Toledo, Spain, Sep 29, 2009 / 03:48 pm (CNA).- Archbishop Braulio Rodriguez of Toledo, Spain said Monday that the new law on Sexual and Reproductive Health and the Voluntary Interruption of Pregnancy approved by the Spanish government last Saturday “has little to do with sexual health” and treats abortion “as if it were a right.”
The Archbishop of Toledo faulted the legislation for using the term “reproduction” and added that “abortion is repulsive to reason.”
The archbishop made his comments to reporters immediately following a Mass to open the new academic year at several local theology institutes and the archdiocesan seminary.
Lawmakers in Europe often fall into “a sort of contradiction,” he continued, since “on the one hand they want to broaden the individual rights of the person but on the other they work less for other rights such as the right to be born, the right to life and to right to not go hungry and to employment.”
The law will now go before Spain’s Parliament, where it probably be passed, the archbishop said. “But that does not mean it is right. Future generations will judge us for laws like this,” he warned
this can be found at: http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=17254
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Monday, September 28, 2009
Girl, 14, Dies After receiving a cervical cancer vaccine at school
A 14-year-old girl has died shortly after she was given a cervical cancer vaccine at school. An "urgent" investigation is now under way by a health authority following the tragedy in Coventry.
The teenager became ill at Blue Coat Church of England School after having the HPV (human papillomavirus) jab and was then taken to the city's University Hospital where she later died.
She had had the vaccine as part of the national immunisation programme to protect women against the disease.
A small number of other girls at the school also reported mild symptoms, such as dizziness and nausea, but were not admitted to hospital.
NHS Coventry said although no link had been made between the death and the vaccination, it had quarantined the batch used at the school as a "precautionary measure".
"A number of other girls also reported being unwell and some were sent home. If your daughter has received a vaccine today we ask that you are extra vigilant regarding any signs or symptoms.
"The most common adverse reaction after the HPV1 vaccine is mild to moderate short-lasting pain at the injection site.
"An immediate, localised stinging sensation has been reported, as has reactions at the injection site. Other reactions reported include headache, muscle pain, fatigue and a low grade fever."
There are more than 100 types of human papillomavirus (HPV) but only 13 of them are known to cause cancer, according to the NHS.
The NHS started the HPV vaccination programme in September last year, offering vaccines to girls aged 12 and 13 and to 17 and 18-year-old girls.
This can be found at: http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/Schoolgirl-14-Dies-After-Having-Cervical-Cancer-Jab-At-School/Article/200909415394464?f=rss
The teenager became ill at Blue Coat Church of England School after having the HPV (human papillomavirus) jab and was then taken to the city's University Hospital where she later died.
She had had the vaccine as part of the national immunisation programme to protect women against the disease.
A small number of other girls at the school also reported mild symptoms, such as dizziness and nausea, but were not admitted to hospital.
NHS Coventry said although no link had been made between the death and the vaccination, it had quarantined the batch used at the school as a "precautionary measure".
"A number of other girls also reported being unwell and some were sent home. If your daughter has received a vaccine today we ask that you are extra vigilant regarding any signs or symptoms.
"The most common adverse reaction after the HPV1 vaccine is mild to moderate short-lasting pain at the injection site.
"An immediate, localised stinging sensation has been reported, as has reactions at the injection site. Other reactions reported include headache, muscle pain, fatigue and a low grade fever."
There are more than 100 types of human papillomavirus (HPV) but only 13 of them are known to cause cancer, according to the NHS.
The NHS started the HPV vaccination programme in September last year, offering vaccines to girls aged 12 and 13 and to 17 and 18-year-old girls.
This can be found at: http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/Schoolgirl-14-Dies-After-Having-Cervical-Cancer-Jab-At-School/Article/200909415394464?f=rss
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Bishop Aquila prays at North Dakota abortion clinic as 40 Days for Life continues
Fargo, N.D., Sep 26, 2009 / 07:39 am (CNA).- Bishop of Fargo Samuel J. Aquila prayed outside North Dakota’s only abortion facility on Friday in an event coinciding with the 40 Days for Life campaign. He has also encouraged clergy to do the same.
The 40 Days for Life campaign is a national ecumenical endeavor of prayer, fasting and peaceful prayer outside abortion facilities. Its fall segment began on September 23.
This year marks the third time North Dakota has held the campaign.
In a September 23 letter to priests of the diocese, the bishop announced that he would pray outside the state’s abortion clinic on Friday at 11 a.m. He asked priests to participate in the 40 Days for Life Campaign by scheduling at least one hour of prayer outside the facility.
“I realize this will require great sacrifice for some of you in terms of miles traveled and time away from other pastoral duties. Yet I am confident that much fruit will come from your time spent in conversation with God at the site of this modern day, legally protected holocaust,” Bishop Aquila wrote, asking the priests to encourage their parishioners to join the pro-life effort.
He also encouraged priests to imitate St. Padre Pio, whose feast day is September 23.
“With Christ we stand in prayerful witness, in the cold, the rain, the snow, enduring the glances of hatred and the words of disgust from those who do not understand,” the bishop said in his letter. “In faithful hope we pray that some will come to understand, that hearts will be transformed, unborn babies will be saved from death and parents will escape the agony of later realizing that their choice ended the life of their child.”
Bishop Aquila also announced that he will lead a Eucharistic procession to the abortion facility on Respect Life Sunday.
The 40 Days for Life website is at http://www.40daysforlife.com
this can be found at: http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=17228
The 40 Days for Life campaign is a national ecumenical endeavor of prayer, fasting and peaceful prayer outside abortion facilities. Its fall segment began on September 23.
This year marks the third time North Dakota has held the campaign.
In a September 23 letter to priests of the diocese, the bishop announced that he would pray outside the state’s abortion clinic on Friday at 11 a.m. He asked priests to participate in the 40 Days for Life Campaign by scheduling at least one hour of prayer outside the facility.
“I realize this will require great sacrifice for some of you in terms of miles traveled and time away from other pastoral duties. Yet I am confident that much fruit will come from your time spent in conversation with God at the site of this modern day, legally protected holocaust,” Bishop Aquila wrote, asking the priests to encourage their parishioners to join the pro-life effort.
He also encouraged priests to imitate St. Padre Pio, whose feast day is September 23.
“With Christ we stand in prayerful witness, in the cold, the rain, the snow, enduring the glances of hatred and the words of disgust from those who do not understand,” the bishop said in his letter. “In faithful hope we pray that some will come to understand, that hearts will be transformed, unborn babies will be saved from death and parents will escape the agony of later realizing that their choice ended the life of their child.”
Bishop Aquila also announced that he will lead a Eucharistic procession to the abortion facility on Respect Life Sunday.
The 40 Days for Life website is at http://www.40daysforlife.com
this can be found at: http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=17228
Friday, September 25, 2009
Families 'under siege' since acceptance of divorce, Pope says
VATICAN CITY, 25 SEP 2009 (VIS) - The family, "founded on marriage as a conjugal alliance in which man and woman mutually give and receive", was the central theme of the Holy Father's meeting today with prelates from the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (Northeast 1-4), who have just completed their "ad limina" visit.
