Bits 'n' Pieces
Canada
Prime Minister Jean Chretien will hand power over
to new Liberal leader Paul Martin on Dec. 12 … At the
Liberal convention, delegates heard Bono, lead vocalist
for the rock group U2, pontificate on policy. One political observer
told The Interim, "What's next? Ozzy Osbourne?"
Another noted that the federal Liberals ignored the advice of domestic
religious leaders on same-sex "marriage" but that this party cares deeply
about the economic and international views of a foreign celebrity …
National Post columnist Gillian Congreve says
that two federal ministers will be given high profile appointments by
departing Prime Minister Chrétien, mostly because they are on the outs
with Martin. Allan Rock, a Toronto MP who has served
in the justice and health portfolios before becoming the industry minister,
is expected to be appointed to to the Ontario Superior Court. Foreign
Minister Bill Graham is rumoured for the post of ambassador
to the United Nations. Both are pro-abortion and support so-called same-sex
marriage ... Former New Brunswick premier Frank McKenna
is no longer denying rumours that he will be tapped by Martin to run
in the next federal election. McKenna is pro-abortion. Also mentioned
as a possible candidate for the Liberals is Winnipeg's openly gay mayor,
Glen Murray. If they run, both would certainly be appointed
to the cabinet ... Ottawa Citizen columnist David Warren
on the Progressive Conservatives and Canadian Alliance announcing they
will merge their two parties: "It is nice that we have recongregated
in the wilderness, but will need a Moses to lead us out" ... Former
Ontario premier Mike Harris, who is pro-abortion and
pro-gay rights, announces he will not seek the leadership of the new
Conservative Party if members of the Canadian Alliance and Tories ratify
a deal Dec. 15 to merge ... Nova Scotia MP Scott Brison
(PC) is said to be interested in running for the leadership. Brison,
an admitted homosexual, claims the party must be "fiscally conservative
but socially progressive," if it is to have broad support … The pro-abortion
NDP government of Lorne Calvert is re-elected in Saskatchewan.
International
Beginning in January, the "morning-after pill" will be available over-the-counter
in Australia after the the Australian government accepts changes to
the drug's status ... The West Australian reports that Peter
Carnley, primate of the Anglican Church in Australia, told
the annual scientific meeting of the Fertility Society of Australia
in Perth that life begins at 14 days after fertilization. He said understanding
this "fact" would help "troublesome difficulties fall away" surrounding
issues such as IVF and embryo research ... The British Conservative
Party dumps its pro-life leader, Ian Duncan Smith,
and replaces him with Michael Howard, whom the Society
for the Protection of Unborn Children says has a "mixed record
on abortion" and who supported a 2000 bill that permitted research on
human clones. Howard opposes euthanasia, which is currently an issue
in the United Kingdom. Howard's shadow cabinet is a mixture of pro-abortion
and pro-life MPs ... The European Union Industry Committee votes in
favour of destructive embryo research by supporting an amendment to
fund research on human embryos in member states that permit such research
... SPUC warns that the draft European Union constitution may establish
the right to abortion on demand and assisted suicide in every EU country.
SPUC national director John Smeaton says: "Because
of the vague 'rights' and broad judicial power created by the draft
constitution, the document may limit democratic (that is, legislative)
debate and decision-making at national levels. Decisions regarding important
social and moral questions will be determined by the European Court
of Justice, rather than national parliaments."
U.S.
The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention reports that the number
of surgical abortions decreased in the 1990s by 22 per cent. In 1990,
there were 27.4 abortions per 1,000 women, but by 1999, there were 21.4
abortions per 1,000 women ... Rep. Mark Kennedy (R,
Minn.) and Senator Rick Santorum (R, Penn.) have started
the St. Thomas More pro-life study group on Capitol Hill. Kennedy tells
the Catholic Spirit newspaper that life issues "are fundamental
to our core" ... New York Comptroller Alan Hevesi claims
that over-the-counter distribution of the "morning-after pill" could
save the state $452 million annually. He says easy-access MAPs will
severely reduce the numbe of surgical abortions. Kathleen M.
Gallagher, director of pro-life activities for the New York
State Catholic Conference, reacts to the announcement: "The suggestion
that the state could save money by preventing the birth of children
and mortgaging women's long-term health is just morally wrong" ... Governor
Jim Doyle (D, Wisc.) vetoes legislation that would
have defined marriage as the union of one man and woman," saying that
it was unnecessary and "mean-spirited."
