Pondering Abortion on the Feast of the Holy Innocents

We know well that Holy Innocents continue to be killed in our world through abortion. The Feast of the Holy Innocents is an often over-looked feast on the Church’s Calendar coming is the busy week of the Christmas Octave. And yet there is something very astonishing and even dangerous to consider on this feast.

I’ll explain what I mean by dangerous in a moment. But for now consider some biblical facts with me.

1.When God was drawing close to liberating his chosen people from slavery in Egypt there occurred the order to murder of the all the baby boys among the Hebrews. It is almost as though Satan sensed that God was up to something good and Satan raged through Pharaoh in murderous anger and fear. Thankfully the actual numbers were reduced since the Egyptian midwives engaged in civil disobedience, refusing to allow the practice to continue.
2.At the time of Jesus, when God was preparing to liberate his People from sin, there also occured the murder of innocent baby boys. Here too it was almost as though the Devil sensed that God was up to something good and he once again raged, this time through Herod in murderous anger and fear. Thankfully too this infanticide also ended at some point.
3.Notice the pattern. When God prepared a great liberation the Devil went after the babies. In our time, on a scale as never before, the Devil is going after our babies in murderous anger and fear. What is he afraid of? Is God planning something big in the near future? Is there a great liberation at hand? Is there a great advancement of evangelization and conversion in the offing? We can only speculate. But patterns are patterns and Scripture has a way of repeating its patterns and echoing down through the centuries.
Why is this a dangerous reflection? Because I want to make it clear that abortion, the killing of the innocents in our age, is NOT and never can be considered something good, or a “positive sign.” Such a speculation as this might cause some to wrongly conclude that abortion is part of God’s plan or something we should see “positively.” We should not. It must be fought. It is of Satan. I want to conclude by reminding you that the great liberation that followed the past infanticides did not occur until AFTER those murderous rages were stopped. Hence, to follow the pattern established in Scripture and to see a potentially great and liberating act of God we must first see an end to the slaughter. Work and pray to end abortion. May the Holy Innocents pray for us!

By: Msgr. Charles Pope This can be found at http://blog.adw.org/2009/12/pondering-abortion-on-the-feast-of-the-holy-innocents/

Population control abuses had the full support of the establishment

The U.S. government made foreign aid contingent on Third World countries’ adoption of population control programs and did not flinch when the reports of abuse rolled in. Private groups and individuals from the Ford Foundation to the Rockefellers poured money into reducing the population of developing countries. As the two most populous countries in the world, China and India were especially targeted. In China, the official one-child policy overseen by Xinzhong Qian required women to abort second children or be sterilized, and millions were forced to do so—by the open requirement of Chinese law. In India, desperate poor women by the millions were denied government aid unless they agreed to be sterilized, again openly and publicly so, by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s government. Even today, some Indian states deny government benefits to families with more than two children and offer payments to poor families to be sterilized. The most prominent population control organizations in the world then and now, the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), supported such programs, and they were blessed by the highest level of the international establishment years after their abuses first became publicly known. “[I]t is not surprising that both the IPPF and UNFPA decided to help China implement the one-child policy,” wrote Connelly. “UNFPA even awarded Qian with the first United Nations Population Award, complete with diploma, gold medal, and a monetary prize of $12,500. Indira Gandhi was the co-winner. When the honorees came to New York to receive their awards, [United Nations] Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar congratulated them: ‘Considering the fact that China and India contain over 40% of humanity, we must all record our deep appreciation of the way in which their governments have marshaled the resources necessary to implement population policies on a massive scale.’” Qian was forced to resign his post shortly after receiving his UN award due to pressure from Chinese women’s groups.

Project Rachel to tackle extreme abortion rates in Eastern Europe

Rome, Italy, Dec 19, 2009 / 02:18 pm (CNA).- Project Rachel is working to expand its ministry into Romania and Ukraine, where women report having had between 13 and 30 abortions. Speaking with CNA in Rome, Vicki Thorn, Executive Director of Project Rachel, described how the priestly vocation is fundamental to discovering and offering new opportunities for post-abortion healing.

Vicki Thorn is a veteran in the field of post-abortion healing, having been involved in the ministry for 25 years. Recently she has been traveling to Europe to address the issue of abortion in eastern European nations, especially Romania and the Ukraine.

"Eastern Europe has had huge numbers of abortions, in part because of communism, (but it's due to) all kinds of things. Doctors and priests see that this is a big issue because people are coming forward and they're talking. The doctors are saying that there are women with 13 to 30 abortions," she told CNA.

"I don't even know what you do with that. I've done this for 25 years, and I'm like, whew, I don't even know how we come at this question."

"In Russia the average woman according to their statistics has had nine abortions, but my own experience of talking to the physicians in Romania and Ukraine is that we're talking 13 to 30."

Thorn said that there was a doctor in Romania who told her of a woman that had solicited 70 abortions. "Do you think that's possible?" the doctor had asked Thorn.

"Maybe what she's saying is the '70 times 7' in the Bible," she replied to him, "perhaps she was saying, 'I've had so many abortions, you wouldn't believe it.'"

"So, this is a psychological issue. We're looking at countries with huge depression factors in women, alcoholism, fertility questions follow this, and it's the priests who see this in the beginning.

"When the bishops called for a post abortion healing ministry in the States, right after abortion was legalized, in their first pastoral plan, it was because they were confessors and they knew the problem. Nobody else knew it, it took me seven years to find experts, but the bishops knew because they were priests who had heard confessions."

Thorn also recounted that she first discovered the gravity of the situation in Romania when she was giving a conference on post-abortion healing through Project Rachel last year in Rome. There was a Greek Orthodox bishop in the assembly who stood up and exclaimed, "We need this!"

According to Thorn, the Greek Orthodox bishop said that at the time his Church's method of bringing about healing was to give a penance of seven years without the Eucharist.

"We have to tell people in other countries that there is a means of doing this," said Thorn.

Project Rachel is described on its website as "a network of professional counselors and priests, all trained to provide one-on-one spiritual and psychological care for those who are suffering because of an abortion."

Thorn explained to CNA that the outreach goes beyond what you'd imagine. "Just last night one of the priests here, when he heard what I did, said, 'Oh, that's some of the most moving ministry I've ever done.'”

"So, this awareness of the woman who believes she's committed the unforgivable sin; that when you reject the creation, you've rejected the creator, then to be forgiven and to be set free... that's what priests are called to do.

"This is a ministry not only for women and for men ... but also for priests. It affirms who they are, it is the essence of their call to be priests.”

When asked if the ministry has a place only within the Catholic Church, Thorn responded, "When I was in Romania, I was with the Orthodox, with the Greek Catholics and the Roman Catholics.

"Any place there's a sacramental model, Project Rachel fits,"she said.

The next step in the process of branching out to other Eastern European nations, Thorn told CNA, would be a Project Rachel seminar including leaders from these nations, "probably in Poland, and probably in the next year."

The idea is to bring leaders to the seminar from a number of Eastern bloc countries and send them home well informed. "Then we'll take it from there," said Thorn.

Part of the education would be taken care of through the manual on post-abortion healing (of which Thorn was the primary author), recently revised by the U.S. Bishops' Conference, to share knowledge with bishops' conferences abroad and lead them to offer the ministry in their areas. "If that happens, they can translate it top-down to the priests, and then if we get religious women involved we have the means to provide care wherever."

"If we could get communities of religious to take this as a charism... that will then allow Eastern Europe and Latin America to move very quickly."

Thorn told CNA that she's also seeing, "a lot of interest in mental health professionals,” but that “really the Church is the ideal place to do this. We have the means.”

"When I started doing Project Rachel, it was clear to me. We have clergy, we have mental health professionals, we have all these people within the Church that can provide care in this network and it's a holistic response.

"We have the opportunity and the means to do this any place in the world," she added.

Vicki Thorn has just released a book on the introduction of a ministry for post-abortion syndrome within the Church, called, “Project Rachel: The Face of Compassion.” The book is currently available in Italian from the Vatican Press, and she hopes to have an English version out soon.

