, a German journalist.

How very unfortunate and inappropriate it is that Archbishop Fisichella should have been seen playing such a prominent role at the launch of "Light of the World".

Pope Benedict's comments about the use of condoms in that book have led to maelstrom of carefully created confusion in the mass media about Catholic teaching on condoms. Last month I warned that leading public figures in the name of the Catholic Church, in Britain and elsewhere, are misrepresenting the church's unchanging and unchangeable magisterial teaching on the use of condoms.

The picture above reminds me of the terrible damage Archbishop Fisichella has done to the Catholic Church's witness on abortion. He stands by the original wording of his article in L'Osservatore Romano, last year, which implied that there are difficult situations in which doctors enjoy scope for the autonomous exercise of conscience in deciding whether to carry out a direct abortion. Frances Kissling, of Catholics for a Free Choice, has said of the archbishop's position it "has opened a crack, through which women, doctors and political decision-makers can slip in".

Archbishop Fisichella's position on abortion gave comfort to Frances Kissling and, no doubt, to other opponents of Catholic teaching on abortion, such as Obama and Hilary Clinton, who are bankrolling abortion worldwide.

And those misrepresenting Catholic teaching on condoms worldwide, following Pope Benedict's interview, are now giving comfort to anti-life, anti-family legislators in the Philippines.

Thank God that the Kenyan bishops recently reiterated and reaffirmed "that the position of the Catholic Church as regards the use of condoms, both as a means of contraception and as a means of addressing the grave issue of HIV/AIDS infection has not changed and remains as always unacceptable".

I have frequently called for Archbishop Fisichella to be sacked. The price of not doing so is moral confusion in the church.

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Tony Blair Foundation collaborates with worldwide attacks on the unborn

I have been in Toronto in recent days attending two international pro-life meetings addressing several immediate threats to unborn children:

• in the US
• in Britain
• in Northern Ireland
• in the Republic of Ireland through the pro-abortion lobby's action in the European Court of Human Rights
• in Kenya
• in the Philippines
• and through the Tony Blair Faith Foundation.

At Canada's Campaign Life Coalition's international conference, I met John-Henry Westen (pictured right) and his LifeSiteNews team. I explained how Tony Blair, recently received into the Catholic Church, and his Faith Foundation was undermining Catholic teaching on the dignity and inviolability of human life. In a disturbing development, the Tony Blair Faith Foundation has teamed up with the Faiths Act Fellowship to promote the Millennium Development Goals. The Faiths Act Fellowship works with World Vision which is calling for abortion on demand to be legalised in the world's poorest nations - which was also, for Tony Blair's government, central to the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals, as I have previously pointed out.

At the International Right to Life Federation board meeting, Mr Bill Saunders, senior fellow and director of the Family Research Council's Center for Human Life and Bioethics (pictured left), said that, if Senator Barack Obama is elected US president, it will be Armageddon. Mr Obama's first action, if elected, would be to sign the Freedom of Choice Act, which is more radical and far-reaching than the infamous Roe v. Wade supreme court decision which in 1973 legalised abortion throughout the nine months of pregnancy throughout the US. If Roe v. Wade were revoked, the Freedom of Choice Act would overturn every state law against abortion. All of Mr Obama's appointments at the UN would be pro-abortion. At least two supreme court justices will be appointed during the next presidential term. If Senator John McCain is elected, whoever he picks will be better than the incumbents. If Senator Obama is elected, his choices will be worse.

How Abortion Rights lost the argument about illegal abortion figures

Abortion Rights stunt

Abortion Rights is the UK pro-abortion group formed by the merger of the National Abortion Campaign (NAC) and the Abortion Law Reform Association (ALRA), and is supported by the trades union movement. Yesterday Abortion Rights tweeted:

"There are 600-800 illegal abortions every day in Morocco. Support legalisation here: http://bit.ly/REHm9g"

Anthony Ozimic, SPUC's communications manager, tweeted back and here is the record of the conversation:

Anthony: "More fake figures from [the] abortion lobby, famous for such fakery. UK: pop. 60m, 600 legal abortions daily. Islamic Morocco: pop. 32m"

Abortion Rights: "Fakery? Don't make me laugh. Anti-choice groups have zero credibility when it comes to facts or medical accuracy."

Anthony: "Stop avoiding the q[uestion]. Back up [the] Morocco figures or withdraw. Admit abortion lobby history of faking illegal abortion stats."

Abortion Rights: "What? Don't be ridiculous. Figure comes from [the] petition link."

Anthony: "[The p]etition doesn't cite any studies, just asserts [the] figure. Back it up."

Abortion Rights: "Don't order me to back it up. If you've got a problem with the figures you're welcome to investigate. Till then, get lost."

Anthony: "In other words: you've lost the argument. No wonder you're reduced to silly stunts with coathangers and weird make-up." (Anthony was referring to a Guardian report last week, pictured).

Abortion Rights: "Ha! I won't take lessons in PR from the group that thinks 'gay marriage will increase abortion rate' is a good campaign idea."