In his remarks the Pope noted how, in their reports to him, the bishops had highlighted the fact that "families are beleaguered and under siege". Yet, he pointed out, "despite all negative influences", the people of north-eastern Brazil "remain open to the Gospel of life".
"The Church", Benedict XVI went on, "tirelessly teaches that the family has its foundation in marriage and in God's plan". Yet "the secularised world is dominated by profound uncertainty on this matter, especially since western societies legalised divorce. The only recognised foundation seems to be individual subjectivity, expressed in a desire to live together".
"In this situation the number of marriages is falling because no-one wants to commit themselves on such fragile and unpredictable grounds, the number of 'de facto' unions is increasing and divorces are on the rise. It is in this fragile scenario that the drama of so many children is played out - deprived of the support of their parents, victims of apprehension and abandonment - and social disorder grows".
"The Church cannot remain indifferent before the separation and divorce of couples", Pope Benedict cried, "before the break-up of homes and the repercussions on children, who need extremely precise points of reference for their instruction and education: in other words determined and confident parents who participate in their upbringing".
"This is the principle that is being undermined and compromised by the practice of divorce, through the so-called extended and mobile family which increases the number of 'fathers' and 'mothers' and leads to a situation today in which the majority of those who feel orphaned are not children without parents but children with a surplus of parents. This situation, with its inevitable ... crisscross relationships cannot but generate internal conflict and confusion that contributes to giving children a distorted idea of the family".
"The firm conviction of the Church is that the true solution to the problems which married couples currently face and which weaken their union is a return to the solidity of the Christian family, a place of mutual trust, of reciprocal giving, of respect for freedom and of education to social life".
"With all the understanding the Church feels towards certain situations, couples in their second marriage are not like those in their first; theirs is an irregular and dangerous situation which must be resolved, in faithfulness to Christ, finding, with the help of the priest, a way possible to rehabilitate everyone involved", the Holy Father said.
He then invited the prelates to encourage priests and pastoral care centres "to accompany families so as to ensure they are not seduced by the relativist lifestyles promoted by cinema, television and other communications media". And the Pope concluded: "I trust in the witness of families who draw the strength to overcome trials from the Sacrament of Marriage. ... It is on the foundation of families such as these that the social fabric must be recreated".
this can be found at: http://212.77.1.245/news_services/press/vis/dinamiche/e0_en.htm
In his remarks the Pope noted how, in their reports to him, the bishops had highlighted the fact that "families are beleaguered and under siege". Yet, he pointed out, "despite all negative influences", the people of north-eastern Brazil "remain open to the Gospel of life".
"The Church", Benedict XVI went on, "tirelessly teaches that the family has its foundation in marriage and in God's plan". Yet "the secularised world is dominated by profound uncertainty on this matter, especially since western societies legalised divorce. The only recognised foundation seems to be individual subjectivity, expressed in a desire to live together".
"In this situation the number of marriages is falling because no-one wants to commit themselves on such fragile and unpredictable grounds, the number of 'de facto' unions is increasing and divorces are on the rise. It is in this fragile scenario that the drama of so many children is played out - deprived of the support of their parents, victims of apprehension and abandonment - and social disorder grows".
"The Church cannot remain indifferent before the separation and divorce of couples", Pope Benedict cried, "before the break-up of homes and the repercussions on children, who need extremely precise points of reference for their instruction and education: in other words determined and confident parents who participate in their upbringing".
"This is the principle that is being undermined and compromised by the practice of divorce, through the so-called extended and mobile family which increases the number of 'fathers' and 'mothers' and leads to a situation today in which the majority of those who feel orphaned are not children without parents but children with a surplus of parents. This situation, with its inevitable ... crisscross relationships cannot but generate internal conflict and confusion that contributes to giving children a distorted idea of the family".
"The firm conviction of the Church is that the true solution to the problems which married couples currently face and which weaken their union is a return to the solidity of the Christian family, a place of mutual trust, of reciprocal giving, of respect for freedom and of education to social life".
"With all the understanding the Church feels towards certain situations, couples in their second marriage are not like those in their first; theirs is an irregular and dangerous situation which must be resolved, in faithfulness to Christ, finding, with the help of the priest, a way possible to rehabilitate everyone involved", the Holy Father said.
He then invited the prelates to encourage priests and pastoral care centres "to accompany families so as to ensure they are not seduced by the relativist lifestyles promoted by cinema, television and other communications media". And the Pope concluded: "I trust in the witness of families who draw the strength to overcome trials from the Sacrament of Marriage. ... It is on the foundation of families such as these that the social fabric must be recreated".
this can be found at: http://212.77.1.245/news_services/press/vis/dinamiche/e0_en.htm
Archbishop warns of ‘great dangers’ in assist suicide proposal
London, England, Sep 25, 2009 / 02:50 am (CNA).- Commenting on an English proposal that could decriminalize many forms of assisted suicide, the Archbishop of Cardiff has warned that weakening the law carries “great dangers.” The law must remain “clear and evident to all,” he said.
Keir Starmer, England’s director of public prosecutions, has said that those who helped adults end their lives were unlikely to be prosecuted if they were “wholly motivated by compassion” for someone who is severely disabled or terminally ill, the Associated Press reports.
Starmer was forced to publish detailed guidance for prosecutors after Debbie Purdy, a 46-year-old with multiple sclerosis, sued to force the government to reveal in what circumstances those who assist in suicides would face criminal charges.
Purdy feared the prosecution of her husband if he helped her go to a Swiss suicide clinic.
The guidelines outlined 29 factors to be considered in the decision to prosecute. According to the Associated Press, they say someone would be more likely to be prosecuted if the suicide victim is under 18 or if the person assisting them is a member of a group that lobbies for assisted suicide.
Prosecution would also be more likely for someone who helps more than one person commit suicide or if the suicide was “pressured or maliciously encouraged.”
Charges would be less likely when the person assisting a suicide is a spouse or partner or if the person’s actions may be characterized as “reluctant assistance in the face of a determined wish on the part of the victim to commit suicide.”
Archbishop of Cardiff Peter Smith responded to the top prosecutor’s comments in a September 23 statement.
“The law against assisted suicide gives expression to a profound moral intuition about the value of every human life,” the archbishop said. “It exists to protect vulnerable people, and any weakening of that legal protection would carry with it great dangers.”
He said that Starmer’s statements also provide “helpful reassurance” by emphasizing that assisted suicide is still a criminal offense that authorities have a duty to investigate and also by making clear that no one can expect a guarantee of immunity from prosecutions.
“I would not be seeking to argue that every criminal case should be prosecuted – there can indeed be a particular combination of circumstances which will justify in a specific case a decision not to prosecute in the public interest,” Archbishop Smith continued.
“But such decisions can only be made on a case by case basis, and what is imperative is that any general guidance does not obscure the bright line of the law, which must remain clear and evident to all,” he emphasized.
