Vatican City, Nov 30, 2009 / 11:46 am (CNA).- L’Osservatore Romano (LOR) published an article last week reminding U.S. President Barack Obama that the number of Americans who oppose abortion continues to be on the rise. This was recently demonstrated by the nearly 200,000 signatures to the "Manhattan Declaration," a document drafted by various Christian leaders in defense of life, marriage, the family and religious freedom.
LOR said: "The political and spiritual weight of the Manhattan Declaration is thus evident" as "this is a crucial moment for the Obama administration since the president's credibility is at risk over promises made during the campaign season, considering the not-so-encouraging results of the latest polls on the president's popularity."
In recent days "the spotlight is on health care reform," which is currently being debated in the Senate, with a bill that is "quite different from the one approved only weeks ago by the House of Representatives." That bill prohibited the use of federal funds for abortion and established conscience protections through the Stupak amendment, which was lauded by the U.S. bishops.
LOR pointed out that the difference in between the two bills cannot be considered an accident. “In fact it was Obama himself, in a recent interview, who said that the Stupak Amendment introduced unbalanced language in the health care reform and that "women's choices" should not be restricted.
Thus, LOR argued, Obama is moving between two contrary positions: that of keeping his campaign promises "not to use federal funds for abortion and that the right to conscientious objection be respected," and that of "influential pro-choice groups who demand an ultimate liberalization of abortion practices."
After noting that the Manhattan Declaration clearly defends life and opposes abortion, LOR explained that "polls in recent months show that the number of those who are pro-life continues to rise and is now larger than the number of Americans” who think unrestricted abortions should be allowed during the course of pregnancy.
LOR said the change in public opinion in the U.S. is made evident by the Manhattan Declaration, which reads: "no power on earth, be it cultural or political, will intimidate us into silence or acquiescence. It is our duty to proclaim the Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in its fullness, both in season and out of season. May God help us not to fail in that duty.”
Among the signers of the declaration are "Jonah Paffhausen, primate of the Orthodox Church in America, and Robert Duncan, Anglican Primate of North America, as well as the Rev. William Owens, president of the Coalition of African American Pastors. Signers such as these could make Obama campaign staffers recalculate,” LOR said.
This can be found at: http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=17868&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+catholicnewsagency%2Fdailynews+%28CNA+Daily+News%29
Monday, November 30, 2009
Sunday, November 29, 2009
The need for hope
“The contemporary world needs hope above all; this is true for developing peoples but especially for developed peoples. Increasingly, we realise that we are in the same boat and that we can save ourselves together. With the collapse of so many false certainties, we are becoming especially aware of how we need reliable hope and that this is found only in Christ, who according to the Letter to the Hebrews Jesus “is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (13:8). The Lord Jesus came in the past, comes in the present, and shall come in the future. He embraces all of time’s dimensions. Because he died and rose, he is the ‘Living’, and whilst he shared our human precariousness, he is always there, offering us God’s stability. He is “flesh” like us, and “rock” like God. Anyone who yearns for freedom, justice, and peace can stand erect and raise his head because in Christ redemption is at hand (cf Lk, 21:28).”
Thursday, November 26, 2009
EU commission strikes down British religious freedom exemptions from anti-discrimination law
London, England, Nov 26, 2009 / 01:06 pm (CNA).- The European Union has compelled the British government to remove religious freedom exemptions from an anti-discrimination bill. The move will forbid church bodies from declining to employ homosexual staff. The National Secular Society had argued that the exemptions went further than was permitted under an EU directive and created “illegal discrimination against homosexuals,” the Observer reports.
The EU commission agreed, ruling that the exemptions are “broader than that permitted by the directive.”
The British government must now redraft anti-discrimination laws. The new proposals would allow religious organizations to decline to employ homosexuals only if their job involves actively promoting or practicing a religion.
The prior law allowed religious groups to refuse to employ homosexuals “so as to avoid conflicting with the strongly held religious convictions of a significant number of the religion's followers.”
Homosexual activist Peter Tatchell claimed that the ruling was “a significant victory for gay equality” and a “serious setback” for religious employers who had been granted exemption. According to the Guardian, he said the move was a “big embarrassment” for the British government, which he claimed has “consistently sought to appease religious homophobes.”
The Christian charity, Care was critical of the decision, the Guardian says.