Anthony: "We stand by our campaigns. Do you stand by the figures you tweeted for illegal abortions in Morocco?"

No further reply was received from Abortion Rights. Shortly afterwards they (we assume the tweeter was Darinka Aleksic, Abortion Rights' campaigns coordinator, pictured centre) told another pro-lifer on Twitter:

"[I]t was SPUC telling me to 'back it up', that got to me! Wouldn't normally be so irritated."

Well done Anthony for exposing the latest in a long line of cases where the pro-abortion lobby have simply invented illegal abortion figures - see the following blog-posts for more information:

• Claim of rise in illegal abortions globally is dubious
• Does legalizing abortion protect women's health?
• Pro-abortion lobby tries again to deceive Polish women
• The Philippines and backstreet abortion claims published today by AFP in Manila
• Diane Abbott MP misleads British public about "backstreet" abortion in Northern Ireland
• The Abortion Lobby's Massive Deception
  

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Reproductive Health Bill in the Philippines to resume hearings next week

On Saturday I blogged about a bill in the Philippines' house of representatives which would pave the way for abortion, and which promotes abortifacient birth control and sterilisation. The proposed law would over-rule medical staff's conscientious objection to being involved in such practices. I now hear from a contact in the Philippines that the appropriations committee will resume hearings on the measure a week from today (6 August). May I ask those of you who read this blog and who are religious believers kindly to pray earnestly that no part of this measure will pass into law.

Huge drop in abortions in Poland - Fascinating interview in Zenit

Antoni Zieba (pictured right) the secretary of World Prayer for Life, and vice-president of the Polish Federation of Pro-life Movements, was interviewed in Zenit yesterday. He provides fascinating insights into the reasons for the huge drop in the number of abortions currently being experienced in Poland and into the history of abortion in Poland - first legalized by the Nazis in 1943. "They wanted to eliminate Poles with abortion", says Mr Zieba.

In his role as secretary of World Prayer for Life, he recently proposed making March 25 the World Day for the Protection of Life, but without giving up the national Pro-Life Day. Quoting Pope John Paul II's Evangelium Vitae (#100), Antoni Zieba says that a great prayer for life should be made throughout the year "but I am convinced that March 25, feast of the Incarnation -- of Jesus' conception in Mary's body -- must become a world day of prayer for the defence of life".

As joint vice-secretary of the World Prayer for Life, naturally I support Antoni's proposal. In addition, I support a suggestion made closer to home here in England for a world fast day of prayer on 14th August - particularly in view of the terrible threat posed by the Human Fertilisation & Embryology bill, due to be debated again in Parliament in October and the appalling bill currently before the House of Representatives in the Philippines.

Today's must-read pro-life news-stories, Thu 12 Jan

Eugenics victim

Top stories:

Please pray for SPUC on our 45th anniversary
45 years ago yesterday (11 January), the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC) was established at a meeting in central London. The meeting was held at the Wig and Pen Club in the Strand. Alan Smith, who remains a member of SPUC's executive committee and on its national council, was elected joint honorary secretary of the Society at that meeting in the Strand. Alan said: "It's an important landmark in the pro-life movement of which I'm pleased to be part." [John Smeaton, 11 January]

Hundreds of forcibly-sterilised North Carolina women set to receive $50k compensation
Hundreds of women (one pictured) forcibly sterilised under a now-defunct North Carolina eugenics programme are set to receive US$50,000 each in compensation. The state task-force which determined the sum said it was not seeking to place a value on people's lives. [Mail, 10 January] Such programmes were promoted by Margaret Sanger, the founder of the worldwide abortion movement.

Jersey's health minister against assisted suicide
Anne Pryke, the health minister of the UK island of Jersey, says she will not support the legalisation of assisted suicide. The BBC reported that Mrs Pryke said that life was a privilege and should be protected. Her comments come after a widely-publicised report by a pro-suicide lobbying group. [BBC, 8 January]

Other stories:

Abortions

• Profile of sex-selective abortions in Taiwan [Independent, 10 January]
• Tablet editor jettisons the truth about pro-abortion MP Jon Cruddas [John Smeaton, 9 January]

Embryology

• NHS cutting back on IVF to save money, stats suggest [Telegraph, 12 January]
• UK researchers claim two is best number of embryos to implant in IVF [Telegraph, 12 January]
• UK study claims IVF babies born from frozen embryos are "healthier" than those from fresh ones [Mail, 6 January]
• 'Chimeric' monkeys made from cells of six different 'parents' [Mail, 6 January]

Euthanasia

• Irish high court rules that disabled boy should not be resuscitated if condition worsens [Irish Independent, 11 January]
• Anglican bishop writes against Falconer assisted suicide report [Conservative Home, 7 January]
• Leicester Mercury leader column against assisted suicide [This is Leicestershire, 7 January]

Population

• Profile of China's "Precious Snowflakes", 2nd generation of one-child policy children [Telegraph, 8 January]