The archbishop added that the national bishops’ conference will be studying the draft guidance and prepare its response.
this can be found at. http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=17217
Keir Starmer, England’s director of public prosecutions, has said that those who helped adults end their lives were unlikely to be prosecuted if they were “wholly motivated by compassion” for someone who is severely disabled or terminally ill, the Associated Press reports.
Starmer was forced to publish detailed guidance for prosecutors after Debbie Purdy, a 46-year-old with multiple sclerosis, sued to force the government to reveal in what circumstances those who assist in suicides would face criminal charges.
Purdy feared the prosecution of her husband if he helped her go to a Swiss suicide clinic.
The guidelines outlined 29 factors to be considered in the decision to prosecute. According to the Associated Press, they say someone would be more likely to be prosecuted if the suicide victim is under 18 or if the person assisting them is a member of a group that lobbies for assisted suicide.
Prosecution would also be more likely for someone who helps more than one person commit suicide or if the suicide was “pressured or maliciously encouraged.”
Charges would be less likely when the person assisting a suicide is a spouse or partner or if the person’s actions may be characterized as “reluctant assistance in the face of a determined wish on the part of the victim to commit suicide.”
Archbishop of Cardiff Peter Smith responded to the top prosecutor’s comments in a September 23 statement.
“The law against assisted suicide gives expression to a profound moral intuition about the value of every human life,” the archbishop said. “It exists to protect vulnerable people, and any weakening of that legal protection would carry with it great dangers.”
He said that Starmer’s statements also provide “helpful reassurance” by emphasizing that assisted suicide is still a criminal offense that authorities have a duty to investigate and also by making clear that no one can expect a guarantee of immunity from prosecutions.
“I would not be seeking to argue that every criminal case should be prosecuted – there can indeed be a particular combination of circumstances which will justify in a specific case a decision not to prosecute in the public interest,” Archbishop Smith continued.
“But such decisions can only be made on a case by case basis, and what is imperative is that any general guidance does not obscure the bright line of the law, which must remain clear and evident to all,” he emphasized.
The archbishop added that the national bishops’ conference will be studying the draft guidance and prepare its response.
this can be found at. http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=17217
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Archbishop Burke repeats: no Communion, no Catholic funeral for pro-abortion politicians
Archbishop Raymond Burke, speaking at the Inside Catholic partnership dinner, said that Catholic politicians who support legal abortion should not be allowed to receive Communion or to have Catholic funerals. The American archbishop, who now heads the Apostolic Signatura, explained that this disciplinary approach is not a matter of judging the individual's soul, but "a recognition of the scandal" caused by public support for abortion. He added that in order to remove that scandal, since the individual has taken a public stand in opposition to Church teaching, "his repentance must also be public."
Archbishop Burke, who now chairs the Vatican's top canonical court, said that the Church's policy is clearly indicated by the Code of Canon Law. He rejected the argument that disciplinary action against pro-abortion Catholics would cause division in the Church; on the contrary, he said, it would help "to repair a breach in the life of the Church" caused by the scandal of public dissent. The archbishop said that Church leaders "must speak the truth in charity" for the welfare of their people.
This article can be found at http://www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=4111
Archbishop Burke, who now chairs the Vatican's top canonical court, said that the Church's policy is clearly indicated by the Code of Canon Law. He rejected the argument that disciplinary action against pro-abortion Catholics would cause division in the Church; on the contrary, he said, it would help "to repair a breach in the life of the Church" caused by the scandal of public dissent. The archbishop said that Church leaders "must speak the truth in charity" for the welfare of their people.
This article can be found at http://www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=4111
Monday, September 21, 2009
Elderly Pro-life Activist Attacked in Flagstaff
FLAGSTAFF, AZ (LifeSiteNews.com) - Pro-life advocates are condemning the latest incident of pro-abortion violence, after an elderly man was attacked while protesting abortion this past weekend.
Just a week after Jim Pouillon was shot and killed for his public stand against abortion, 69-year old Johnny Wallace was allegedly attacked by two women as he held two non-graphic signs protesting abortion in Flagstaff, Arizona, on Saturday.
Wallace was alone in front of City Hall on the busiest street in town at the time of the attack. He was holding text-only signs that read, "Abortion kills more black Americans in four days than the Klan killed in 150 years," and "Life begins at conception and ends at Planned Parenthood." Wallace was known to protest at that location every day.
Wallace was allegedly approached from behind by two women, both 48, who began by yelling profanities at him. One then attempted to take way and destroy his sign. After Wallace was wrestled to the ground, the other woman joined the attack.
Paramedics were called and Wallace was treated for minor injuries.
Both women were cited and released on misdemeanor charges of disorderly conduct and criminal damage.
"Mr. Wallace was simply exercising his God-given rights as an American citizen when he was brutally assaulted because his attackers disagreed with his beliefs," said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman.
"This attack is especially disturbing because the motivation for the attack on Mr. Wallace was the same motivation that caused Harlan Drake to murder Jim Pouillon."
"Recently there has been an increasing attitude that it is okay to hurt pro-life people if one does not agree with them. This disturbing trend must stop," said Newman. "We are thankful that Mr. Wallace was not hurt worse than he was, and pray that the violence against pro-life activists will come to an end."
"We cannot depend on pro-abortion groups to rein in their supporters," said Newman, pointing out that his organization has received hundreds of threats and suffered three acts of vandalism on their headquarters in recent months.
"It is incumbent on the Christian community to come alongside pro-life activists all over the country and stand with them. There truly is safety in numbers. Even Jesus sent out the disciples in groups of two.
"We urge pro-life churches to take it upon their congregations to make sure that no pro-lifer stands on the street alone. Christians will find that this is an amazing ministry and evangelical opportunity that is spiritually energizing and satisfying."
this can be found at http://www.catholic.org/national/national_story.php?id=34464&wf=rsscol
Just a week after Jim Pouillon was shot and killed for his public stand against abortion, 69-year old Johnny Wallace was allegedly attacked by two women as he held two non-graphic signs protesting abortion in Flagstaff, Arizona, on Saturday.
Wallace was alone in front of City Hall on the busiest street in town at the time of the attack. He was holding text-only signs that read, "Abortion kills more black Americans in four days than the Klan killed in 150 years," and "Life begins at conception and ends at Planned Parenthood." Wallace was known to protest at that location every day.
Wallace was allegedly approached from behind by two women, both 48, who began by yelling profanities at him. One then attempted to take way and destroy his sign. After Wallace was wrestled to the ground, the other woman joined the attack.
Paramedics were called and Wallace was treated for minor injuries.
Both women were cited and released on misdemeanor charges of disorderly conduct and criminal damage.
"Mr. Wallace was simply exercising his God-given rights as an American citizen when he was brutally assaulted because his attackers disagreed with his beliefs," said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman.
"This attack is especially disturbing because the motivation for the attack on Mr. Wallace was the same motivation that caused Harlan Drake to murder Jim Pouillon."
"Recently there has been an increasing attitude that it is okay to hurt pro-life people if one does not agree with them. This disturbing trend must stop," said Newman. "We are thankful that Mr. Wallace was not hurt worse than he was, and pray that the violence against pro-life activists will come to an end."