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Abortion clinic escort strikes Planned Parenthood investigator Lila Rose

San Jose, Calif., Dec 19, 2009 / 03:37 am (CNA).- Legal charges are pending against a male Planned Parenthood escort who struck pro-life activist Lila Rose on the hands on Thursday outside an abortion clinic. She warned that the surprising attack should not help create a “double standard” that hinders clinic protesters’ free speech rights.

Rose, the president of Live Action Films who has led undercover investigations into the abortion provider, was not injured in the attack.

She was on a public sidewalk outside a Planned Parenthood affiliate in San Jose, California with a group of about 20 students and three adults to pray and provide information to women who might be open to alternatives to abortion, a statement from Live Action says.

Shortly before noon on Thursday, she interacted with a uniformed male Planned Parenthood escort.

According to Rose, she spoke to the escort from the public sidewalk and asked him if he was familiar with the abortion procedure.

The escort then approached her rapidly from the Planned Parenthood parking lot and said, “You idiot. You've caused so much trouble. You piece of crap."

Rose asked if she could show him a picture of what abortion “really does to a baby.” The escort then struck Rose on the hand, knocking literature and a Bible to the ground.

According to Live Action Films, the police report said Rose stepped further back on the sidewalk and the escort stepped toward her.

He was visibly shaking and said “It’s a woman’s choice!”

To this, Rose responded “What about the baby’s choice?”

The escort said “It’s not a baby!” and turned and walked away.

Police were called and interviewed Rose and several witnesses. She suffered no injuries in the attack, but charges of assault and battery are pending.

In a Friday e-mail Rose told CNA that she was “very surprised” at what happened. She said the escort appeared to recognize her, which has not happened before at a clinic.

“Unborn children face much, much worse...they are violently denied their very lives, and they are totally defenseless,” she added.

Rose emphasized that pro-lifers have the right to free speech on public sidewalks.

“If this right is infringed upon by threatening physical contact, the law must intervene and the guilty party must accept the consequences.”

Saying that pro-life sidewalk counselors are subjected to “the most rigorous scrutiny,” she warned that a double standard could be created if threatening physical contact against sidewalk counselors is allowed.

Rose also reported “good news”: a woman who thought she was pregnant and was considering abortion turned around. One of the parents and their daughter at the clinic then drove the woman and her friend to a crisis pregnancy center.

She told CNA that her organization has not heard anything from Planned Parenthood.

Live Action in a statement said it maintains a “strong commitment to non-violent public discourse.”

“We expect Planned Parenthood will respond to their escort's attack by publicly disavowing the use of violence,” the statement said.

this can be found at: http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/abortion_clinic_escort_strikes_planned_parenthood_investigator_lila_rose/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+catholicnewsagency%2Fdailynews+%28CNA+Daily+News%29

Holy See delegation pushes for 'authentic human ecology' at Copenhagen Conference

Copenhagen, Denmark, Dec 18, 2009 / 07:46 pm (CNA).- Archbishop Celestino Migliore, the head of the Vatican delegation to the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, addressed the High-Level Segment of the conference on Thursday. His message underscored the inefficacy of the current economic and development models, promoted the efforts of the Church and others to raise awareness to safeguard an "authentic human ecology" and pledged continued Vatican support for all initiatives that protect creation.

Migliore began his address by asking aloud what the reasons might be for the delay in adopting "common binding measures and adequate budgets for an effective mitigation and adaptation to ongoing climate change."

He attributed the lethargy to a mixture of the complexity of the issue, conflicting national interests, difficulty in quantifying individual responsibility and overbearing energy policy. All of these considerations, he continued, converge on the central element of "the necessity of a new and deeper reflection on the meaning of the economy and its purposes, and a profound and far-reaching revision of the model for development, to correct the malfunctions and distortions."

Earth's ecological health and man's moral and cultural well-being require it, he said.

"With realism, trust and hope we must assume the new responsibilities which call us to the scene of a world in need of a deep cultural renewal and a rediscovery of fundamental values on which to build a better future," said Migliore, calling for action to curb "deeply interlinked" moral crises evident in humanity today.

If the structures in place cannot provide us with an informed direction to discover and respond with in a timely manner to the "tangible reality of climate change," he stated, "reason and the innate sense of shared responsibility of the people once again must prevail."

The nuncio then pointed out that "an impressive series of initiatives" has already been started by individuals, groups, local authorities "to give form to the two cornerstones of the response to climate change: adaptation and mitigation."

However, technical solutions aren't enough, Migliore underscored. The response to climate change must include more projects that inform, educate, and develop a sense of responsibility in all people towards "environmentally sound patterns of development and stewardship of creation."

Migliore called the evidence of the success of such initiatives in the world a "widespread ecological conversion."

Through awareness, he said, a solidarity will arise that will ensure our future.

He then highlighted the Holy See's "significant efforts to take a lead in environmental protection," giving the examples of the Vatican City's greater reliance on renewable energy sources and advocacy and education programs that promote environmental responsibility by all types of Church institutions.

"We must safeguard creation - soil, water and air - as a gift entrusted to everyone, but we must also and above all prevent mankind from destroying itself," stated Migliore in defense of efforts to change currently unsustainable production and consumption models.

"The degradation of nature is directly connected to the culture that shapes human coexistence: when the human ecology is respected within society, the environmental ecology will benefit. The way humanity treats the environment influences the way it treats itself."

Echoing the sentiments of the Holy Father in his encyclical Caritas in Veritate and his recent message for the World Day of Peace, Migliore said, "Environment and climate change entail a shared responsibility toward all humanity, especially the poor and future generations.

"There is an inseparable link between the protection of creation, education and an ethical approach to the economy and development. The Holy See hopes that the process in question can ever more appreciate this link and, with this outlook, continues to give its full cooperation."

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Low birthrate, family breakdowns show dangers of secularism, Pope tells bishops of Belarus

Pope Benedict XVI met on December 17 with the Catholic bishops of Belarus, who were in Rome for their ad limina visit. The Pontiff told the bishops that their priority should be “to underline the power of faith: a faith rooted in solid tradition.” That strong faith, he said, would be an antidote to “the temptations of secularization, hedonism, and relativism-- signs of which are the problems of the falling birthrate, the fragility of families, and the illusion of finding fortune outside the homeland.” The Pope observed that the Orthodox Church in Belarus will make common cause with Catholics in this fight against secularism

this can be found at. http://www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=4947

The Re-Birth of Population Control

ROME, DEC. 13, 2009 (Zenit.org).- The Copenhagen climate summit has brought with it an outpouring of opinions on environmental issues. Among these is a disturbing return to the Malthusian position of seeing population control as the solution to the world's problems.

A planetary law imposing China's one-child policy on all nations is what is needed, according to an opinion article by Diane Francis, published Dec. 8 in the Canadian newspaper, the National Post.

Francis predicted this would reduce the current world population of 6.5 billion down to 3.43 billion by 2075. While more extreme than most, Francis is hardly alone in advocating population control.

Just prior to the Copenhagen summit, Britain's Optimum Population Trust launched a carbon offset scheme, reported the Guardian newspaper on Dec. 3.

As explained by John Vidal, the paper's environment editor, this allows rich consumers to offset their jet-set lifestyle by paying for contraception in poorer countries.

According to Vidal, the trust's calculations show that the 10 metric tons of carbon emitted by a return flight from London to Sydney could be offset by preventing the birth of one child in a country such as Kenya.

It seems neo-colonialism is still alive in the attitudes of some environmental activists who don't see any problem in urging developing nations to curb their population so that the carbon emissions of richer countries can be offset.

The launch of the scheme followed a report published in August by the trust titled: "Fewer Emitters, Lower Emissions, Less Cost: Reducing Future Carbon Emissions by Investing in Family Planning."

The conclusions of the study stated: "The cost/ benefit analysis found that family planning is considerably cheaper than many low carbon technologies."