Sexual ethics

• Pope's speech sparks Philippines bishops' strategy meeting against gay marriage [CathNews Philippines, 12 January]
• Australian tennis legend stands up against gay marriage [Reuters via Guardian, 11 January]
• Education for Choice fails to debunk pro-life campaign against gay marriage [John Smeaton, 10 January]
• SPUC right to campaign against gay marriage, as Pope says threats to the family "threaten the future of humanity" [John Smeaton, 10 January]
• BBC criticised over irresponsible documentary on teen sex [Mail, 9 January]
• Soho Mass organiser claims gay unions are already being blessed in Catholic churches [John Smeaton, 7 January]

General

• Alice Glenn, defender of life and family, RIP [Pat Buckley, 9 January]
• Report of SPUC director's talk to Catholic knightly order [Militiae Sanctae Mariae, 4 January]

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Today's must-read pro-life news-stories, Wed 3 Aug

Families in the Horn of Africa

Top stories:

Good news for Irish culture of life as David Norris leaves presidential race
David Norris, the anti-life Irish senator, has announced that he has dropped out of the race for the Irish presidency. Mr Norris, who is also a high-profile homosexual, left the race following controversy about his attitude to child sex abuse. John Smeaton, SPUC director said that Mr Norris's withdrawal was "good news for the culture of life in Ireland, given [Mr Norris's] flippant, discriminatory views against the humanity of unborn children." [John Smeaton, 2 August] http://bit.ly/rowxbr

UK Christian doctor debunks latest poll commissioned by euthanasia lobby
A leading UK Christian doctor has debunked the latest poll commissioned by the UK's euthanasia lobby. The poll suggested that two-thirds of Britons support assisted suicide for the terminally-ill but only one-third supports assisted suicide for disabled people. Peter Saunders, head of the Christian Medical Fellowship, said that the poll failed to take into account the overlap between terminally-ill people and disabled people. He also said that the euthanasia lobby has failed to define 'terminally-ill' and 'disabled' convincingly. [Peter Saunders, 2 August] http://bit.ly/oFTvbY

UNFPA exploiting Horn of Africa famine to push population control
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), which bankrolls population control internationally, is exploiting the famine in the Horn of Africa (pictured) to promote so-called 'family planning'. Babatunde Osotimehin, UNFPA's executive director, said that "we need to...work with member states to ensure women and particularly young girls have access to education, including sexual education, and access to health services and reproductive health services including family planning." [Reuters, 2 August] http://reut.rs/nuocyQ Anthony Ozimic of SPUC commented: "So-called 'sexual education', 'reproductive health services' and 'family planning' are UNFPA's code-words for contraception, abortion and population control. UNFPA's main interest is preventing the poor from being born, not saving their lives."

Other stories:

Abortion

• Amnesty International asks Nicaragua to allow abortion [LifeSiteNews.com, 1 August] http://bit.ly/pO9Jph

Embryology

• London mother fights to know identity of IVF son's father [Evening Standard, 2 August] http://bit.ly/pTIfKn
• Profiles of 3 London sperm donors [Evening Standard, 2 August] http://bit.ly/mX20LG
• Japanese researchers grow mice teeth from adult stem cells [LifeSiteNews.com, 2 August] http://bit.ly/ncQ5EP

Euthanasia

• US Catholic bishop says gauging ‘quality of life’ an excuse to ‘pull up the hearse’ [LifeSiteNews.com, 29 July] http://bit.ly/obavs4

Population

• Indian pro-life groups opposing government push for male sterilisation [CathNews Philippines, 3 August] http://bit.ly/nefBuD
• North Carolina may compensate sterilisation victims [Reuters, 2 August] http://reut.rs/riq4Ai

Sexual ethics

• Colombia to legalise gay unions within 2 years [Pink Paper, 2 August] http://bit.ly/nxIlxZ
• 4,000 families threaten to leave Toronto Catholic schools over gay equity policy [LifeSiteNews.com, 29 July] http://bit.ly/pV4NaZ

General

• Students could pay off debts by donating kidneys, says UK academic [Telegraph, 2 August] http://tgr.ph/nG5Uf9

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Today's must-read pro-life news-stories, Tue 6 Sep

Top stories:

Abortion counselling debate now due Wednesday afternoon
Further to our alert last Thursday, it has been announced this afternoon that the House of Commons debate on the Dorries-Field abortion counselling amendment is now due to take place this Wednesday (7 September) afternoon. Please read our updated briefing on the Dorries-Field amendment. Also, in response to the government's rejection late last week of the Dorries-Field amendment, Louise Mensch, a Conservative party MP, has tabled her own amendment on abortion counselling. The Mensch amendment raises even more serious concerns than the Dorries-Field amendment. Please read SPUC’s briefing on the Mensch amendment. Please share SPUC's concerns about the Dorries-Field and Mensch amendments with your MP and ask him/her to raise them in debate this week, and subsequently in any debate or consultation if regulations are brought forward.