“If evangelical churches cannot be sure that they can employ practicing evangelicals with respect to sexual ethics, how will they be able to continue?” the organization asked.
This can be found at: http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=17852&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+catholicnewsagency%2Fdailynews+%28CNA+Daily+News%29
The EU commission agreed, ruling that the exemptions are “broader than that permitted by the directive.”
The British government must now redraft anti-discrimination laws. The new proposals would allow religious organizations to decline to employ homosexuals only if their job involves actively promoting or practicing a religion.
The prior law allowed religious groups to refuse to employ homosexuals “so as to avoid conflicting with the strongly held religious convictions of a significant number of the religion's followers.”
Homosexual activist Peter Tatchell claimed that the ruling was “a significant victory for gay equality” and a “serious setback” for religious employers who had been granted exemption. According to the Guardian, he said the move was a “big embarrassment” for the British government, which he claimed has “consistently sought to appease religious homophobes.”
The Christian charity, Care was critical of the decision, the Guardian says.
“If evangelical churches cannot be sure that they can employ practicing evangelicals with respect to sexual ethics, how will they be able to continue?” the organization asked.
This can be found at: http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=17852&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+catholicnewsagency%2Fdailynews+%28CNA+Daily+News%29
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Law on homosexual unions in Mexico City is a 'legal monstrosity,' expert says
Mexico City, Mexico, Nov 24, 2009 / 04:56 pm (CNA).- The president of the College of Catholic Lawyers of Mexico, Armando Martinez, criticized a proposed measure this week that would make homosexual unions equal to marriage. Martinez said the new measure being promoted by the Democratic Revolution Party (PRD) is a “legal monstrosity,” and that the existing civil union laws could be modified to address such issues as social security.
Overhauling the country’s laws for the sake of rights that are “supposedly” not recognized is “a huge lie,” he said adding that the only thing that would be created is a legal contradiction between the Federal District and the states. Martinez slammed lawmakers for being “scatterbrains” and for allowing themselves to be the spokesmen for “small-minded intellectuals” who are promoting such measures.
“It is untrue that reforming the Civil Code would give homosexuals rights in the area of social security, since in order for that to happen federal law must be changed,” he pointed out.
Martinez also criticized lawmakers in Mexico City for being out of touch with the Mexican people, as 17 states have enacted constitutional reform in support of “the culture of life.” If they are so sure their agenda is what the people want, he added, then they should hold a referendum and allow voters to participate in the decision of whether or not to legalize homosexual unions
This can be found at: http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=17821&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+catholicnewsagency%2Fdailynews+%28CNA+Daily+News%29
Overhauling the country’s laws for the sake of rights that are “supposedly” not recognized is “a huge lie,” he said adding that the only thing that would be created is a legal contradiction between the Federal District and the states. Martinez slammed lawmakers for being “scatterbrains” and for allowing themselves to be the spokesmen for “small-minded intellectuals” who are promoting such measures.
“It is untrue that reforming the Civil Code would give homosexuals rights in the area of social security, since in order for that to happen federal law must be changed,” he pointed out.
Martinez also criticized lawmakers in Mexico City for being out of touch with the Mexican people, as 17 states have enacted constitutional reform in support of “the culture of life.” If they are so sure their agenda is what the people want, he added, then they should hold a referendum and allow voters to participate in the decision of whether or not to legalize homosexual unions
This can be found at: http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=17821&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+catholicnewsagency%2Fdailynews+%28CNA+Daily+News%29
Sunday, November 22, 2009
South Korean obstetricians demand enforcement of abortion law
Seoul, South Korea, Nov 22, 2009 / 08:34 pm (CNA).- Despite South Korea’s prohibition on abortion, some 350,000 abortions still take place annually. Now a group of obstetricians is working to enforce the law, even if the former abortionists among their membership must implicate themselves in their own illegal acts. The number of abortions in South Korea is only 100,000 fewer than the 450,000 babies usually born each year.
The Korean group of obstetricians called Gynob has launched a movement against abortion, Joon Ang Daily reports. Their spokeswoman, practicing obstetrician Choi Anna, said she intends to advocate against abortion until the practice is entirely wiped out though she has reportedly received death threats from other private obstetricians who say her activities are bad for business.