"Based on the study's findings, it is proposed that family planning methods should be a primary tool in the optimum strategy for reducing carbon emissions," the report advocated.

Disaster predictions
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) joined the Malthusian chorus with the publication of its State of World Population 2009 Report.

Greater access to "reproductive health" was constantly urged by the report. This U.N. term is understood to include access to condoms, contraceptives and abortion.

"We have now reached a point where humanity is approaching the brink of disaster," stated Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, UNFPA's executive director at the London launch of the report Nov. 18.

The report was greeted in the press with titles such as "UN: Fight Climate Change With Free Condoms," (The Associated Press, Nov. 18).

"Birth Control: The Most Effective Way of Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions," trumpeted the Nov. 19 headline in the London Times newspaper in its coverage of the report.

Confusingly, alongside the call for reproductive health in developing nations were other statements that contradicted the thesis that less people in poorer countries would bring the world back from the precipice of environmental disaster.

"The dominant responsibility for the current build-up of greenhouse gases lies with developed countries," the report admitted.

"The linkages between population and climate change are in most cases complex and indirect," it also conceded.
A better guide to the issue of population and the environment came in a special report published by The Economist magazine in its Oct. 31 issue.

In the editorial that accompanied the report the magazine pointed out that the trend to lower fertility in developing countries is already advanced. "Today's fall in fertility is both very large and very fast," it said.

Immoral
We can limit the human impact on the environment in three ways the editorial maintained: population policy, technology and governance. Regarding population there is not much more to be done the magazine argued. Only "Chinese-style coercion" could bring about a speedier reduction in fertility.

Notably, for a publication that in no way espouses religion, the editorial also added that: "Forcing poor people to have fewer children than they want because the rich consume too many of the world's resources would be immoral."

The report itself proposed that the way to deal with carbon emissions and environmental concerns is not to try and reduce fertility but to alter economic growth so that it is less polluting and to make it less resource-intensive.

British sociologist Fran Furedi explored the return of Malthusianism in a piece written for the Web site Spiked. His Dec. 7 commentary harshly attacked the proposals of the Optimum Population Trust for being "a zombie-like Malthusian organization devoted to the cause of human depletion."

"Throughout most of history, human life has been valued in and of itself; it has been seen as possessing a special quality that could not be reduced to quantities to be measured by misanthropic accountants," he observed.

Furedi based his comments on a humanist perspective and not on a religious foundation. There is a unique quality to human life he argued. He also wondered why other humanists were not interested in defending human life and standing up for ideals developed in the Renaissance and the Enlightenment.

Losing faith
"A world that can place an equal sign between a baby and carbon is one that has lost its faith in humanity," Furedi lamented.

Another interesting commentary was published on Dec. 9 by the Australian Web site, On Line Opinion. It was written by Farida Akhter from Bangladesh. According to the article, she is the executive director of an organization that works with communities in Bangladesh and she also runs a feminist publishing house.

Akhter reflected on the UNFPA's State of World Population report and argued that it is a simplistic approach to consider that women can solve environmental problems simply by reducing their fertility.

Targeting the developing nations simply doesn't make sense, she affirmed. Citing data from the UNFPA report she stated that the world's richest half-billion people are responsible for 50% of the world's carbon dioxide emissions.

So, she continued, even if we reduce population growth in the poorest countries their contribution to the reduction of carbon emissions or consumption of resources will be not be significant.

"Let's not make women the target for contraceptives in the name of solving climate change," she concluded.
A sentiment shared by Jennie Bristow, editor of the British publication, the Abortion Review.
She also wrote an article for Spiked on the topic of population and ecology, on Oct. 6.
Bristow defended abortion and contraception, but also pointed out that history is full of examples where these practices have been imposed upon women by authorities who wanted to decide how many children should be born.

Respect
Her essay was critical of the pro-life position, yet she also argued that: "Serious questions have to be asked about how genuine the commitment to free choice is among those who ultimately would like women to choose not to have children, or more than a certain number of children."

We do indeed have a responsibility towards the environment pointed out Benedict XVI in his June 29 encyclical "Caritas in Veritate."

What is at stake, however, is something more than just ecological issues, the Pope added. Respect for nature also includes a respect for human life. "Our duties towards the environment are linked to our duties towards the human person, considered in himself and in relation to others," the encyclical argued (No. 51).

If the two become opposed, then "herein lies a grave contradiction in our mentality and practice today," the Pontiff continued. A contradiction being proposed by not a few voices in the debate over how to approach environmental issues today.

this can be found at: http://www.zenit.org/article-27826?l=english

Cardinal Bertone calls for religious freedom and respect for human rights in Arab countries

Rome, Italy, Dec 12, 2009 / 02:59 am (CNA).- In what constitutes the first interview for a documentary on the Vatican produced by the Al Jazeera network in collaboration with the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Vatican Secretary of State, encouraged the fostering of religious freedom and respect for human rights in Arab countries, especially in the Middle East.

According to L'Osservatore Romano, Cardinal Bertone explained that dialogue between Catholics and Muslims is an "important factor for peace and respect.” He also encouraged "a peaceful coexistence of all with all," explaining that the Church "defends the rights of all: the right to live, the right to education, the right of association, the rights of all minorities."

In that sense, he said, "it is necessary to ensure freedom to worship for everyone, dialoguing and working together to help those who are most in need." "The Church,” he added, "promotes the welfare of peoples regardless of their religion." Given that fact, he urged the defense of minorities, especially Christians "who are in Muslim countries,” a task that "we must pursue together."

Cardinal Bertone went on to discuss his telephone conversation with the Patriarch of Baghdad, Cardinal Emmanuel Delly, after the terrible attacks that hit the offices of the Chaldean Patriarchate, among other areas.

Addressing the people of the Middle East, the Cardinal urged "Arab Christians to stay, because they play a positive role, although some may make mistakes." This is an issue that is often raised when policy makers from the region visit the Vatican, he said.

The Al Jazeera Documentary

The new documentary, which is intended to show the reality of the Vatican to the Muslim world and will be broadcast by Al Jazeera in six months, also includes interviews with several cardinals. Among those prelates are: Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue; Archbishop Gianfranco Ravasi, President of the Pontifical Council for Culture; Claudio Maria Celli, President of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications and Rino Fisichella, President of the Pontifical Academy for Vita.

According Kenawi Mohamed, Cardinal Bertone's interviewer, "the decision to make the documentary stems from the desire to make known the universal reality of the Catholic Church and the Vatican to the Arab and Muslim world, in particular the Vatican, an independent entity guided by the pope, who is both a spiritual leader and head of state."

Kenawi said the documentary, which has been well received by members of the Roman Curia, "can serve to help the Arab world better understand the figure of the pope and the role of the Holy See in the current international scenario.”

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Archbishop encourages 'sexual responsibility' to combat AIDS in El Salvador

San Salvador, El Salvador, Dec 9, 2009 / 10:01 am (CNA).- With many AIDS prevention campaigns relying solely on condom use, Archbishop José Luis Escobar Alas of San Salvador has asked the government to promote “sexual responsibility” as the most effect form of preventing the spread of the disease.

“Certain international agencies are regularly promoting campaigns encouraging condom use, but not even one study exists which proves its effectiveness against this disease,” the archbishop explained in a dialogue with the press.

Archbishop Escobar noted that, “in the African countries where they have distributed the most prophylactics, the virus has spread the most.” Therefore, he recommended programs which emphasize “fidelity between spouses, and abstinence between singles.”

“It is the life lived in accordance to that which is moral which really combats the disease,” the prelate stated. He also noted that the campaigns which emphasize condom use “may provoke greater premature sexual activity.”

“It has been shown that condoms do not offer complete security against the transmission of the virus while experts acknowledge that condoms fail more than 20% of the time.” The archbishop recalled that the Catholic Church insists that “the prevention of AIDS requires the responsibility of the carriers, that the youth postpone their sexual relations, that couples remain faithful to each other, and that dangerous or immoral habits must be changed.”

Official statistics state that 22,210 cases of AIDS have been reported in El Salvador since 1984.