House of Lords committee calls for compulsory school sex ed
The House of Lords Select Committee on HIV and AIDS has called for the teaching of sex and relationships education (SRE) to be made compulsory in schools. The committee claims that SRE is essential for reducing the incidence of sexually-transmitted diseases. The government is conducting a consultation on the matter. [Children & Young People Now, 2 September] http://bit.ly/nBgZ0l SRE often includes explicit depictions of sexual activity and promotes abortion and contraception.

English couple defend decision to abort disabled son
An English couple have defended their decision to abort their son who was diagnosed with disabilities. Georgina Pearson and Zak Turgoose said they would live with the choice for the rest of their lives. A spokesman for SPUC said: "A life is a life. Disabled children can still find joy in life. Life is precious. When parents face difficult decisions, they need some sound advice. We encourage them to contact us." [This is Derbyshire, 3 September] http://bit.ly/r2fW2K

Other stories:

Embryology

• EU clears adult stem cell trial for broken hearts [Reuters, 5 September] http://bit.ly/r4fxHk

Population

• Philippines archbishop says Catholic stand against population control bill is non-negotiable [CathNews Philippines, 6 September] http://bit.ly/n7iSDT

General

• US football players (pictured) save pregnant woman by flipping burning truck [Rivals High, 1 September] http://bit.ly/pkOhDF

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Dangerous Philippines bill makes progress

On Monday I blogged on the reproductive health bill in the Philippines. This measure could pave the way for legal abortion and promote contraception, sex education and reproductive technology. It also contains coercive elements. Sadly, it was yesterday passed by the parliament's appropriations committee, which is actually chaired by one of the bill's sponsors.

Mrs Fenny Tatad, executive director of the Bishops-Legislators Caucus in Quezon City, kindly tells me that the next stage is the rules committee. The bill would then be scheduled for plenary discussion by the House of Representatives. That would be the major battle. Before it gets to that stage, though, the senate would need to pass its own version of the bill. That house has a great deal of other business to consider.

Both houses, Mrs Tatad tells me, are also considering a Magna Carta for Women. While this doesn't mention reproductive health (a phrase used to cloak the promotion of abortion and other unethical practices), it does talk about "comprehensive health care services" which could cause problems. As a result, Mrs Tatad's caucus are keeping a close eye on the measure.

Must-read pro-life news-stories, 2 Apr

Top story:

Be a leader in the campaign to save marriage
It seems likely that the next major vote in the House of Commons – the third reading – on the government's bill to allow same-sex marriage will take place towards the end of May. SPUC is looking for leaders to volunteer to co-ordinate local leafleting teams against this legislation. Please email johnsmeaton@spuc.org.uk if you can help. [John Smeaton, 28 March]

Other stories:

Abortion:

• Researcher: 1.72 Billion Abortions Worldwide Over Last 40 Years [LifeNews.com, 1 April]
• African and other nations strike blow for the family at Human Rights Council [John Smeaton, 29 March]
• Will Planned Parenthood Fire Staffer Promoting Infanticide? [LifeNews.com, 29 March]
• What is Planned Parenthood Hiding? Abortion Biz Engaging in Fraud [LifeNews.com, 28 March]
• Trial of abortionist Kermit Gosnell underway [Pat Buckley, 27 March]
• Abortions in China since 1971 higher than total US population [Pat Buckley, 26 March]
• It's essential the pro-life movement learns from its history [John Smeaton, 25 March]
• The dire situation on adoption reveals the cruel illogicality of abortion [John Smeaton, 20 March]

Population

• Was forcibly-sterilized woman hanged at Chinese 'family planning' office? [LifeNews.com, 29 March]
• Women in India are more likely to get prenatal care when pregnant with boys, suggests study [Medical News Today, 1 April]
• Easter Sunday gift to unborn children in The Philippines [John Smeaton, 21 March]

Euthanasia

• Act to stop Liverpool Care Pathway being used as "backdoor euthanasia" [John Smeaton, 26 March]

Sexual ethics

• Rise of 'raunch culture' is damaging schoolgirls [Mail, 1 April]
• Lord Carey's trumpet call to Britons [John Smeaton, 31 March]
• Why the marriage debate should focus on the needs of children [Pat Buckley, 28 March]
• Study: 58% of children raised by lesbians call themselves homosexual [Creative Minority Report, 27 March]
• Pontifical Council for the Family sends message to pro-marriage march in Washington DC [PCF, 26 March]
• Massive demonstration in Paris against 'same sex marriage' [Pat Buckley, 25 March]

General

• Pray for life in Walsingham on Monday, 8th April [John Smeaton, 30 March]
• Cameron government's social engineering is blatantly designed to hurt children [John Smeaton, 27 March]

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Today's must-read pro-life news-stories, Tue 2 Aug

SPUC's Dr Thomas Ward

8,000 pro-lifers rally against Philippines population control bill
8,000 Catholic pro-lifers have attended a rally against the government's population control bill. The clergy and laity of Pagadian diocese, with members of the Human Life International (HLI) Pilipinas, marched through the centre of Pagadian city. [CathNews Philippines, 1 August] http://bit.ly/ozscKc The rally is the latest of many large-scale rallies against the bill across the country.