“Our group has made it clear that we as obstetricians won’t rely on abortion for a living anymore,” Anna said.
The 43-year-old Anna admits to having once profited from abortions at her hospital. She told the Joon Ang Daily that Korean society’s tacit consent to abortion has prompted many obstetricians to secretly provide the procedure.
“The country is now suffering from a low birthrate,” Anna said, attributing it to a past population control policy that encouraged abortion. “The government seems to be reluctant now to clamp down. But we believe when doctors halt abortions, births could increase by more than 100,000 in one to two years.
“If this movement becomes successful, obstetricians won’t have to provide abortions for a living,” she added.
Gynob is planning to send questionnaires on abortion to all government institutions, including the presidential Blue House, and to related research centers.
If the Health Ministry does not launch an investigation into the conducting of abortions for profit, Anna said, her group will try to have the ministry indicted for neglecting its duties.
Members of Gynob are considering implicating themselves for illegal abortions because abortion has a five-year statute of limitation.
“My fellow doctor Shim Sang-deok says our movement may bear fruit after he is imprisoned,” Anna said.
Many practicing obstetricians provide abortions because they are profitable, while delivering babies and providing gynecological treatment are not big moneymakers, Anna explained.
“Doctors performing abortions say they are ashamed to tell their families what they do,” she told the Joon Ang Daily. “When I opened my hospital seven years ago, I wanted to treat patients suffering from sterility, my expertise, but a major portion of my patients were those wanting abortions. I washed my hands countless times after abortion surgeries.”
She said abortion is the “easiest choice” for pregnant Korean women regardless of their wealth, religion or education.
“But post-abortion trauma is gigantic,” Anna added.
Korean law defines abortion as artificially ending the life of an unborn child aged 23 weeks or younger. It allows exceptions if a mother’s life is in jeopardy if she gives birth and in case where women are victims of rape or incest or have infectious or genetically-based mental illnesses.
Both abortionists and the women who seek abortions are subject to prison terms of up to two years, but few have ever been punished, the Joon Ang Daily reports.
This can be found at: http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=17790&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+catholicnewsagency%2Fdailynews+%28CNA+Daily+News%29
The Korean group of obstetricians called Gynob has launched a movement against abortion, Joon Ang Daily reports. Their spokeswoman, practicing obstetrician Choi Anna, said she intends to advocate against abortion until the practice is entirely wiped out though she has reportedly received death threats from other private obstetricians who say her activities are bad for business.
“Our group has made it clear that we as obstetricians won’t rely on abortion for a living anymore,” Anna said.
The 43-year-old Anna admits to having once profited from abortions at her hospital. She told the Joon Ang Daily that Korean society’s tacit consent to abortion has prompted many obstetricians to secretly provide the procedure.
“The country is now suffering from a low birthrate,” Anna said, attributing it to a past population control policy that encouraged abortion. “The government seems to be reluctant now to clamp down. But we believe when doctors halt abortions, births could increase by more than 100,000 in one to two years.
“If this movement becomes successful, obstetricians won’t have to provide abortions for a living,” she added.
Gynob is planning to send questionnaires on abortion to all government institutions, including the presidential Blue House, and to related research centers.
If the Health Ministry does not launch an investigation into the conducting of abortions for profit, Anna said, her group will try to have the ministry indicted for neglecting its duties.
Members of Gynob are considering implicating themselves for illegal abortions because abortion has a five-year statute of limitation.
“My fellow doctor Shim Sang-deok says our movement may bear fruit after he is imprisoned,” Anna said.
Many practicing obstetricians provide abortions because they are profitable, while delivering babies and providing gynecological treatment are not big moneymakers, Anna explained.
“Doctors performing abortions say they are ashamed to tell their families what they do,” she told the Joon Ang Daily. “When I opened my hospital seven years ago, I wanted to treat patients suffering from sterility, my expertise, but a major portion of my patients were those wanting abortions. I washed my hands countless times after abortion surgeries.”
She said abortion is the “easiest choice” for pregnant Korean women regardless of their wealth, religion or education.
“But post-abortion trauma is gigantic,” Anna added.
Korean law defines abortion as artificially ending the life of an unborn child aged 23 weeks or younger. It allows exceptions if a mother’s life is in jeopardy if she gives birth and in case where women are victims of rape or incest or have infectious or genetically-based mental illnesses.