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Population control history has been full of abuse:

Since its beginnings in the 19th Century and especially
since its exponential growth after World War II, the
global population control movement has inflicted documented
human rights abuses on millions of women
worldwide. During the overpopulation hysteria of
the 1960s and 1970s and into the 1980s, nations from
Mexico to India implemented coercive population control
policies that forcibly sterilized millions of women,
forced millions more to have abortions, and also forcibly
sterilized millions of men. Some of these abuses
routinely continue to this day, particularly in China.
Columbia University History Professor Matthew Connelly
wrote in Fatal Misconception: The Struggle to Control
World Population, “The great tragedy of population
control, the fatal misconception, was to think that one
could know other people’s interests better than they
knew it themselves.”1 In the case of the global population
control movement, it was and is wealthy, elite,
white Western people deciding how many children less
fortunate people should have. Connelly details the racist
agenda of the founders of the modern population
control movement, which wanted to reduce the number
of “racially inferior” human beings. Just a few examples
of the resulting systematic human rights abuses are below.

Planned Parenthood struggling financially, Harvard study finds

Washington D.C., Dec 5, 2009 / 01:46 am (CNA).- Last week, InsiderCatholic.com issued a story referring to a Harvard Business School case study which outlined some of Planned Parenthood's recent financial difficulties. According to Mauricio Roman's article, Planned Parenthood has recently consolidated its affiliates, pushed for more cost effective procedures such as chemical abortions versus in-clinic abortions, and has tried to increase its sale of emergency contraceptive kits.

The Harvard case study, released in April of 2009, claims that "tough economic times, a hostile political environment" and inability to raise philanthropic dollars are among the reasons for Planned Parenthood's financial difficulties, despite the fact that the non-profit organization claimed $85 million in profits in 2008.

"Planned Parenthood may call itself a non-profit but the numbers don't lie: abortion is a big business," said Colin Mason, Director of Media Production for the Population Research Institute to CNA.

"Planned Parenthood talks the talk on 'wanting to reduce abortions' but that is actually the last thing they want. Why would they? Abortions are their bread and butter. When rates drop, Planned Parenthood feels the heat, as we're seeing now."

When asked if their financial difficulties are among the reasons that Planned Parenthood is working so hard to ensure federally-funded abortions in the new health care reform, Mason told CNA that "it is likely that this particularly strong push is a result of their slashed revenues."

"As abortion becomes more and more unpopular, Planned Parenthood suffers. Federal funding ensures a reliable budget."

Mason continued to tell CNA that "Planned Parenthood is beginning to have an odor of disreputability, and is losing funding at the state and local level as a result. They are shrouded in scandals that seem to pop up at every turn, from their proven practice of covering up statutory rape, to their willingness to accept racist donations."

"It is telling," said Mason, "that major companies like Target, who used to give to Planned Parenthood, have ceased. Planned Parenthood is beginning to develop a 'creep factor,' which takes its toll on revenue and patronage."

Ultimately, Mason believes that "Americans are becoming more and more uncomfortable with the entire idea of abortion and that is one of the biggest reasons why America’s biggest abortion provider, Planned Parenthood, is starting to see a massive fall-off."

"It is our hope," Mason told CNA, "that, just as the ovens of Auschwitz stand empty now as a public memorial to millions of slain Jews, so someday Planned Parenthood’s clinics will stand empty to remind us of the countless babies sacrificed in the name of 'choice'."

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New Uruguayan president-elect means pro-life battle is compromised, leader warns

Montevideo, Uruguay, Dec 3, 2009 / 11:10 am (CNA).- Following the announcement that Uruguay's left-wing candidate won the country's recent presidential election, pro-life leader Alvaro Fernandez warned that “the ballot for life in Uruguay is frankly compromised,” as the newly elected leader has said he would not oppose a possible legalization of abortion, as did his predecessor, outgoing President Tabare Vasquez.

In an interview with CNA, Fernandez explained that president-elect Jose Mujica was a member of the Tupamaros during the 1970s, a Marxist group that resorted to violence to bring about social change in Uruguay. His wife, who was also a member, is also “clearly supportive of the legalization of abortion.”

Fernandez said the differences between the various presidential candidates “were notable, not only for exterior reasons or because of their different political styles, but also because of deep philosophical differences.”

For example, he said, former president and candidate of the National Party, Luis Lacalle, “had promised he would veto any law on abortion that was passed by Parliament. Mr. Mujica promised he wouldn’t put any obstacles against the law on abortion.”

In order to warn the fellow Uruguayans of the importance of the November 29 elections, Fernandez explained, Uruguayan pro-lifers took the streets on November 23 to protest the legalization of abortion, with some 3,500 participating.

“What is certain and sure is that the pro-life battle in Uruguay is frankly compromised,” Fernandez said, adding that pro-lifers “would continue fighting like always. We will do everything we can to achieve the impossible. We are counting on the prayers of all, and, much to the dismay of Mr. Mujica, on the help of Divine Providence.”

Carlos Polo, the director of the Office for Latin America of the Population Research Institute, told CNA, “While it is true that candidate Mujica said he supported abortion, President Mujica does not necessarily have to come down on the side of his personal convictions. He won by a very small margin and almost half of the country does not concur with his positions.” For this reason, Polo warned, “Mujica must govern everyone and not only a particular social or political group, as there is a growing social tendency in Uruguay against the legalization of abortion.”

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Vatican daily reminds Obama that U.S. is increasingly pro-life

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.

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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).”

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.

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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

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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.

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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

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.”

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Well-formed conscience imperative to defense of life, says Holy Father

Vatican City, Nov 16, 2009 / 12:31 pm (CNA).- At the conclusion of their visit to Rome, Pope Benedict addressed members of Brazil’s National Conference of Bishops, inviting them to continue their evangelization efforts and emphasizing that the well-formed conscience brings about the absolute good of humanity.

Integral to that human good, and to the formation and exercise of conscience, is the defense of life, which is “not just a Christian prerogative” the Pope continued. “The 'people of life' are happy to share their commitment with others in such a way that they may become ever more numerous and the new culture of love and solidarity may grow, for the true good of human civilization,” he told the bishops.

In face of the “growing wave of violence and contempt for human beings” in today’s culture, Benedict XVI encouraged the prelates to speak "to people's hearts" and "to unite their efforts,” reminding the people that they are not merely a human product but “a gift of God welcomed in the loving intimacy between man and woman.”

Essentially, “the conviction - founded on proper reason and the certainty of faith - that human life, from conception to natural death, belongs to God and not to man, gives life that sacred character and individual dignity which justify the only correct legal and moral attitude: one of profound respect," the Pope added.

The Holy Father closed by inviting the bishops to do God’s work, “not with the sadness of those who see only shortcomings and dangers, but with the firm trust of those who know they can be sure of Christ's victory.”

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Breast cancer-abortion link highlighted by Chinese study

Shenyang, China, Nov 13, 2009 / 07:31 am (CNA).- Chinese researchers claim to have found a 17 percent increased breast cancer risk among women who have had induced abortions.

Peng Xing and other researchers in the Department of Oncology at the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University enrolled in their study 1,417 patients diagnosed with breast cancer and 1,587 women without a prior breast cancer.

The researchers’ findings indicated that induced abortion increased a woman’s risk of breast cancer by a “statistically significant” rate of 17 percent.

According to the Coalition on Abortion/Breast Cancer (CABC), U.S. researchers have said that Chinese studies on a link between abortion and breast cancer exclude “report bias” because abortion isn’t stigmatized in China and Chinese women are considered reliable reporters for their abortions.

The CABC said a Turkish study published earlier this year reported a 66 percent increased breast cancer risk among women who have had abortions.

Karen Malec, CABC president, said the Chinese and Turkish studies are relevant to the debate in the U.S. over government-funded abortion.

“Government-funded abortion means more dead American women from breast cancer," she charged.

The CABC claimed that both studies show “honest research” in contrast to U.S. and Western governmental agencies or organizations that the coalition believes are “tethered to abortion ideology and politics.”