Indian state offers incentives to discourage sex-selection abortion
Jharkhand state in eastern India is offering financial support to parents of female children in a bid to discourage sex-selection abortion. The incentives include free education and investments. There are a number of religious, cultural and socio-economic factors in India contributing to a prejudice against conceiving girls. [Catholic Culture, 1 August] http://bit.ly/pzwjQV

Obama admin will force insurance coverage of morning-after pills
US President Obama's administration has accepted a recommendation to force health insurance companies to cover morning-after pills. The move is part of Mr Obama's healthcare plans. Jeanne Monahan, director of Family Research Council’s Center for Human Dignity, said: “The mandate will include FDA-approved drugs like Ella and Plan B that are misleadingly labeled ‘emergency contraceptives’ despite the fact that they can actually destroy a developing baby prior to or after implanting in the mother’s womb." [LifeNews.com, 1 August] http://bit.ly/r7A9Cq

Other stories:

Sexual ethics

• Irish presidential campaign of gay candidate in trouble over sex abuse issue [Pat Buckley, 1 August] http://bit.ly/nqx2Uq

General

• Speech by SPUC's Dr Thomas Ward to Moscow Demographic Summit [Pat Buckley, 29 July] http://bit.ly/ooPrel

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Philippines welcomes its 100 millionth citizen

baby Chonalyn

Top story:

Philippines welcomes its 100 millionth citizen
The Philippines has welcomed the birth of its 100 millionth citizen. The baby girl, named Chonalyn, was born in a hospital in Manila, the capital. Over half of the country's population is under 25. [Mail, 27 July]

Other stories:

Abortion

• I was pro-choice to the core and then everything changed… I had an abortion [LifeSiteNews.com, 22 July]

Embryology

• Woman bears late husband's child two years after his death [Express, 27 July]
• Single women should not get free IVF, say ethics experts [Telegraph, 25 July]

Euthanasia

• Euthanasia could be option for poor, says Lithuanian health minister [BioEdge, 26 July]
• Family in shock as grandmother dies ‘without dignity’ [Milton Keynes Citizen, 23 July]

Sexual ethics

• New Stonewall CEO in logic fail: claims to be "practising Catholic" [John Smeaton, 30 July]
• Ban on same-sex marriages protects children, say Texas attorney-general [Guardian, 29 July] Arizona also deploys same argument in court case [Gay Star News, 28 July]
• New education secretary appoints Stonewall adviser [TES, 28 July]
• European court rules nations free to reject same-sex marriage [Catholic Culture, 28 July]

General

• New manual of Catholic medical ethics published [Connor Court Publishing, 28 July]

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Millennium development goals being hijacked by pro-abortion lobby

The millennium development goals (MDGs) are being hijacked by pro-abortion groups, anti-life governments and politicians in order to undermine the primary right of parents to educate and to protect their children and to promote pro-abortion laws.

This is the warning issued by the International Right To Life Federation (IRTLF) after their meeting at our SPUC offices in London this week.  Pictured above left to right are:

• William Saunders, senior vice president of legal affairs, Americans United to Life
• Francisco "Kit" Tatad, former senate majority leader, Philippines
• Dr Talmir Rodrigues, paediatrician, member of the Brazilian federal parliament
• Pat Buckley, one of SPUC's lobbyists at the United Nations
• Dr Jack Willke, IRTLF president and president of Life Issues Institute
• Mrs Fenny Tatad, executive director, Bishops-Legislators Caucus of the Philippines
• Peter Smith, another of SPUC's lobbyist at the United Nations
• myself
• Jim Hughes, national president, Campaign Life Coalition, Canada
• Chiang Lim, chief executive officer, NSW (New South Wales) Right to Life
  

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New Premier of New South Wales supports pro-life, pro-family values

Mike Baird and family

Top stories:

New Premier of New South Wales supports pro-life, pro-family values
Mike Baird, the new Premier of New South Wales, Australia's largest state, supports pro-life and pro-family values. The Guardian reports that Mr Baird voted for a bill which could give personhood rights to some unborn children. He also voted against embryonic stem cell research and same-sex marriage. [Guardian, 17 April]

Brian Harradine

Brian Harradine, pro-life Australian politician, dies age 79
Brian Harradine, the pro-life Australian former politician, has died aged 79. [SBS, 14 April] John Smeaton, SPUC's chief executive, said: "Senator Brian Harradine was an inspirational figure for me, who almost single-handedly stopped the Australian government from funding the anti-life population control lobby. I fondly remember his visit to SPUC’s offices in Westminster in the late 1970s. When he walked into our office, shortly after we had moved in, he said 'Gee, this is a mess! The Holy Spirit must be here'. Certainly he demonstrated in his political life the power of the Holy Spirit in confounding our enemies. May he rest in peace."