Both abortionists and the women who seek abortions are subject to prison terms of up to two years, but few have ever been punished, the Joon Ang Daily reports.
This can be found at: http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=17790&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+catholicnewsagency%2Fdailynews+%28CNA+Daily+News%29
Friday, November 20, 2009
Vatican Alerts Doctors to Anti-Life Mindset
ROME, NOV. 20, 2009 (Zenit.org).- There is an urgency today to educate society in the culture of life, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone told a gathering of Italian physicians.
Benedict XVI's secretary of state said this last week during a homily he gave to members of the National Council of Italian Catholic Medical Associations, held in the Pauline Chapel of the Apostolic Palace.
Addressing the challenges of modernity, the cardinal noted that "medicine itself, which by its nature should tend to the defense and care of human life, in some of its sectors lends itself increasingly to carry out acts against the person."
The secretary of state affirmed an "urgency to educate in the culture of life."
"Witnessed on one hand is the elimination of nascent human lives or those that are close to their end; on the other, it is increasingly difficult for conscience to distinguish good from evil in what affects the very fundamental value of human life," he explained.
Cardinal Bertone reminded his listeners that "the activity of the Catholic doctor is revealed useful not only for the purpose of physical health, but also, in a certain sense, for the moral and spiritual health of the patient."
This is true, he said, because "body and spirit are so united in man that one influences the other, and your main task is to watch over and promote life in its integral realization."
Reductions
Referring to the encyclical "Caritas in Veritate," the secretary of state criticized the material and mechanical concept of human life," which reduces love without truth to "an empty shell to be filled arbitrarily" and can entail negative effects for integral human development.
According to the cardinal, to educate in the culture of life it is necessary "to be able to contemplate in every human being the reflection of the beauty and love of God."
"Without God, man no longer perceives himself as 'mysteriously other' in relation to the various earthly creatures, and is considered as one of many living beings, as an organism that, at best, has reached a very high level of perfection," he said.
Referring to the encyclical "Evangelium Vitae" of John Paul II, Cardinal Bertone pointed out that it is "precisely in the distance between God and man" where "the motive is found that leads to losing the value of human life with the consequent presumption of being able to manage it, ignoring the Creator."
In this context, the secretary of state denounced abortion and deaths due to hunger: "There are lives that aren't news and whose loss does not cause shock.
"There are sacrosanct battles to save the life of those sentenced to death and also to safeguard the right to life of those who have committed serious crimes, while the death of innocents is considered legal and just, with laws approved by majorities in civil Parliaments."
"Emotion, ideologies, and political reasons," he added, "substitute in practice the correctly illumined conscience."
this can be found at: http://www.zenit.org/rssenglish-27621
Benedict XVI's secretary of state said this last week during a homily he gave to members of the National Council of Italian Catholic Medical Associations, held in the Pauline Chapel of the Apostolic Palace.
Addressing the challenges of modernity, the cardinal noted that "medicine itself, which by its nature should tend to the defense and care of human life, in some of its sectors lends itself increasingly to carry out acts against the person."
The secretary of state affirmed an "urgency to educate in the culture of life."
"Witnessed on one hand is the elimination of nascent human lives or those that are close to their end; on the other, it is increasingly difficult for conscience to distinguish good from evil in what affects the very fundamental value of human life," he explained.
Cardinal Bertone reminded his listeners that "the activity of the Catholic doctor is revealed useful not only for the purpose of physical health, but also, in a certain sense, for the moral and spiritual health of the patient."
This is true, he said, because "body and spirit are so united in man that one influences the other, and your main task is to watch over and promote life in its integral realization."
Reductions
Referring to the encyclical "Caritas in Veritate," the secretary of state criticized the material and mechanical concept of human life," which reduces love without truth to "an empty shell to be filled arbitrarily" and can entail negative effects for integral human development.
According to the cardinal, to educate in the culture of life it is necessary "to be able to contemplate in every human being the reflection of the beauty and love of God."
"Without God, man no longer perceives himself as 'mysteriously other' in relation to the various earthly creatures, and is considered as one of many living beings, as an organism that, at best, has reached a very high level of perfection," he said.
Referring to the encyclical "Evangelium Vitae" of John Paul II, Cardinal Bertone pointed out that it is "precisely in the distance between God and man" where "the motive is found that leads to losing the value of human life with the consequent presumption of being able to manage it, ignoring the Creator."