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Spanish bishop encourages women who have aborted to receive Sacrament of Reconciliation

Madrid, Spain, Nov 12, 2009 / 07:52 pm (CNA/Europa Press).- The secretary general of the Spanish bishops' conference, Auxiliary Bishop Juan Antonio Martinez Camino of Madrid, encouraged women who have aborted to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

During a breakfast in the Spanish capital, Bishop Martinez Camino said the Church reaches out to women who are feeling tempted to have an abortion or have already experienced this tragedy.

He then stressed that God’s mercy awaits those tormented by abortion. “Those who have not gone to confession are encouraged to do so because God wants to offer them a solution and deep peace,” he said. The Church “defends the rights of the innocents,” and is “conscious of the problem that [abortion] entails.”

“She is not merciless towards those who fall into sin,” he continued.

Bishop Martinez Camino warned lawmakers that support of the proposed law on abortion would constitute “public sin” and would place them in an “objective state of sin.” While “the Church cannot judge their subjectivity,” he added, those who “directly collaborate” in an abortion incur excommunication.

The bishop said lawmakers and voters must consider the issue of life above their own political party platforms and party leaders. Those who affirm that an innocent life can be taken find themselves “in contradiction with Divine and Catholic law,” he added.

He then praised health care workers and others who have exercised their right to conscientious objection “with civic and moral courage,” and he warned against the “grave manipulation” of portraying abortion as a medical procedure, as “abortion is never a cure because pregnancy is not a disease.”

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Italy's Bishops Irate over Crucifix Ban by European Court

VATICAN CITY (Zenit.org) - Italy's bishops are saying the European Court of Human Rights is guilty of a partial and ideological outlook with its Tuesday decision that crucifixes in public school are a violation of freedom.

The Vatican and the Italian government expressed dismay with Tuesday's decision and Italian bishops expressed their own perplexity.

The court ruled in favor of an Italian citizen of Finnish origin who complained in 2002 that the state school where her two children studied violated their freedom by displaying crucifixes.

The school's administration refused to remove them, contending that the crucifix is part of Italian cultural patrimony; Italian courts subsequently backed this claim.

Now, the Strasbourg-based European court has asked the Italian government to compensate the woman with €5,000 ($7,300).

Judge Nicola Lettieri, who defends Italy in Strasbourg, assured that the Italian government will appeal the decision.

Obligation

The Italian bishops' conference said the decision "causes distress and many perplexities."

"It ignores or neglects the multiple meaning of the crucifix, which not only is a religious symbol, but also a cultural sign," a communiqué from the conference stated. "It does not take into account the fact that, in reality, in the Italian experience, the display of the crucifix in public places is in harmony with the recognition of the principles of Catholicism as part of the historical patrimony of the Italian people, confirmed by the Concordat of 1984."

The bishops cautioned that the ruling "runs the risk of artificially severing the national identity from its spiritual and cultural origins."

The episcopal conference statement maintained that the decision goes beyond a separation of Church and state, and becomes "hostility toward any form of political and cultural relevance of religion."

For his part, jurist Giuseppe Dalla Torre, rector of the LUMSA University of Rome, told the bishops' SIR news agency that the court's argument is "mistaken reasoning based on an assumption that the crucifix might oblige a profession of faith. However, the crucifix is a passive symbol, that is, it does not oblige anyone in conscience."

This can be found at: http://www.catholic.org/international/international_story.php?id=34759

Contraception in History

Historically, Christians always have condemned contraceptive sex. The two forms mentioned in the Bible, and sterilization, are condemned without exception (Gen. 38:9-10, Deut. 23:1). The Fathers of the Church recognized that in natural law the purpose of sexual intercourse is procreation; contraceptive sex, which deliberately blocks that natural purpose, is therefore a violation of natural law.

Every church in Christendom condemned contraception until 1930, when, at its decennial Lambeth Conference, Anglicanism gave permission for the use of contraception in a few extraordinary cases. Soon all Protestant denominations had adopted the secularist position on contraception. Today not one stands with the Catholic Church to maintain the ancient Christian faith on this issue.

How badly things have decayed may be seen by comparing the current state of non-Catholic churches, where most pastors counsel young couples to decide before they are married what form of contraception they use, with these quotations from the Fathers, who condemned contraception in general as well as in particular forms of it (sterilization, oral contraceptives, , and orally-consummated sex).

Many Protestants, perhaps beginning to see the inevitable connection between contraception and divorce and between contraception and abortion, are now returning to the historic Christian position and are rejecting contraceptive sexual practices.

Letter of Barnabas

"Moreover, he [Moses] has rightly detested the weasel [Lev. 11 :29]. For he means, 'Thou shalt not be like to those whom we hear of as committing wickedness with the mouth with the body through uncleanness [orally consummated sex]; nor shalt thou be joined to those impure women who commit iniquity with the mouth with the body through uncleanness"' ( 10:8 [A.D. 74]).

Clement of Alexandria

"Because of its divine institution for the propagation of man, the seed is not to be vainly ejaculated, nor is it to be damaged, nor is it to be wasted" ( 2:10:91:2 [A.D. 191]).

Clement of Alexandria

"To have coitus other than to procreate children is to do injury to nature" (ibid. 2:10:95:3).

Hippolytus

"[Christian women with male concubines], on account of their prominent ancestry and great property, the so-called faithful want no children from slaves or lowborn commoners, they use drugs of sterility [oral contraceptives] or bind themselves tightly in order to expel a fetus which has already been engendered [abortion]" ( 9:12 [A.D. 225]).

Lactantius

"[Some] complain of the scantiness of their means, and allege that they have not enough for bringing up more children, as though, in truth, their means were in [their] power . . . or God did not daily make the rich poor and the poor rich. Wherefore, if any one on any account of poverty shall be unable to bring up children, it is better to abstain from relations with his wife" ( 6:20 [A.D. 3o7]).

Lactantius

"God gave us eyes not to see and desire pleasure, but to see acts to be performed for the needs of life; so too, the genital ['generating'] part of the body, as the name itself teaches, has been received by us for no other purpose than the generation of offspring" (ibid. 6:23:18).

Council of Nicaea I

"[I]f anyone in sound health has castrated [sterilized] himself, it behooves that such a one, if enrolled among the clergy, should cease [from his ministry], and that from henceforth no such person should be promoted. But, as it is evident that this is said of those who willfully do the thing and presume to castrate themselves, so if any have been made eunuchs by barbarians, or by their masters, and should otherwise be found worthy, such men this canon admits to the clergy" (canon l [A.D. 325]).

Epiphanius

"They [certain Egyptian heretics] exercise genital acts, yet prevent the conceiving of children. Not in order to produce offspring, but to satisfy lust, are they eager for corruption" ( 26:5:2 [A.D. 375]).

John Chrysostom

"[I]n truth, all men know that they who are under the power of this disease [the sin of covetousness] are wearied even of their father's old age [wishing him to die so they can inherit]; and that which is sweet, and universally desirable, the having of children, they esteem grievous and unwelcome. Many at least with this view have even paid money to be childless, and have mutilated nature, not only killing the newborn, but even acting to prevent their beginning to live [sterilization]" ( 28:5 [A.D. 391]).

John Chrysostom

"[T]he man who has mutilated [sterilized] himself, in fact, is subject even to a curse, as Paul says, 'I would that they who trouble you would cut the whole thing off' [Gal. 5 :12]. And very reasonably, for such a person is venturing on the deeds of murderers, and giving occasion to them that slander God's creation, and opens the mouths of the Manicheans, and is guilty of the same unlawful acts as they that mutilate themselves among the Greeks. For to cut off our members has been from the beginning a work of demonical agency, and satanic device, that they may bring up a bad report upon the works of God, that they may mar this living creature, that imputing all not to the choice, but to the nature of our members, the more part of them may sin in security as being irresponsible, and doubly harm this living creature, both by mutilating the members and be impeding the forwardness of the free choice in behalf of good deeds" (ibid. 62:3).