Embryology

• The rise of 'social' surrogacy [Mail, 16 April]
• Scientists discover how sperm and egg bind [Telegraph, 16 April]

Population

• Philippines population control law gets judicial green light [LifeSiteNews.com, 16 April]

Sexual ethics

• Judge Sir Paul Coleridge retires and calls for end to family breakdown [Telegraph, 17 April]

General

• Hospital let 22-week preemie die despite mother’s urgent pleas [LifeSiteNews.com, 16 April]

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Today's must-read pro-life news-stories, Tue 23 Aug

HSH Prince Alois of Liechtenstein

Top stories:

Young British Christian adults much more concerned about pro-life issues than elderly Christians
Young British Christians are much more concerned about pro-life issues than elderly Christians, suggests a new poll. Two out of three Christians aged 18-34 surveyed said abortion and euthanasia were very important issues, compared to one in three Christians aged over 65. [Inspire Magazine, 23 August] http://bit.ly/qywnp8 John Smeaton, SPUC director, commented: "This is encouraging news for the defence of the sanctity of human life. It shows that the pro-life movement has a promising future."

English coroners turning a blind eye to assisted suicide, claims report
Coroners in England are turning a blind eye to suspected cases of assisted suicide, claims a new report. Two coroners (one retired) interviewed by Demos, a think-tank, said they avoided looking too closely into such cases in order to spare families problems. [Telegraph, 23 August] http://tgr.ph/rdagXW Demos is hosting a fake commission into assisted suicide on behalf of the euthanasia lobby.

UK IVF lottery suspended pending watchdog review
A lottery in which couples can win IVF treatment has been suspended pending a review by the Charity Commission. Entrants paid £20 for a ticket to win £25,000 worth of treatment. [Express, 21 August] http://bit.ly/pBHNTG SPUC's Anthony McCarthy has criticised the lottery as trivialising human life and procreation.

Other stories:

Abortion

• Watch this powerful pro-life film just released on YouTube [John Smeaton, 22 August] http://bit.ly/rl7MCt
• UK woman who had abortion following demotion wins compensation [Express, 19 August] http://bit.ly/qYTf0n
• Regent of Liechtenstein (pictured) opposes bill to liberalise abortion law [LifeSiteNews.com, 18 August] http://bit.ly/q2ADDv

Embryology

• More Singaporeans going abroad for IVF to choose baby's gender [Center for Genetics and Society, 22 August] http://bit.ly/pCwrBi
• Read Anthony Ozimic's introduction to stem cell research [John Smeaton, 21 August] http://bit.ly/mTuybR

Population

• Writer on prominent US blog hopes for plague to reduce world population [LifeSiteNews.com, 22 August] http://bit.ly/rtJVvC
• US vice-president's comments on China's one-child policy criticised by pro-life experts [LifeNews.com, 22 August] http://bit.ly/q60pgB

General

• Documentary shows pro-life struggle in the Philippines [CathNews, 23 August] http://bit.ly/pmYuVd

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Today's must-read pro-life news-stories, Mon 26 Sep

Kandice Smith & family

UN pressuring Ireland to legalise abortion
A UN committee on torture is pressuring Ireland to legalise abortion. The Committee on the Abolition of Torture said that Ireland's total ban on abortion may breach a UN convention against torture. Pat Buckley, SPUC's representative at the UN said the committee's observations were "an example of the pro-abortion strategy to create a "right to abortion" by stating falsehoods about international law and treaties over and over again until they begin to be treated as truth." [Pat Buckley, 24 September] http://goo.gl/8VfDR

Cystic fibrosis woman refuses abortion to give birth to triplets
A young American woman with cystic fibrosis has given birth to triplets after refusing abortion. Kandice Smith, 20, was warned by doctors that she may not survive giving birth. However, Miss Smith said ‘It has been the hardest fight of my life - but it has been worth every second. I would have died for my girls if I’d had to.’ [Mail, 23 September] http://goo.gl/iC1GE

UK man given suspended sentence for wife's euthanasia death
A retired British actor has been given a 12-month suspended sentence for smothering his ill wife to death. Stuart Mungall, 71, confessed to and was convicted of the manslaughter of his wife, 69, who had a degenerative brain disease. The sentence was a reduced one due to mitigating circumstances. [Peter Saunders, 23 September] http://goo.gl/2UmEV

Other stories:

Abortion

• US bishops rally Catholics to fight Obama abortifacient birth control mandate [LifeSiteNews.com, 23 September] http://goo.gl/J4ewX
• Texas abortion clinics closing after governor cuts off funding [LifeSiteNews.com, 22 September] http://goo.gl/9YWu9
• Disabled babies are killed because of a "lack of imagination" [John Smeaton, 22 September] http://goo.gl/BA7v2
• Australian song contestant resisted doctors' pressure to have abortion [LifeSiteNews.com, 22 September] http://goo.gl/QBlJy