"We cannot depend on pro-abortion groups to rein in their supporters," said Newman, pointing out that his organization has received hundreds of threats and suffered three acts of vandalism on their headquarters in recent months.
"It is incumbent on the Christian community to come alongside pro-life activists all over the country and stand with them. There truly is safety in numbers. Even Jesus sent out the disciples in groups of two.
"We urge pro-life churches to take it upon their congregations to make sure that no pro-lifer stands on the street alone. Christians will find that this is an amazing ministry and evangelical opportunity that is spiritually energizing and satisfying."
this can be found at http://www.catholic.org/national/national_story.php?id=34464&wf=rsscol
Dominican Republic shields country from abortion and euthanasia
Santo Domingo, Sep 21, 2009 / 02:06 pm (CNA).- With a vote of 128-32, the Dominican Republic’s National Assembly ratified on September 16 a revision of Article 30 of the country’s constitution, establishing the right to life and its inviolability from conception to natural death.
According to the newspaper Listin Diario, the new text points out that “the right to life is inviolable from conception to natural death. The death penalty shall not be established or imposed in any case.”
In an editorial, the paper said passage of the measure was a pro-life triumph against “the forces that untiringly” sought to legalize abortion, such as Amnesty International, which, together with other feminist groups, rejected the new reform.
It added that the “massive vote in support of the measure has proven the fundamental conviction of Dominican lawmakers regarding the defense not only of the unborn but all of all people, in any stage of existence, against the inclinations to relativize human life.”
The editorial pointed out that in many “civilized” societies, the unborn can be killed for almost any reason. “This is based on a false supposition that at 14 weeks what is in the womb is not a person,” it stated, noting that internationally-funded organizations were seeking to subtly implant such a notion in the Dominican Republic.
this can be seen at http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=17166
According to the newspaper Listin Diario, the new text points out that “the right to life is inviolable from conception to natural death. The death penalty shall not be established or imposed in any case.”
In an editorial, the paper said passage of the measure was a pro-life triumph against “the forces that untiringly” sought to legalize abortion, such as Amnesty International, which, together with other feminist groups, rejected the new reform.
It added that the “massive vote in support of the measure has proven the fundamental conviction of Dominican lawmakers regarding the defense not only of the unborn but all of all people, in any stage of existence, against the inclinations to relativize human life.”
The editorial pointed out that in many “civilized” societies, the unborn can be killed for almost any reason. “This is based on a false supposition that at 14 weeks what is in the womb is not a person,” it stated, noting that internationally-funded organizations were seeking to subtly implant such a notion in the Dominican Republic.
this can be seen at http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=17166
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Bishop issues directives on artificial nutrition, hydration
Emphasizing that “a person should die from one’s illness and not because a basic necessity of life was denied them,” Bishop Thomas Olmsted of Phoenix has issued directives on artificial nutrition and hydration.
“Food and water are basic necessities of life and should be provided to a person even if he or she is unable to manually feed themselves,” he writes. “In fact, it would be inhumane to deprive someone who is thirsty a drink of water no matter who he or she is, or in what condition we find him or her. In short, a person should not die because of being deprived of nutrition and hydration, even if that nutrition and hydration is administered artificially.”
Bishop Olmsted adds that “Catholics are to be provided nutrition and hydration so long as that nutrition and hydration continues to be assimilated by the person’s body and does not contribute to further grave complications and burdens,” such as “in a situation where a person is actively dying, one’s death being imminent.”
This can be seen at http://www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=4056
“Food and water are basic necessities of life and should be provided to a person even if he or she is unable to manually feed themselves,” he writes. “In fact, it would be inhumane to deprive someone who is thirsty a drink of water no matter who he or she is, or in what condition we find him or her. In short, a person should not die because of being deprived of nutrition and hydration, even if that nutrition and hydration is administered artificially.”
Bishop Olmsted adds that “Catholics are to be provided nutrition and hydration so long as that nutrition and hydration continues to be assimilated by the person’s body and does not contribute to further grave complications and burdens,” such as “in a situation where a person is actively dying, one’s death being imminent.”
This can be seen at http://www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=4056
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
AMERICAN HEALTH CARE REFORM - A GOOD END DOES NOT JUSTIFY EVIL MEANS
Commentary by Msgr. Ignacio Barreiro Carámbula
Rome, Italy - All persons of good will need to understand the clear and
present danger with which the US is being menaced by the health reform
proposed by the Obama Administration. Abortion will be multiplied, the U.S.
will move ahead on the road towards euthanasia, conscience rights will be in
jeopardy: but what is worse, the United States would start moving towards a
tyrannical, socialist government that would be the source of all sort of
moral evils.
The current debate on health care reform has to be framed on the basis on
some clear principles that are accessible to all persons of good will. The
starting point is that health care is a basic human right. All human beings
have a right to life from the moment of conception to the moment of natural
death.
A consequence of this right is that all human persons are entitled to
receive from society the necessary conditions to support life. If those
conditions to support life were denied, the right to life would become
illusory... One of the necessary means is appropriate health care.
This human right is complemented with the duty of each individual person to
do all that he can to protect his own life, which at the same time is the
first natural inclination that we find in all human beings. In this case the
duty of the person is that, through gainful employment, he should be able to
support himself and his natural dependents. This self-support should include
healthcare.
The question that has always confronted us is when a person, either due to
dysfunctions of society or his own personal handicaps, is not able to
provide for himself or his family. In this case a Christian view of society
on the basis of justice and charity leads to the support of those persons.
The Catholic Church has established hundreds of health care institutions
dedicated primarily to assistance of the poor and destitute that could not
afford to pay for appropriate health care. A good many non-Catholic
Christian groups have also established such institutions.
In the recent magisterium of the Catholic Church, we can see the recognition
of healthcare as a basic human right belonging to all human beings. This was
proclaimed by Pius XI in his Encyclical letter, Quadragesimo Anno, n. 28,
John Paul II in his Encyclical Letter Sollicitudo Rei Socialis, n. 42, par.
3, and Benedict XVI in his Encyclical Letter, Caritas in Veritate, n. 43.
This position has been reiterated in letters to Congress by Bishops William
Murphy on July 17th and of Cardinal Justin Rigali of August 11th.
The evident fact that society has an obligation to provide health care to
those persons who are not able to obtain it by themselves, should not lead
to the conclusion that this service should be provided by the Federal
Government. A health care system administered by the Federal Government
presents a multitude of problems.
Some have ascertained that the health care reform that is currently being
considered by Congress is based on the good end of providing health coverage
to all those who lack it. But there are reasonable grounds to be doubtful
about this. There could be reasonable concern and doubt if that stated good
end is just a cover up and a Trojan Horse to promote birth control and
family planning, to expand in horrible ways the availability of abortion, to
legalize euthanasia and to overwhelm the rights of conscience of all the
persons that are rightfully opposed to those immoral acts.
We have to keep in mind that rights of conscience are violated not only by
forcing a person to do what is against his beliefs, but also forcing him to
refer a patient to another. If the rights of conscience of health care
providers, medical workers and other health care personnel like nurses and
pharmacists are not respected it would have catastrophic consequences for
American society. All Catholic hospitals and probably many others belonging
to different religious groups will have to close, and a substantial amount
of their health care personnel will have to leave their professions or
emigrate.