John Chrysostom

"Why do you sow where the field is eager to destroy the fruit, where there are medicines of sterility [oral contraceptives], where there is murder before birth? You do not even let a harlot remain only a harlot, but you make her a murderess as well.... Indeed, it is something worse than murder, and I do not know what to call it; for she does not kill what is formed but prevents its formation. What then? Do you condemn the gift of God and fight with his [natural] laws? . . . Yet such turpitude . . . the matter still seems indifferent to many men—even to many men having wives. In this indifference of the married men there is greater evil filth; for then poisons are prepared, not against the womb of a prostitute, but against your injured wife. Against her are these innumerable tricks" ( 24 [A.D. 391]).

John Chrysostom

"Observe how bitterly he [Paul] speaks against their deceivers . . . 'I would that they which trouble you would cut the whole thing off' [Gal. 5:12] .... On this account he curses them, and his meaning is as follows: 'For them I have no concern, "A man that is heretical after the first and second admonition." If they will, let them not only be circumcised but mutilated' [Titus 3:10]. Where then are those who dare to mutilate [sterilize] themselves, seeing that they drawn down the apostolic curse, and accuse the workmanship of God, and take part with the Manichees?" ( 5:12 [A.D. 395]).

Jerome

"But I wonder why he [the heretic Jovinianus] set Judah and Tamar before us for an example, unless perchance even harlots give him pleasure; or Onan, who was slain because he grudged his brother seed. Does he imagine that we approve of any sexual intercourse except for the procreation of children?" ( 1: 19 [A.D. 393]).

Jerome

"You may see a number of women who are widows before they are wives. Others, indeed, will drink sterility [oral contraceptives] and murder a man not yet born, [and some commit abortion]" ( 22:13 [A.D. 396]).

Augustine

"You [Manicheans] make your auditors adulterers of their wives when they take care lest the women with whom they copulate conceive. They take wives according to the laws of matrimony by tablets announcing that the marriage is contracted to procreate children; and then, fearing because of your [religious] law [against childbearing] . . . they copulate in a shameful union only to satisfy lust for their wives. They are unwilling to have children, on whose account alone marriages are made. How is it, then, that you are not those prohibiting marriage, as the apostle predicted of you so long ago [1 Tim. 4:1-4], when you try to take from marriage what marriage is? When this is taken away, husbands are shameful lovers, wives are harlots, bridal chambers are brothels, fathers-in-law are pimps" ( 15:7 [A.D. 400]).

Augustine

"For thus the eternal law, that is, the will of God creator of all creatures, taking counsel for the conservation of natural order, not to serve lust, but to see to the preservation of the race, permits the delight of mortal flesh to be released from the control of reason in copulation only to propagate progeny" (ibid., 22:30).

Augustine

"For necessary sexual intercourse for begetting [children] is alone worthy of marriage. But that which goes beyond this necessity no longer follows reason but lust. And yet it pertains to the character of marriage . . . to yield it to the partner lest by fornication the other sin damnably [through adultery].... [T]hey [must] not turn away from them the mercy of God . . . by changing the natural use into that which is against nature, which is more damnable when it is done in the case of husband or wife. For, whereas that natural use, when it pass beyond the compact of marriage, that is, beyond the necessity of begetting [children], is pardonable in the case of a wife, damnable in the case of a harlot; that which is against nature is execrable when done in the case of a harlot, but more execrable in the case of a wife. Of so great power is the ordinance of the Creator, and the order of creation, that . . . when the man shall wish to use a body part of the wife not allowed for this purpose [orally or anally consummated sex], the wife is more shameful, if she suffer it to take place in her own case, than if in the case of another woman" ( 11-12 [A.D. 401]).

Augustine

"This proves that you [Manicheans] approve of having a wife, not for the procreation of children, but for the gratification of passion. In marriage, as the marriage law declares, the man and woman come together for the procreation of children. Therefore, whoever makes the procreation of children a greater sin than copulation, forbids marriage and makes the woman not a wife but a mistress, who for some gifts presented to her is joined to the man to gratify his passion" ( 18:65 [A.D. 388]).

Augustine

"I am supposing, then, although you are not lying [with your wife] for the sake of procreating offspring, you are not for the sake of lust obstructing their procreation by an evil prayer or an evil deed. Those who do this, although they are called husband and wife, are not; nor do they retain any reality of marriage, but with a respectable name cover a shame. Sometimes this lustful cruelty, or cruel lust, comes to this, that they even procure poisons of sterility [oral contraceptives] . . . Assuredly if both husband and wife are like this, they are not married, and if they were like this from the beginning they come together not joined in matrimony but in seduction. If both are not like this, I dare to say that either the wife is in a fashion the harlot of her husband or he is an adulterer with his own wife" ( 1:15:17 [A.D. 419]).

Caesarius

"Who is he who cannot warn that no woman may take a potion [an oral contraceptive or an abortifacient] so that she is unable to conceive or condemns in herself the nature which God willed to be fecund? As often as she could have conceived or given birth, of that many homicides she will be held guilty, and, unless she undergoes suitable penance, she will be damned by eternal death in hell. If a women does not wish to have children, let her enter into a religious agreement with her husband; for chastity is the sole sterility of a Christian woman" ( 1:12 [A.D. 522]).

This can be found at: http://www.ewtn.com/library/ANSWERS/FKBCONTR.HTM

Spiritual healing

From a interview with Vicki Thorn. Thorn says there is more awareness today about the long-term negative effects of abortion than when she began her ministry. Yet there is still "huge denial in the psychotherapeutic community" regarding links between abortion and harmful behaviors such as depression, eating disorders and suicidal tendencies.

Although every woman who has had an abortion is "a mother who has lost a child," the circumstances can affect the way a woman grieves. For example, a woman who has had an abortion because a doctor told her something was wrong with the baby "will be a wreck immediately....The woman who has a late-term abortion will probably grieve right away, too, because she bonded more."

Regarding RU-486, known as the "abortion pill," Thorn says, "We have some potential for serious post-traumatic stress disorder there.... You can't be sitting at home, have all this blood, and then pass the baby, and think you're not going to be traumatized by it!"

Thorn refers to women who have had abortions as "aborted women." She says they need to understand some of the things that can trigger painful emotions. For example, an aborted woman might believe that God can't forgive her. Attending a wedding or graduation of someone who is the same age her aborted baby would have been can cause anguish. Early menopause for a woman with no living children is another reminder.

Most aborted women who contact Project Rachel "want to start with a priest," says Thorn. These women feel the urge for forgiveness in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Some believe they have committed an unforgivable sin and think they are excommunicated (see "Ask a Franciscan").

The woman is given the names of several priests nearby who have been trained in this healing ministry. If a woman has a special problem such as depression or an eating disorder, she may be referred to a priest who is also a therapist. Thorn tells women, "Trust the Holy Spirit to get you to the right person."

In order to protect the priests and the women, "The priest list is highly confidential," explains Thorn. For example, if it is known that a specific parish priest is trained in Project Rachel, people might think that every woman making an appointment with him has had an abortion. In addition, some people might mistakenly think that a priest involved in Project Rachel is pro-abortion.

Thorn believes aborted women feel isolated and have a strong drive to heal: "They think they're crazy because where in the media do you see that there's a problem afterward?" She tells them, "If you give God permission to heal you, God is going to honor your request." When they are healed, these women "are such a gift to the Church because they understand the Church's teaching on abortion. They may even come to understand the Church's teaching on contraception."

Many women were pressured into having abortions, either directly or indirectly, she explains. Thus, it's important that they make the decision to seek healing on their own, without pressure. And that may be many years after an abortion. "The day that she's ready to heal, God is going to put somebody or some book or some Web site there," she says. "It's about bereavement. It's about grieving. It's about establishing a relationship with that lost child. The real gift of our faith tradition is the Communion of Saints, because you can talk about that child as an intercessor for the family."

this can be found at: http://www.americancatholic.org/messenger/jan2002/feature2.asp

Church cannot remain silent when human life is in danger, says Peruvian bishop

Ayaviri, Peru, Nov 4, 2009 / 02:09 am (CNA).- Bishop Kay Martin Schmalhausen of Ayaviri, Peru reminded the faithful this week that the Church cannot remain silent when human life is attacked, because “it is her duty to raise her voice when it comes to fundamental issues about man.”