In this context, the secretary of state denounced abortion and deaths due to hunger: "There are lives that aren't news and whose loss does not cause shock.
"There are sacrosanct battles to save the life of those sentenced to death and also to safeguard the right to life of those who have committed serious crimes, while the death of innocents is considered legal and just, with laws approved by majorities in civil Parliaments."
"Emotion, ideologies, and political reasons," he added, "substitute in practice the correctly illumined conscience."
this can be found at: http://www.zenit.org/rssenglish-27621
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Planned Parenthood 'runs on fear,' former clinic director charges
Denver, Colo., Nov 17, 2009 / 07:02 am (CNA).- Abby Johnson, former Bryan, Texas Planned Parenthood director spoke with CNA on Monday about the restraining order her former employer filed against her following her Oct. 6 resignation. Johnson noted that while she was a little surprised by the injunction, she also knows that Planned Parenthood “runs on fear.”
Johnson, who had worked at the Bryan clinic for eight years, left Planned Parenthood on what she describes as “good terms” after witnessing an ultrasound of an abortion.
“I made a decision that day,” she told CNA. “I went home and talked to my husband about it.”
Following her resignation, Johnson joined up with members of the Coalition of Life. Shortly after, Planned Parenthood's lawyers filed a restraining order against their former employee citing their concern that she would share confidential information about the clinic as well as its patients.
Johnson noted that Planned Parenthood's attempt was unsuccessful and that their claims “had no evidence.”
“Alluding to the fact that I would release patient information is very offensive. I cared about them when I worked there, and I still do.” Johnson added that she would never do anything to violate their privacy. “It's absolutely ridiculous!”
The former clinic director went even further in denouncing Planned Parenthood, calling it “an organization that frequently threatens people who go against them.” During her tenure at the clinic, Johnson said that she saw her former employer “continually threaten” its opponents.
“If you're against them, they are going to try to sue you,” she told CNA.
Though Johnson admitted she was slightly surprised the organization filed an injunction, she figured they might go after her.
“Planned Parenthood is an organization that runs of fear. They are scared of what they do know, and they are scared of what they don't know.”
Now that Johnson has resigned from her position, she said she's not sure what is in store for her. Currently she has several talks lined up to discuss pro-life issues on the benefits of ultrasound and how important it is for women.
She added that she and her husband are “spending a lot of time in prayer to decide what we'll do next. Everyday something new pops up. Something that we didn't expect.”
This can be seen at: http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=17718&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+catholicnewsagency%2Fdailynews+%28CNA+Daily+News%29
Johnson, who had worked at the Bryan clinic for eight years, left Planned Parenthood on what she describes as “good terms” after witnessing an ultrasound of an abortion.
“I made a decision that day,” she told CNA. “I went home and talked to my husband about it.”
Following her resignation, Johnson joined up with members of the Coalition of Life. Shortly after, Planned Parenthood's lawyers filed a restraining order against their former employee citing their concern that she would share confidential information about the clinic as well as its patients.
Johnson noted that Planned Parenthood's attempt was unsuccessful and that their claims “had no evidence.”
“Alluding to the fact that I would release patient information is very offensive. I cared about them when I worked there, and I still do.” Johnson added that she would never do anything to violate their privacy. “It's absolutely ridiculous!”
The former clinic director went even further in denouncing Planned Parenthood, calling it “an organization that frequently threatens people who go against them.” During her tenure at the clinic, Johnson said that she saw her former employer “continually threaten” its opponents.
“If you're against them, they are going to try to sue you,” she told CNA.
Though Johnson admitted she was slightly surprised the organization filed an injunction, she figured they might go after her.
“Planned Parenthood is an organization that runs of fear. They are scared of what they do know, and they are scared of what they don't know.”
Now that Johnson has resigned from her position, she said she's not sure what is in store for her. Currently she has several talks lined up to discuss pro-life issues on the benefits of ultrasound and how important it is for women.
She added that she and her husband are “spending a lot of time in prayer to decide what we'll do next. Everyday something new pops up. Something that we didn't expect.”
This can be seen at: http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=17718&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+catholicnewsagency%2Fdailynews+%28CNA+Daily+News%29
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