We also have to consider that this health program or any other administered by the Federal Government is another step towards socialism, and as a consequence towards the establishment
of a despotic and dictatorial government.
Today we witness a constant growth of government programs that control
increasing sectors of society.
Those programs as a whole represent a growing erosion of the legitimate and traditional freedoms of individuals, and of any organic and natural intermediate societies like the family, villages and towns and the States of the Union.
The persons who established the American Republic were well aware of the
risks of despotism that go hand in hand with the existence of a powerful
central government. They placed in the Constitution all sort of checks and
balances.
The establishment of a national health care system would be
another step towards the erosion of those constitutional guarantees.
A serious concern shared by most persons who are aware of the U.S. health
care system's problems is the continuing massive increase in the cost of
that system.
The constant growth of the Federal deficit makes it very unlikely that the central government will reduce those health care costs.
More so, what is likely to happen is that the establishment of the proposed
reformed national health care system will instead expand the cost of that
system through a bloated bureaucracy that will actively promote a
materialistic anti-life ideology.
The establishment of this health system will be an attack of the organic
principle of subsidiarity. Instead, Americans need to design and develop all
sorts of initiatives: first, at a local level, and then at a State level,
that would provide some guarantees of health care assistance to the poor and
destitute.
Taking into account the principle of gratuity so well developed in the encyclical of Benedict XVI Caritas in Veritate, the establishment of non-profit medical facilities and non-profit insurance groups should be encouraged. In the current demographic circumstances those institutions should give a priority to the protection of well established large families.
Last, but not least, the cost of the proposed system should be taken into
account. During this time of economic crisis, the tax burden upon American
citizens should not be increased. But it should also be considered that
excessive taxation not only paves the way towards despotism, it damages the
economy. It paves the way towards despotism because one of the guarantees of
personal freedom, the establishment of a family patrimony, would be eroded
by over taxation. It damages the economy by killing economic incentive and
eliminating disposable income, two of the growth engines of a free market
economy.
All persons of good will should make a serious effort to understand the
deleterious implications of the Obama administration' s initiatives and
oppose this health care reform, through prayer and all possible moral and
legal means.
Rome, Italy - All persons of good will need to understand the clear and
present danger with which the US is being menaced by the health reform
proposed by the Obama Administration. Abortion will be multiplied, the U.S.
will move ahead on the road towards euthanasia, conscience rights will be in
jeopardy: but what is worse, the United States would start moving towards a
tyrannical, socialist government that would be the source of all sort of
moral evils.
The current debate on health care reform has to be framed on the basis on
some clear principles that are accessible to all persons of good will. The
starting point is that health care is a basic human right. All human beings
have a right to life from the moment of conception to the moment of natural
death.
A consequence of this right is that all human persons are entitled to
receive from society the necessary conditions to support life. If those
conditions to support life were denied, the right to life would become
illusory... One of the necessary means is appropriate health care.
This human right is complemented with the duty of each individual person to
do all that he can to protect his own life, which at the same time is the
first natural inclination that we find in all human beings. In this case the
duty of the person is that, through gainful employment, he should be able to
support himself and his natural dependents. This self-support should include
healthcare.
The question that has always confronted us is when a person, either due to
dysfunctions of society or his own personal handicaps, is not able to
provide for himself or his family. In this case a Christian view of society
on the basis of justice and charity leads to the support of those persons.
The Catholic Church has established hundreds of health care institutions
dedicated primarily to assistance of the poor and destitute that could not
afford to pay for appropriate health care. A good many non-Catholic
Christian groups have also established such institutions.
In the recent magisterium of the Catholic Church, we can see the recognition
of healthcare as a basic human right belonging to all human beings. This was
proclaimed by Pius XI in his Encyclical letter, Quadragesimo Anno, n. 28,
John Paul II in his Encyclical Letter Sollicitudo Rei Socialis, n. 42, par.
3, and Benedict XVI in his Encyclical Letter, Caritas in Veritate, n. 43.
This position has been reiterated in letters to Congress by Bishops William
Murphy on July 17th and of Cardinal Justin Rigali of August 11th.
The evident fact that society has an obligation to provide health care to
those persons who are not able to obtain it by themselves, should not lead
to the conclusion that this service should be provided by the Federal
Government. A health care system administered by the Federal Government
presents a multitude of problems.
Some have ascertained that the health care reform that is currently being
considered by Congress is based on the good end of providing health coverage
to all those who lack it. But there are reasonable grounds to be doubtful
about this. There could be reasonable concern and doubt if that stated good
end is just a cover up and a Trojan Horse to promote birth control and
family planning, to expand in horrible ways the availability of abortion, to
legalize euthanasia and to overwhelm the rights of conscience of all the
persons that are rightfully opposed to those immoral acts.
We have to keep in mind that rights of conscience are violated not only by
forcing a person to do what is against his beliefs, but also forcing him to
refer a patient to another. If the rights of conscience of health care
providers, medical workers and other health care personnel like nurses and
pharmacists are not respected it would have catastrophic consequences for
American society. All Catholic hospitals and probably many others belonging
to different religious groups will have to close, and a substantial amount
of their health care personnel will have to leave their professions or
emigrate.
We also have to consider that this health program or any other administered by the Federal Government is another step towards socialism, and as a consequence towards the establishment
of a despotic and dictatorial government.
Today we witness a constant growth of government programs that control
increasing sectors of society.
Those programs as a whole represent a growing erosion of the legitimate and traditional freedoms of individuals, and of any organic and natural intermediate societies like the family, villages and towns and the States of the Union.
The persons who established the American Republic were well aware of the
risks of despotism that go hand in hand with the existence of a powerful
central government. They placed in the Constitution all sort of checks and
balances.
The establishment of a national health care system would be
another step towards the erosion of those constitutional guarantees.
A serious concern shared by most persons who are aware of the U.S. health
care system's problems is the continuing massive increase in the cost of
that system.
The constant growth of the Federal deficit makes it very unlikely that the central government will reduce those health care costs.
More so, what is likely to happen is that the establishment of the proposed
reformed national health care system will instead expand the cost of that
system through a bloated bureaucracy that will actively promote a
materialistic anti-life ideology.
The establishment of this health system will be an attack of the organic
principle of subsidiarity. Instead, Americans need to design and develop all
sorts of initiatives: first, at a local level, and then at a State level,
that would provide some guarantees of health care assistance to the poor and
destitute.
Taking into account the principle of gratuity so well developed in the encyclical of Benedict XVI Caritas in Veritate, the establishment of non-profit medical facilities and non-profit insurance groups should be encouraged. In the current demographic circumstances those institutions should give a priority to the protection of well established large families.
Last, but not least, the cost of the proposed system should be taken into
account. During this time of economic crisis, the tax burden upon American
citizens should not be increased. But it should also be considered that
excessive taxation not only paves the way towards despotism, it damages the
economy. It paves the way towards despotism because one of the guarantees of
personal freedom, the establishment of a family patrimony, would be eroded
by over taxation. It damages the economy by killing economic incentive and
eliminating disposable income, two of the growth engines of a free market
economy.