Amidst the recent debate in Peru over the legalization of abortion, Bishop Schmalhausen explained that the Church cannot remain silent “when it comes to the fundamental issues of man, when the good of a people or of humanity itself, its present and its future, is in danger.”

“Nobody, no man, no human authority has power over another man to decide the life of another,” the bishop said. “At the root of all debate over allowing abortion and relativizing the primordial right to life of every unborn child is the logic of Cain who, hidden though always culpable, kills his brother.”

On an issue as delicate as this one, the Church is speaking in defense of all of her children, especially all women, Bishop Schmalhausen continued. More than anyone, “the Church understands the joys and sufferings of families, the joys and tragedies of young people,” and especially of women who are pregnant and even women who have experienced abortion, he said.

“Any society that justifies killing its own will end up corrupting itself and will be guilty of the threatening spread of a culture of death,” the bishop stated. It is well known that the strategy of pro-abortion groups at the national and international level is to see that the first legislative concessions to abortion lead to a wider liberalization of the practice, to make it institutionalized in third world countries,” he said.

Bishop Schmalhausen called for improved policies aimed at assisting pregnant mothers and families in difficult situations to prevent them from suffering from the tragedy of abortion.

He praised and encouraged efforts by the Church to reach out to women through assistance centers and other projects aimed at preventing abortion and helping women who are suffering from post-abortion stress syndrome.

This can be found at: http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=17575

Honduran Congress prohibits morning-after pill

Tegucigalpa, Nov 3, 2009 / 07:26 pm (CNA).- A new law has taken effect in Honduras prohibiting the consumption and marketing of the morning-after pill in the Central American country.

The law was passed by the Honduran Congress at the beginning of the year with backing from the Medical College of Honduras, which pointed out that the pill has an abortifacient effect making it unconstitutional.

The Honduran Congress argued that the drug would “gravely endanger the health of the Honduran population, especially women who are able to get pregnant.”

Lawmakers pointed to a 2008 report by the Medical College of Honduras that warned of the drug’s anti-implantation effect, making it an abortifacient. The new law prohibits “the promotion, consumption, sale and purchasing of the emergency contraceptive pill, as well as its distribution, whether for sale or free-of-charge.”

Commenting on the historic decision, which is similar to measures taken by other countries in the region, Carlos Polo, Latin American director of the Population Research Institute, told CNA that this decision is “a milestone for another Latin American country” saying that Honduras has freed itself from the pressures of pharmaceutical companies and feminist organizations.

“In Latin America, where abortion is illegal, the only option left for the promoters of this pill was to misinform the people by denying the so-called ‘third effect.’ Now we see that pressure and misinformation can last a while but in the end, deceit fails on its own. We will certainly see the morning-after pill eradicated from Latin America, thus freeing ourselves from an inoperative and costly method that has grave adverse effects for women,” Polo said.

This can be found at http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=17573

Planned Parenthood Director Quits After Watching Abortion on Ultrasound

Fox News report at http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,571215,00.html

The former director of a Planned Parenthood clinic in southeast Texas says she had a "change of heart" after watching an abortion last month — and she quit her job and joined a pro-life group in praying outside the facility.

Abby Johnson, 29, used to escort women from their cars to the clinic in the eight years she volunteered and worked for Planned Parenthood in Bryan, Texas. But she says she knew it was time to leave after she watched a fetus "crumple" as it was vacuumed out of a patient's uterus in September.

'When I was working at Planned Parenthood I was extremely pro-choice," Johnson told FoxNews.com. But after seeing the internal workings of the procedure for the first time on an ultrasound monitor, "I would say there was a definite conversion in my heart ... a spiritual conversion."

Johnson said she became disillusioned with her job after her bosses pressured her for months to increase profits by performing more and more abortions, which cost patients between $505 and $695.

"Every meeting that we had was, 'We don't have enough money, we don't have enough money — we've got to keep these abortions coming,'" Johnson told FoxNews.com. "It's a very lucrative business and that's why they want to increase numbers."

A spokeswoman for Planned Parenthood told FoxNews.com that it offers a range of services at it 850 health centers nationwide, providing pregnancy tests, vaccinations and women's health services, "including wellness exams, breast and cervical cancer screenings, contraception, and STD testing and treatment."

"Planned Parenthood's focus is on prevention," wrote Diane Quest, the group's National Media Director. "Nationwide, more than 90% of the health care Planned Parenthood affiliates provide is preventive in nature," explaining that a "core component the organization's mission is to help women plan healthy pregnancies and prevent unintended pregnancies."

But Johnson said her bosses told her to change her "priorities" and focus on abortions, which she said made money for the office at a time when the recession has left them hurting.

"For them there's not a lot of money in education," she said. "There's as not as much money in family planning as there is abortion."

Without a doctor in residence, she said, her clinic offered abortions only two days a month, but the doctor could perform 30 to 40 procedures on each day he was there. Johnson estimated that each abortion could net the branch about $350, adding up to more than $10,000 a month.

"The majority of the money was going to the facility," she said.

Johnson said she never got any orders to increase profits in e-mails or letters, and had no way to prove her allegations about practices at the Bryan branch. She told FoxNews.com that pressure came in personal interactions with her regional manager from the larger Houston office.

But she said she got involved with the clinic "to help women and ... [do] the right thing," and the idea of raking in cash seemed to go against what she felt was the mission of the 93-year-old organization.

"Ideally my goal as the facility's director is that your abortion numbers don't increase," because "you're providing so much family planning and so much education that there is not a demand for abortion services.

"But that was not their goal," she said.

A spokeswoman for Planned Parenthood refused to answer questions about Johnson's accusations, but released a statement noting that a district court had issued a temporary restraining order against the former branch director and against the Coalition for Life, an anti-abortion group with which Johnson is now affiliated.

"We regret being forced to turn to the courts to protect the safety and confidentiality of our clients and staff, however, in this instance it is absolutely necessary," said spokeswoman Rochelle Tafolla.

It is unclear what made Planned Parenthood seek the restraining order. Johnson said she did not intend to release any sensitive information about her former patients at the clinic.

A hearing is set for Nov. 10 to determine whether a judge will order an injunction against Johnson and the Coalition for Life, which has led protests outside the clinic and joined her in a prayer vigil there last month.

Johnson hasn't found a job since she quit on Oct. 6, but she said she's enjoying the time off to be with her 3-year-old daughter.

"It's been great just to spend some time at home and get a break," she said

Lawyer says resources should be used to build daycare centers in Mexico rather than to promote abortion

Mexico City, Mexico, Nov 2, 2009 / 02:53 pm (CNA).- Constitutional lawyer Ingrid Tapia called on the Mexico City government last week to set aside public resources for the building of daycare centers instead of promoting abortion.

Speaking to Matutino Express, Tapia, who is a member of the Center for the Comprehensive Study and Formation of Women, underscored that human life exists from the moment of conception and that “abortion is a crime in 31 entities of the country.”

Tapia noted that 16 Mexican states have passed laws defending human life and that according to recent polls, 80 percent of Mexicans respect life.

She also said that women who seek abortions “do not do so in order to exercise a right, but rather because they are living in conditions of misery and deprivation.” For this reason she called for improvement of the country’s social and health policies.

Referring to groups that promote abortion, Tapia said, “Instead of promoting a law to see how women can get rid of their children, there ought to be a law creating more daycare centers.”