Embryology

• US pro-life researchers continue legal fight against embryonic stem cell research [CNA, 25 September] http://goo.gl/WGKEx
• US ban on human embryo patents draws praise [CNA, 24 September] http://goo.gl/ZbXwc
• Divorced Argentine woman wins embryo custody [Wales Online, 24 September] http://goo.gl/pFJc8
• BBC hypes up embryonic stem cell trial [Peter Saunders, 22 September] http://goo.gl/qqjOz

Population

• Victims of China's one-child policy testify before US Congress [CathNews Philippines, 25 September] http://goo.gl/wvsie

Sexual ethics

• Primary schools in England forced by local authorities to teach sex education [Telegraph, 26 September] http://goo.gl/oSD9R
• More youngsters having sex without contraception, claims global study [Reuters, 26 September] http://goo.gl/WHG6g

General

• Canadian Catholic priest suspended following outspoken pro-life/pro-family sermons [LifeSiteNews.com, 22 September] http://goo.gl/R4LPx

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This afternoon's must-read pro-life news-stories, Thursday 2 June

SPUC's sponsored walkers

Abortion

• UK teen pressured into abortion sets fire to ex-boyfriend’s home [Star, 1 June] http://bit.ly/jzNQeb
• US medical student group working to make abortion an unwanted practice [Washington Independent, 1 June]
• Barcelona priests begin monthly protest against bishop’s association with abortionist hospital [LifeSiteNews.com 31 May] http://bit.ly/kDXY2c
• US bishop says US Girl Scouts could make girls more open to pro-abortion agenda [LifeSiteNews.com, 1 June] http://bit.ly/joLL7A
• New Zealand court rules unborn children have no right to life [LifeNews.com, 1 June] http://bit.ly/kdV83M
• Phillipines bishops back Protection of the Unborn Child bill [CathNews, 31 May] http://bit.ly/ltVQJb
• Maltese judge says European Court has "weak, hesitant" approach to protecting unborn [LifeSiteNews.com, 30 May] http://bit.ly/juAWI6
• Abortion soars among UK women in 40s [Telegraph, 28 May] http://bit.ly/kn9yeF
• US abortion business offers free abortions to tornado survivors [Bryan Kemper, 26 May] http://bit.ly/mlCEOm

Embryology

• 'Octomum' fertility doctor's licence revoked [Sky, 2 June] http://bit.ly/kfVhRa
• Australian woman sets record for egg donation [Daily Mail, 31 May] http://bit.ly/iMy05R
• Man ordered to pay £100k for children after ex-wife tricked IVF clinic into using his frozen sperm [Daily Mail, 29 May] http://bit.ly/lV2wvs

Euthanasia

• UK patients' charter poses euthanasia danger [SPUC, 1 June] http://bit.ly/jAwExR
• UK woman challenges pro-suicide author's anger at Alzheimer's [Daily Mail, 31 May] http://bit.ly/kFqtz6
• UK man says disability has made his life better [Daily Mail, 25 May] http://bit.ly/k6G2xS
• UK woman in locked-in syndrome last year can now walk [Daily Mail, 25 May] http://bit.ly/lCYAr6

Population

• Tiananmen dissident in fight for China's baby girls [AFP via Yahoo!, 2 June] http://yhoo.it/mseJjr
• Philippines senator claims divorce bill being used to soften Catholic opposition to population bill [UCAN, 1 June] http://bit.ly/io2UpY
• “Illegal” babies abducted by Chinese population control officials [LifeNews.com, 26 May] http://bit.ly/jdP2MK

Sexual ethics

• UK anti-life columnist: "If sex and power are what women want, don't stop them" [Independent, 2 June] http://ind.pn/imrUNn
• Dutch officials to be quizzed each year on gay marriage [Christian Institute, 2 June] http://bit.ly/mLfjZW
• US report says divorce permanently harms children [Daily Mail, 2 June] http://bit.ly/lhAj4k
• President Obama declares June month for gays [Pink News, 2 June] http://bit.ly/jyZin2
• West’s Aids strategy is a failure, says new report [Catholic Herald, 1 June] http://bit.ly/lXLJ0T
• UK Catholic adoption agency plans to appeal a 4th time over gay adoption ruling [Pink News, 31 May] http://bit.ly/k7669k
• Malta votes to legalise divorce [LifeSiteNews.com, 30 May] http://bit.ly/jEiUHG
• Marriage reduces childhood poverty by two thirds: study [LifeSiteNews.com, 30 May] http://bit.ly/itGoEO
• Chilean president endorses de facto gay civil unions [Pink News, 30 May] http://bit.ly/lZej62
• Proposed bill would effectively ban US Catholic adoption agencies [EWTN, 28 May] http://bit.ly/meSOYL
• French diocese writes to oppose school contraception passes [DICI, 28 May] http://bit.ly/l8bQXW
• Inventor of birth control pill lays out terrifying future for female fertility [Daily Mail, 28 May] http://bit.ly/jd64Tz
• Report on Vatican conference on HIV and condoms [AP, 27 May] http://usat.ly/jTLDa0
• US professor implicates the pill for changing face of marriage [Washington Times, 25 May] http://bit.ly/kf4qll