All persons of good will should make a serious effort to understand the
deleterious implications of the Obama administration' s initiatives and
oppose this health care reform, through prayer and all possible moral and
legal means.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Seminary in Uganda is 'bursting at the seams'
KAMPALA (Aid to the Church in Need) - The seminary for mature vocations in Kampala, Uganda, can now scarcely accommodate the many candidates who want to study for the priesthood. This was the report of the rector of the seminary, Father Joseph Sserunjogi, to international Catholic pastoral charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN).
The lack of space in the seminary has now reached a point where even the office rooms within the seminary and other rooms in a nearby monastery are being converted into dormitory accommodations.
Even with these changes as many as 15 students have to cram into a dormitory area of just 15 square meters, Father Sserunjogi told ACN. This was hardly a fitting state of affairs, he observed, adding that in many rooms there is a lack of fresh air and a consequent danger of ill-health.
At the same time, Father Sserunjogi finds it very hard to turn away vocations simply because of the shortage of space. For the coming academic year, beginning in September, there have been 48 applicants, and the seminary has only been able to accept 28 due to the lack of suitable accommodations.
This is a "very regrettable" situation, according to Father Sserunjogi, because "priests are needed everywhere and yet for lack of space we have to turn away those who feel themselves called."
The priest told ACN that the seminary is trying everything possible to turn away as few potential candidates as possible. He continued by saying he believes that in future it will be essential to extend the seminary, since they cannot allow themselves to lose possible vocations.
The mature vocations seminary was opened in 1976. The diocese had a building available and the then Bishop of Kampala recognized that there are many men who have already learned a trade or profession yet subsequently feel themselves called to the priesthood.
It all began with just a handful of seminarians, and of the 17 candidates in the "first wave," nine have now been ordained to the priesthood and two of them have gone on to become bishops. Since the seminary first opened, no fewer than 180 priests have issued from it.
At the present time there are 155 men studying for the priesthood in the seminary, and the number is growing steadily. All have had other trades or professions before entering the seminary; many were teachers, others were white collar workers, policeman or veterinarians.
The oldest candidate, who is now a priest, was 56 years old when he entered the seminary, the rector told ACN, but most are aged between 24 and 31 and come from one of the 15 dioceses in Uganda or from neighboring countries like Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Sudan.
In Father Joseph's experience, the advantage of these late vocations lies in the fact that the men are "already more mature" and have reached their decision independently and with conscious deliberation. On the other hand they tend sometimes to take longer than the young seminarians to get used to life in the seminary.
The priest said that the most important thing is to communicate a sense of joy in the priesthood. At the same time it is important to prepare his seminarians for the real situations they will face as priests in Uganda. Many people in Uganda live in extreme poverty; they have no shoes, no watch, and yet they are willing to walk for hours in order to get to Holy Mass.
The longing of the people for God is great, Father Joseph told ACN. When a priest is held up by the appallingly bad roads and arrives late in a village, the faithful are willing to wait patiently many hours for him. Yet, at the same time, they expect a great deal from the priest.
"They expect him to take care of everything," the rector explained to ACN. This can be a severe challenge for a priest to represent in every respect the only hope for many people, and he must at the same time make clear to people that what matters above all is Jesus Christ.
Father Joseph also explained how seminarians must learn how to deal with the still widespread belief in witchcraft that exists in many regions. The rector explained that it was ineffective to ban such practices. Instead, the right way is to show the people that the Christian God is the true God, who is everything that they need.
"Many people believe for example that a particular stone will bring rain," Father Joseph said, "but we must above all do something for the people, so that they will understand that Christianity is the true religion. Our deeds are more important than our words here!" Social commitment was also important, he said, since "a hungry man will not listen to our preaching."
In Uganda, the number of vocations is rising each year. According to Vatican statistics, every fifth seminarian worldwide now comes from Africa. At the same time, the number of Catholics is also rising so that in many regions there are still far too few priests.
ACN is particularly committed to the training of priests in Africa and supports seminarians throughout the continent. The charity also helps to fund the construction, extension and renovation of seminaries.
The lack of space in the seminary has now reached a point where even the office rooms within the seminary and other rooms in a nearby monastery are being converted into dormitory accommodations.
Even with these changes as many as 15 students have to cram into a dormitory area of just 15 square meters, Father Sserunjogi told ACN. This was hardly a fitting state of affairs, he observed, adding that in many rooms there is a lack of fresh air and a consequent danger of ill-health.
At the same time, Father Sserunjogi finds it very hard to turn away vocations simply because of the shortage of space. For the coming academic year, beginning in September, there have been 48 applicants, and the seminary has only been able to accept 28 due to the lack of suitable accommodations.
This is a "very regrettable" situation, according to Father Sserunjogi, because "priests are needed everywhere and yet for lack of space we have to turn away those who feel themselves called."
The priest told ACN that the seminary is trying everything possible to turn away as few potential candidates as possible. He continued by saying he believes that in future it will be essential to extend the seminary, since they cannot allow themselves to lose possible vocations.
The mature vocations seminary was opened in 1976. The diocese had a building available and the then Bishop of Kampala recognized that there are many men who have already learned a trade or profession yet subsequently feel themselves called to the priesthood.
It all began with just a handful of seminarians, and of the 17 candidates in the "first wave," nine have now been ordained to the priesthood and two of them have gone on to become bishops. Since the seminary first opened, no fewer than 180 priests have issued from it.
At the present time there are 155 men studying for the priesthood in the seminary, and the number is growing steadily. All have had other trades or professions before entering the seminary; many were teachers, others were white collar workers, policeman or veterinarians.
The oldest candidate, who is now a priest, was 56 years old when he entered the seminary, the rector told ACN, but most are aged between 24 and 31 and come from one of the 15 dioceses in Uganda or from neighboring countries like Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Sudan.
In Father Joseph's experience, the advantage of these late vocations lies in the fact that the men are "already more mature" and have reached their decision independently and with conscious deliberation. On the other hand they tend sometimes to take longer than the young seminarians to get used to life in the seminary.
The priest said that the most important thing is to communicate a sense of joy in the priesthood. At the same time it is important to prepare his seminarians for the real situations they will face as priests in Uganda. Many people in Uganda live in extreme poverty; they have no shoes, no watch, and yet they are willing to walk for hours in order to get to Holy Mass.
The longing of the people for God is great, Father Joseph told ACN. When a priest is held up by the appallingly bad roads and arrives late in a village, the faithful are willing to wait patiently many hours for him. Yet, at the same time, they expect a great deal from the priest.
"They expect him to take care of everything," the rector explained to ACN. This can be a severe challenge for a priest to represent in every respect the only hope for many people, and he must at the same time make clear to people that what matters above all is Jesus Christ.
Father Joseph also explained how seminarians must learn how to deal with the still widespread belief in witchcraft that exists in many regions. The rector explained that it was ineffective to ban such practices. Instead, the right way is to show the people that the Christian God is the true God, who is everything that they need.