This can be found at: http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=17558

Omaha physician travels overseas to train doctors in natural reproductive technology

Omaha, Neb., Oct 31, 2009 / 02:49 pm (CNA).- During a recent trip to Nigeria and Poland, a local doctor witnessed enthusiasm for the natural reproductive technology he created in Omaha. Dr. Thomas Hilgers, an obstetrician/gynecologist and director of the Pope Paul VI Institute in Omaha, traveled to Lagos, Africa, and Lublin, Poland, in September to finish training more than a dozen physicians and medical professionals in NaProTECHNOLOGY. NaproTECHNOLOGY (Natural Procreative Technology) is a women's health science that monitors and maintains a woman's reproductive and gynecological health.

Seven physicians in Lagos and eight in Lublin are now certified to serve as natural family planning medical consultants using the Creighton Model FertilityCare System, which was developed at the Pope Paul VI Institute.

It was the first time the institute took its medical consultant training beyond the U.S. border, although 97 practitioners are active in several foreign countries. These practitioners, however, all traveled to the United States to receive their training.

To date, the institute has trained more than 400 active FertilityCare practitioners.

NaProTECHNOLOGY provides medical and surgical treatments that works completely with the reproductive system.

"There was a lot of enthusiasm in both places," Hilgers said. "The doctors that we graduated in Africa and Poland are so excited about their new training and what they can do with NaProTECHNOLOGY."

The trip was part of an outreach to medical professionals in parts of the world that haven't been exposed to the institute's work. For years, the institute has trained educators from other parts of the world to adopt and teach its programs, including the Creighton Model FertilityCare education programs.

"We embarked on this recent trip because of the inability of doctors in Lagos and Lublin to come to the United States for training," Hilgers said.

The women's science uses the FertilityCare System to monitor the occurrence of hormonal events during the menstrual cycle, and provides information that can be interpreted by a woman and physicians specifically trained in the system.

The science works with the procreative and gynecologic systems. When these systems function abnormally, NaProTECHNOLOGY identifies the problems and works with the menstrual and fertility cycles that correct the condition and sustain the procreative potential.

Hilgers said the visit to Poland was timely because of a debate in the Polish Parliament to make in vitro fertilization illegal. His science is being held as the alternative to the in vitro fertilization program, he said.

"IVF doesn't care what's wrong with you, but NaProTECHNOLOGY does," Hilgers said. "Although there is no cure for infertility yet, there can be a cure and it's important that we find one. The only way we're going to get there is through NaProTECHNOLOGY because we look at the underlying problems and we treat those."

In vitro fertilization is "one great big human experiment" that's been going on for 30 years, said Hilgers, a clinical professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Creighton University School of Medicine.

"We've had defective babies born as a result of it. We've had millions of embryos destroyed or lost as a result of it, and we have between 4,000 and 5,000 embryos stored in freezers because of it. There's also this move to do embryonic stem cell research and cloning because of it," he said. "We've never had a national debate over it, and I think that's pretty sad."

NaProTECHNOLOGY provides a different way of approaching things, and with it comes a different level of respect, he said.

"There needs to be a national debate on these issues because there are ways to do this that are more effective," Hilgers said. "With NaProTECHNOLOGY, the underlying causes get treated or at least the ones we know about, and that's really important."

This can be found at http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=17516

Cardinal Cipriani reminds State of duty to protect life from moment of conception

The Archbishop of Lima, Cardinal Juan Luis Cipriani, reminded the Peruvian State this week of its duty to protect human life, "because the human person is the center of all of society." During Mass celebrating the solemnity of the Lord of Miracles, Cardinal Cipriani reaffirmed that all life "is sacred from the first moment of conception" and that no person is the result of chance, but rather "the fruit of a thought of God." "Nobody has been born by chance," he exclaimed, "each one of us is the result of God's love."

Amidst debate in Peru on the legalization of abortion in cases of rape and fetal deformation as well as the morning-after pill, the cardinal said that the Peruvian people are "noble" and that the unborn do not deserve to be in danger in the womb, which ought to be a place of "warmth, tenderness, care and love."

Cardinal Cipriani urged Peruvians to draw close to the Lord and to leave behind the corruption and abuse of today's society. "the Holy Father Benedict XVI reminds us- following the example of John Paul II- that he who allows Christ in loses nothings, nothing that makes life free and beautiful. A friendship with the Lord of Miracles opens the doors of life," he said

The Archbishop of Lima, Cardinal Juan Luis Cipriani, reminded the Peruvian State this week of it.

This can be found at Http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=17528

African Synod concludes discussion, endorses 57 propositions

The Synod of Bishops for Africa concluded its deliberations on Saturday, October 24, voting to approve 57 propositions to be presented to Pope Benedict XVI as the basis for an apostolic exhortation.
At the final meeting of the Synod assembly, Cardinal Theodore-Adrien Sarr of Dakar, Senegal, speaking for the Synod members, thanked the Pontiff for his "paternal concern, respect and diligence." Pope Benedict in turn praised the Synod delegates for rising to the challenge posed by their topic. He observed that in discussing the often difficult conditions facing the peoples of Africa, "the temptation could have been to politicize the them, to speak less as pastors and more as politicians, and thus in a sphere which is not our own." A companion danger, he added, was "precisely in order to escape this temptation, we should retreat into a purely spiritual world, an abstract, beautiful but unrealistic world."
On Sunday, Pope Benedict presided at a Mass in St. Peter's basilica to mark the form closing of the Synod. In his homily the Pontiff said: "The reconciled Church is a powerful leaven of reconciliation in single countries and in the whole African continent." He exhorted the African bishops who had participated in the assembly: "Start down the road of new evangelization with the courage that comes from the Holy Spirit."
Among the propositions endorsed by the assembly, the Synod issued:
- a "heartfelt appeal to all those who are at war" to stop the bloodshed, and to those responsible to stop all activities that destabilize the societies of Africa;
- a clear rejection of the "unacceptable" Article 14 of the Maputo Protocol, which "trivializes the seriousness of the crime of abortion and devalues the role of childbearing," and a plea to the people of Africa generally to protect marriage, the family, and life against "the ideology of divorce and a new relativistic ethic;"
- a statement of concern for the 15 million migrants living in Africa-- some in their own countries, others in new lands;
- a condemnation of "all acts of violence against women, such as the battering of wives, the disinheritance of daughters, the oppression of widows in the name of tradition, forced marriages, female genital mutilation, trafficking in women and several other abuses such as sex slavery and sex tourism;"
- a call for justice and fair treatment for those afflicted with AIDS, an end to discrimination against AIDS victims, and the provision of medicines that are available in the Western world.

This can be found at: http://www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=4411

Constitutional Court in Peru admits abortifacient effect of morning-after pill

Lima, Peru, Oct 23, 2009 / 11:22 pm (CNA).- Peru’s Constitutional Court has ruled against the distribution of the “morning-after pill” at public health care facilities because the abortifacient effect of the drug has not been ruled out.
According to the public relations office of the Court, the justices hold that “the inexistence of the abortifacient effect, the inhibition of the implantation of the fertilized ovum in the endometrium, has not been demonstrated.”
The court accepted the arguments of various NGOs after evaluating the arguments presented by national and international institutions and found that supporters of the pill could not prove that it does not affect the right to life of the unborn, which is protected by the Peruvian Constitution.
The court's ruling bans the free distribution of the morning-after pill in public health care facilities, however the drug can still be sold in pharmacies as long as consumers are provided with information on the drug’s potential abortifacient nature.
According to Carlos Polo, director of the Office for Latin America of the Population Research Institute (PRI), the court “has acted correctly because it put things into proper perspective. The promoters and sellers of the pill needed to show that the anti-implantation effect did not exist and they could not do so.”
PRI is one the organizations cited in the court’s ruling.
“The ruling reproduces the complete texts of the literature that accompanies the drug in various countries where the anti-implantation effect is accepted. It cites the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which is a point of reference for pharmacology worldwide. This simple affirmation is something the previous Ministers of Health simply refused to accept—starting with Pilar Mazzetti—for obvious ideological reasons and for the benefit of the pharmaceutical laboratory that owns the brand Postinor,” Polo said.
The ruling coincides with similar rulings in Ecuador, Argentina and recently in Chile,” he added

This can be found at http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=17478