Bits 'n' Pieces

Canada

The current Liberal government has re-introduced its predecessor's reproductive technologies legislation, as well as NDP MP's Svend Robinson's private member's bill on amending the hate crimes law to include special protection for homosexuals ... Outspokenly pro-life and pro-family MP Elsie Wayne (Conservative, Saint John) announces she will not seek re-election. She was a co-chair of the Parliamentary Pro-life Caucus. The National Post editorializes that her "socially conservative views were controversial - particularly in regards to gay rights and abortion. But in this age of equivocating, risk-averse politicians, she deserves praise for her candour and commitment to principle" ... pro-life former Saskatchewan premier Grant Devine's application to be a candidate for the Conservative Party was denied ... Pro-abortion former NDP MP and Saskatchewan Justice Minister Chris Axworthy will run as a Liberal against pro-life Conservative MP Maurice Vellacott, a co-chair of the Parliamentary Pro-Life Caucus, in the riding of Saskatoon-Wanuskewin ... The Liberal lead over the Conservative Party falls to 35-27 per cent after a sponsorship scandal is exposed by the auditor-general ... In B.C., former provincial cabinet minister Ted Nebbeling announces he "married" his partner in November and was promptly shuffled out of cabinet. Liberal Premier Gordon Campbell says the move had nothing to do with Nebbeling's homosexuality ... The pro-abortion former Ontario premier, Ernie Eves, announces he will resign as leader of the provincial Tories after the spring legislative session, opening the way for a summer leadership race. It is expected to feature former Ontario cabinet ministers Jim Flaherty and Frank Klees, both of whom are pro-life, and losing Toronto mayoral candidate John Tory, who is not ... Australian homosexual activists Jason McCheyne and Adrian Tuazon get "married" in Toronto and say they will head home to Melbourne to attempt to have their "marriage" legally recognized down under. Some activists hope that such tactics will undermine the institution of marriage domestically.

United States

According to a Rasmussen Reports survey, 43 per cent of respondents favour President George W. Bush's pro-life stand compared to 39 per cent who support Democratic presidential nominee Senator John Kerry's pro-abortion position. Furthermore, 46 per cent back his view of the role religion in society, compared to 30 per cent for Kerry. A further 46 per cent support Bush's opposition to same-sex "marriage," compared to 29 per cent who support Kerry's same-sex civil union compromise ... Kerry, a Catholic who NARAL Pro-Choice America says has a 100 per cent pro-abortion voting record, is criticized by Boston Catholic Archbishop Sean O'Malley: "These politicians should know that if they're not voting correctly on these life issues, that they shouldn't dare come to Communion" ... Americans United for Life releases its 2004 State Report Cards on issues such as informed consent, protection of unborn children against criminal acts and the regulation of abortion facilities. Louisiana ranks first and Vermont comes in last ... Battling against conscience legislation that eventually passes in the Wisconsin Senate, representatives from Planned Parenthood and NARAL Pro-Choice Wisconsin call the bill "an inhumane assault on pregnant women's health and lives, and allows doctors to refuse medical care and information in the most tragic situations" ... Eckerd Corporation fires three pharmacists from their Eckerd Pharmacy jobs after they refused to fill prescriptions for the abortifacient "morning-after" pill. An Eckerd spokesman says the company's policies do not permit employees to opt out of filling prescriptions for religious, moral or ethical reasons ... Over the past 18 months, the Franciscan Daughters of Mary, a new order of nuns, have saved approximately 215 babies through their crisis pregnancy centre and community outreach programs.

World

Mexico's department of health approves distribution of the "morning-after" pill ... According to figures released in Romania, the number of abortions committed in 2003 exceeded the number of live births. Through October, there were 170,000 abortions compared to 162,000 births. In 2000, the World Health Organization reported that, "Russia and central-eastern Europe, with roughly 10 per cent of the global population, account for up to a third of the 30 million to 40 million abortions registered annually around the world" ... At the United Nations, the Committee on the Rights of the Child pressures Armenia, Guyana and Japan to criminalize spanking ... Dr. Jean Kaggia leads a group of physicians in criticizing the Kenya Medical Association's call for legalized abortion. Kaggia says that the KMA did not consult with pro-life doctors. He adds: "By legalizing abortion, we would be legalizing murder in our country."

Lawlessness

The attorney-general's office in the Isle of Man (U.K.) will not prosecute Dr. Michael Irwin, the former chairman of the Voluntary Euthanasia Society, who admitted to police that he had conspired to help a terminally ill man to kill himself. If the case proceeded, it might have brought into question the law against euthanasia and doctor-assisted suicide ... Police in New Zealand will not prosecute a doctor who committed an illegal abortion, because they found it sufficient to deal with both the doctor and the state-run hospital where he worked with "formal written caution." Right to Life New Zealand said that the decision "makes a mockery of the law" ... An Atlanta appeals court rules that abortionist William Egherman of the Aware Woman Centre for Choice did not violate federal law when he had a woman restrained during an abortion after she demanded that he stop the procedure. Egherman claimed that he had to restrain her because of complications during the procedure. "Jane Roe II" was later taken to hospital to be treated for a perforated uterus and colon laceration ... A Portuguese court acquits seven women accused of procuring illegal abortions along with 10 other accomplices, including their husbands, boyfriends and the abortionist. Abortion is illegal in Portugal, except in cases of rape or serious fetal disability. The final verdict found proof that the doctor had carried out abortions, but no proof that the accused women had undergone the procedure. Communist member of parliament Odete Santos called the decision "historic" and added, "I am very satisfied."

Repro-tech

The Guardian reports that a 46-year-old Essex, England woman went to India to become a surrogate mother for her daughter, thereby giving birth to her own grand-daughter. Nuala Scarisbrick of Life said, "Once again, the IVF industry has gone too far by changing the natural order of things beyond all recognition" ... There are an estimated 400,000 human embryos in storage in the United States. The Scripps Howard News Service reports that doctors are becoming increasingly worried with the number of frozen embryos and that many couples forget they have embryos in storage ... Kenya has one sperm bank and is trying to find more men who are willing to donate sperm. Professor Christine Kigondu, who is associated with the recruitment drive efforts, suggests that Kenyan soldiers make deposits before going on peacekeeping missions in case anything happens to them ... American researchers at Duke University successfully treat genetic diseases in children using cells taken from umbilical cord blood. Doctors discover that the stem cells can enter damaged heart tissue and transform themselves into healthy heart cells, thus preventing further damage.

Media

The Canadian television comedy Just for Laughs Gags offends Catholics in a routine that has two actors dressed up as a nun and a priest. The pair go out on a busy street for a "make-out" session, in order to secretly film reactions of passers-by ... CBC airs a same-sex "marriage" and panel discussion on television the very weekend Christian churches promote the sanctity of marriage in Canada. National Post columnist Gillian Cosgrove says, "Even as Paul Martin sends the issue for clarification (to the Supreme Court), the state broadcaster hypes this as the first-ever broadcast of a homosexual marriage ... This taxpayer-funded stunt is a slap in the face to Christian groups" ... For its Valentine's Day promotion, Ottawa radio station 88.9 holds a contest for a free divorce and night on the town. The station claims it has 98 couples, who had to already be estranged, apply. Christian radio station CHRI 99.1 counters with 24 hours of programming promoting sexual fidelity and featuring medical specialists, clergy, academics and youth.

What's a life worth?