General

• Radical social engineering is being pushed at the World Health Organisation (WHO) [John Smeaton, 2 June] http://bit.ly/iwQrdk
• US girl with Down's Syndrome crowned prom queen [Daily Mail, 2 June] http://bit.ly/kUL4Hs
• David Norris, would-be Irish presidential candidate, is no friend of the unborn or the family [John Smeaton, 31 May] http://bit.ly/kD5fPR
• SPUC recruits Anthony McCarthy, bioethics heavyweight, to help youth confront the culture of death [SPUC, 31 May] http://bit.ly/jAWGtI
• Paris Vigil for Life seen as hopeful sign by beleaguered pro-life movement [LifeSiteNews.com, 31 May] http://bit.ly/lLuCzV
• Pope says Catholic aid groups must obey Catholic pro-life teachings [LifeSiteNews.com, 27 May] http://bit.ly/j4tkkl
• Pro-life young adults (pictured) to trek 44 miles to raise funds for SPUC [SPUC, 25 May] http://bit.ly/mtTzxh 

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This morning's must-read pro-life news-stories, Thursday 30 June

SPUC's Peter Smith

Abortion

• Scottish youth faces jail for part in murder of ex-girlfriend over abortion [Herald, 30 June] http://bit.ly/mQS0Ym
• UK review wrong to downplay mental health impact of abortion says SPUC [SPUC, 29 June] http://bit.ly/lfMN24
• Trial begins of US man who charged with death of girlfriend who refused abortion [LifeNews.com, 29 June] http://bit.ly/mGBeHv
• Abortion rate in Scots teens hits one a day, says official stats [Express, 29 June] http://bit.ly/isJN9W
• President of Polish Catholic bishops' conference calls on Polish legislature to ban all abortions [LifeSiteNews.com, 29 June] http://bit.ly/kAQwHW
• Leading US author writes novel about so-called 'wrongful birth' lawsuit [Ciao, 29 June] http://bit.ly/k95wKM
• US billboard company refuses to pull black pro-life signs [Jill Stanek, 29 June] http://bit.ly/mLjFUt
• SPUC launches the Mayisha campaign for genuine maternal healthcare [John Smeaton, 28 June] http://bit.ly/l1i63S
• Council of Europe addressing sex-selection abortion problem [LifeNews.com, 28 June] http://bit.ly/mhcDzn
• Protesters demand end to abortions at Catholic-linked Barcelona hospital [LifeSiteNews.com, 28 June] http://bit.ly/loWm08
• All 3 Kansas abortion clinics failed new inspection regime [Kansas City Star, 28 June] http://bit.ly/lrq0bN
• US court affirms human life begins at conception [LifeNews.com, 28 June] http://bit.ly/jnt3bt

Embryology

• Donor gamete shortage mean UK couples going abroad for IVF [Scotsman, 30 June] http://bit.ly/jqHC5N
• European pro-life academics say stem cell patent case hinges on issue of embryo destruction [Nature, 29 June] http://bit.ly/mRxvMu

Euthanasia

• Swiss govt drops plan to curb assisted suicide [AP via Guardian, 29 June] http://bit.ly/iGIdea
• UK doctors' union confirms support for opt-out organ donation system [Wales Online, 29 June] http://bit.ly/kwngYJ
• Swedish intensive care nurses have doubts about method for establishing brain death [Alpha Galileo, 28 June] http://bit.ly/mKHGZN

Population

• Global recession putting women off pregnancy, suggests study [Daily Mail, 30 June] http://bit.ly/lfoPmo
• Father of population control movement supports sex-selective abortion, mass sterilization [LifeSiteNews.com, 28 June] http://bit.ly/jmDZb6

Sexual ethics

• Slight fall in Irish teen pregnancies, say official stats [Irish Times, 30 June] http://bit.ly/j4RYfm
• Fury over sex education for 8-year-olds in London schools [East London Advertister, 29 June] http://bit.ly/lSrful
• SPUC's Antonia Tully says parents are angry over inappropriate sex education [Premier Christian Radio, 29 June] http://bit.ly/kGwVAD
• Scottish civil servants banned from saying ‘homosexual’ [Pink News, 28 June] http://bit.ly/laEc0I
• Brazil judge approves gay marriage [Pink News, 28 June] http://bit.ly/lpYUPD
• Canadian Anglicans leave historic church over gay marriage approval [National Post, 27 June] http://bit.ly/jNP9Qi

General

• Philippines bishop calls for people to fight evil forces that seek to destroy family and life [CathNews Philippines, 30 June] http://bit.ly/ldGs4b
• Childless French couple adopt gorilla [BBC, 29 June] http://bbc.in/m3lqjn
• Video interview with Peter Smith (pictured) of SPUC Evangelicals [YouTube, 28 June] http://bit.ly/lmJVNY
• Brain-dead woman gives birth to baby boy in Saudi Arabia [Gulf News, 27 June] http://bit.ly/iNLQbZ

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