"Many people believe for example that a particular stone will bring rain," Father Joseph said, "but we must above all do something for the people, so that they will understand that Christianity is the true religion. Our deeds are more important than our words here!" Social commitment was also important, he said, since "a hungry man will not listen to our preaching."
In Uganda, the number of vocations is rising each year. According to Vatican statistics, every fifth seminarian worldwide now comes from Africa. At the same time, the number of Catholics is also rising so that in many regions there are still far too few priests.
ACN is particularly committed to the training of priests in Africa and supports seminarians throughout the continent. The charity also helps to fund the construction, extension and renovation of seminaries.
Michigan Pro-life Activist Shot and Killed
September 11, 2009 - A veteran pro-life activist was shot and killed on Friday morning in front of a high school in Owosso, Michigan. James Pouillon, who had spent countless hours holding up pro-life signs in front of schools and other public buildings, died of multiple gunshot wounds.
Local police have arrested a suspect in the killing. Authorities believe that the man who shot Pouillon then proceeded to a local business, where a second man, Mike Fuoss, was shot and killed. Police believe that both Pouillon and Fuoss may have been acquainted with the shooter.
Pro-life leaders, while mourning for their fallen colleague, urged government officials to provide better protection for those who oppose abortion, particularly near clinics. Joseph Scheidler, director of the Pro-Life Action League, revealed: "Just last month at a clinic on the north side of Chicago a man shouted to one of our counselors, 'I'll get my gun and shoot you through the head.' On a number of occasions, our 'Face the Truth Tour' was threatened with deadly weapons." Wendy Wright, the president of Concerned Women for America (CWA), said, "We hope Attorney General Holder will as vigorously denounce the murder of Jim Pouillon, who tried to save babies from violence, as he did the murder of George Tiller, the late-term abortionist."
this can be found at. http://www.ewtn.com/vnews/getstory.asp?number=97617
Local police have arrested a suspect in the killing. Authorities believe that the man who shot Pouillon then proceeded to a local business, where a second man, Mike Fuoss, was shot and killed. Police believe that both Pouillon and Fuoss may have been acquainted with the shooter.
Pro-life leaders, while mourning for their fallen colleague, urged government officials to provide better protection for those who oppose abortion, particularly near clinics. Joseph Scheidler, director of the Pro-Life Action League, revealed: "Just last month at a clinic on the north side of Chicago a man shouted to one of our counselors, 'I'll get my gun and shoot you through the head.' On a number of occasions, our 'Face the Truth Tour' was threatened with deadly weapons." Wendy Wright, the president of Concerned Women for America (CWA), said, "We hope Attorney General Holder will as vigorously denounce the murder of Jim Pouillon, who tried to save babies from violence, as he did the murder of George Tiller, the late-term abortionist."
this can be found at. http://www.ewtn.com/vnews/getstory.asp?number=97617
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Booklets promote 'out of control' sexuality to children, Mexican archbishop warns
Mexico City, Mexico, Sep 8, 2009 / 06:01 pm (CNA).- Archbishop Jose Guadalupe Martin Rabago of Leon, Mexico has called on health department officials to review the contents of a booklet on sexual health that was distributed to children and teens. The archbishop asked for a recall of the booklets, saying they encourage out-of-control sexuality through the use of condoms and the morning-after pill.
Speaking to reporters, the archbishop said the booklet promotes hedonism among young people and that parent associations have joined the bishops in expressing their concern.
Archbishop Martin Rabago warned that the contents of the booklet affect all families regardless of their beliefs and that for this reason, federal and state officials need to be more sensitive when handling this issue.
He said the booklets should be reviewed and revised, citing numerous problematic ideas and actions promoted in the booklet. The decision to promote abortifacient contraceptives “as a form a sexual education is completely inappropriate,” he stated. “We have pointed out many times now that abortion is in reality murder. It is elegantly called ‘termination of pregnancy’ but it is (murder),” the archbishop maintained.
Regarding AIDS, Archbishop Martin Rabago noted that in the countries of Africa, the policy of distributing condoms has been changed to promoting abstinence and fidelity, with much better results.
He said there needs to be proof that condoms have made the number of teen pregnancies drop, “and there is no proof.” “Engaging in sexual activity at too early of an age psychologically distorts the person and prevents him or her from living fidelity in marriage,” he said. Education in chastity is the more difficult path but it yields greater results, the archbishop said.
This article can be found at: http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=17055
Speaking to reporters, the archbishop said the booklet promotes hedonism among young people and that parent associations have joined the bishops in expressing their concern.
Archbishop Martin Rabago warned that the contents of the booklet affect all families regardless of their beliefs and that for this reason, federal and state officials need to be more sensitive when handling this issue.
He said the booklets should be reviewed and revised, citing numerous problematic ideas and actions promoted in the booklet. The decision to promote abortifacient contraceptives “as a form a sexual education is completely inappropriate,” he stated. “We have pointed out many times now that abortion is in reality murder. It is elegantly called ‘termination of pregnancy’ but it is (murder),” the archbishop maintained.
Regarding AIDS, Archbishop Martin Rabago noted that in the countries of Africa, the policy of distributing condoms has been changed to promoting abstinence and fidelity, with much better results.
He said there needs to be proof that condoms have made the number of teen pregnancies drop, “and there is no proof.” “Engaging in sexual activity at too early of an age psychologically distorts the person and prevents him or her from living fidelity in marriage,” he said. Education in chastity is the more difficult path but it yields greater results, the archbishop said.
This article can be found at: http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=17055
Monday, September 7, 2009
In Vitro Fertilization: When Children Become Instrumentalized
ROME (Zenit.org)- Media stories about new techniques of artificial fertilization are a common feature these days. The strong desire of couples for children, coupled with continual advances in technology, make for a heady combination.
Last Wednesday all the main U.K. media outlets reported on the birth of the first baby conceived with the help of a new screening method that checks for chromosomal defects that can impede an IVF pregnancy from being successful.
"Oliver" was born to a 41-year-old woman who had experienced repeated failed IVF procedures, the BBC reported.
Media coverage of such events is often suffused with the natural joy of the couple with their new baby. Behind the scenes, however, the growing IVF industry is a story of countless lives sacrificed, babies born who will never know their biological parents, and hundreds of thousands of lives condemned to a frozen limbo in the freezers of clinics.
The Catholic Church has pointed out for many years the ethical problems related to IVF. This position was repeated and amplified in the document "Dignitatis Personae," published by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith late last year.
"The Church recognizes the legitimacy of the desire for a child and understands the suffering of couples struggling with problems of fertility," it acknowledged. (Par. 16)
"Such a desire, however, should not override the dignity of every human life to the point of absolute supremacy," it added. "The desire for a child cannot justify the 'production' of offspring, just as the desire not to have a child cannot justify the abandonment or destruction of a child once he or she has been conceived," the Vatican body explained.
Dangerous side effects
There are concerns even over those who are successfully born through IVF. Such children are 30% more likely to suffer from genetic flaws and other health problems, the British Daily Mail newspaper reported March 20.
The warning came from the U.K.'s Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority. More than 10,000 babies are born in Britain every year through artificial fertilization, the article noted.
The research behind the alert came from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. They studied over 13,500 births and a further 5,000 control cases using data from the National Birth Defects Prevention Study.
They found that IVF babies suffer from a range of conditions, including heart valve defects, cleft lip and palate, and digestive system abnormalities due to the bowel or esophagus failing to form properly.
Meanwhile, research carried out in Australia revealed that twins born as a result of IVF treatment are more likely to need intensive care treatment after birth and are more likely to need hospitalization in the first three years of life than naturally conceived twins.
According to an article published in the Australian newspaper May 21, IVF twins stayed in hospital longer after delivery and were 60% more likely to be admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit. They also have a greater incidence of premature birth and low birth weight.
The results came from a team in the city of Perth, who analyzed hospital admissions for the nearly 4,800 twin children born in Western Australia between 1994 and 2000.
Family conundrums
Disassociating children from the marital relationship also leads to ever-more complicated family structures, as well as frequent legal battles. A New York state appeals panel ruled that the parents of a 23-year-old who died from cancer may not use their dead son's preserved sperm to have a grandchild, the Associated Press reported March 3.
Mark Speranza left semen samples at a lab in 1997, but he also signed a form saying they were to be destroyed if he died. They were left there so he could have a chance at fathering a child if he survived his cancer.
After his death, however, his parents wanted a grandchild and sought to have a surrogate mother implanted with the semen. Their years of legal battles were, nevertheless, in vain.
In Texas, however, Travis County Judge Guy Herman ruled that a mother could go ahead with having sperm harvested from her dead son's body, the Associated Press reported April 9.
Nikolas Colton Evans died at age 21 as a result of a fight. His mother, Marissa, declared that her son had always wanted children.
The article quoted University of Texas law professor John Robertson, who said that while state law gives parents control over a child's body for organ and tissue donations, the situation regarding sperm ''is very unclear.''
Two days later, another article on the topic by the Associated Press focused on the ethical concerns. ''This is a tough way for a kid to come into the world. As the details emerge and the child learns more about their origins, I just wonder what the impact will be on a replacement child,'' said Tom Mayo, director of Southern Methodist University's Maguire Center for Ethics and Public Responsibility.
Mark Vopat, a professor of philosophy and religious studies at Youngstown State University in Ohio, was cited as saying that while the son may express a desire to have children some day, it's not to say that he would have wanted to father a child posthumously.
Then, from Australia came the news that a woman from the state of Queensland is pregnant with a child for her homosexual brother, after being impregnated with sperm from a third party, the Courier Mail newspaper reported June 2. The identities of the people involved were not revealed.
The child is due to be born early next year, and will not have any relationship with the biological father, according to the report.
Commenting on the news, Anglican Bishop Tom Frame, who was adopted at a young age and does not know who his father is, told the Courier Mail that the impact of such an arrangement would be overwhelming for a child.
"We've got a child here who will grow up without its biological mother or father," Frame said. "We are deliberately breaking to bond between the father, the mother and the child."
Even if such children later want to find their parents their efforts are often frustrated. Such is the case of Lauren Burns of Melbourne, Australia.
Born as a result of IVF she knows that her biological father's name is on record but state authorities are not allowed to reveal it to her, reported the Age newspaper April 12.
Four children were been born to four families using the sperm of someone who is only known to them as C11.
"It is interesting that in almost every other situation, society strongly encourages fathers to be part of their children's lives, and those who refuse ... are labeled deadbeat dads," she told the newspaper. "Yet in this exception, it is the exact opposite," she pointed out.
Not just cells
"The body of a human being, from the very first stages of its existence, can never be reduced merely to a group of cells," according to the Vatican document "Dignitatis Personae." (Par. 4)
The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith also commented on how in other areas of medicine health care authorities would never allow medical procedures to go ahead that resulted in such a high number of failures and fatalities. (Par. 15)
"In fact, techniques of in vitro fertilization are accepted based on the presupposition that the individual embryo is not deserving of full respect in the presence of the competing desire for offspring which must be satisfied," the document observed. The desire for children is indeed a strong force, but when satisfied at the cost of respecting life then it loses sight of fundamental ethical principles.
Last Wednesday all the main U.K. media outlets reported on the birth of the first baby conceived with the help of a new screening method that checks for chromosomal defects that can impede an IVF pregnancy from being successful.
"Oliver" was born to a 41-year-old woman who had experienced repeated failed IVF procedures, the BBC reported.
Media coverage of such events is often suffused with the natural joy of the couple with their new baby. Behind the scenes, however, the growing IVF industry is a story of countless lives sacrificed, babies born who will never know their biological parents, and hundreds of thousands of lives condemned to a frozen limbo in the freezers of clinics.
The Catholic Church has pointed out for many years the ethical problems related to IVF. This position was repeated and amplified in the document "Dignitatis Personae," published by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith late last year.
"The Church recognizes the legitimacy of the desire for a child and understands the suffering of couples struggling with problems of fertility," it acknowledged. (Par. 16)
"Such a desire, however, should not override the dignity of every human life to the point of absolute supremacy," it added. "The desire for a child cannot justify the 'production' of offspring, just as the desire not to have a child cannot justify the abandonment or destruction of a child once he or she has been conceived," the Vatican body explained.
Dangerous side effects
There are concerns even over those who are successfully born through IVF. Such children are 30% more likely to suffer from genetic flaws and other health problems, the British Daily Mail newspaper reported March 20.
The warning came from the U.K.'s Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority. More than 10,000 babies are born in Britain every year through artificial fertilization, the article noted.
The research behind the alert came from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. They studied over 13,500 births and a further 5,000 control cases using data from the National Birth Defects Prevention Study.
They found that IVF babies suffer from a range of conditions, including heart valve defects, cleft lip and palate, and digestive system abnormalities due to the bowel or esophagus failing to form properly.
Meanwhile, research carried out in Australia revealed that twins born as a result of IVF treatment are more likely to need intensive care treatment after birth and are more likely to need hospitalization in the first three years of life than naturally conceived twins.
According to an article published in the Australian newspaper May 21, IVF twins stayed in hospital longer after delivery and were 60% more likely to be admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit. They also have a greater incidence of premature birth and low birth weight.
The results came from a team in the city of Perth, who analyzed hospital admissions for the nearly 4,800 twin children born in Western Australia between 1994 and 2000.
Family conundrums
Disassociating children from the marital relationship also leads to ever-more complicated family structures, as well as frequent legal battles. A New York state appeals panel ruled that the parents of a 23-year-old who died from cancer may not use their dead son's preserved sperm to have a grandchild, the Associated Press reported March 3.
Mark Speranza left semen samples at a lab in 1997, but he also signed a form saying they were to be destroyed if he died. They were left there so he could have a chance at fathering a child if he survived his cancer.
After his death, however, his parents wanted a grandchild and sought to have a surrogate mother implanted with the semen. Their years of legal battles were, nevertheless, in vain.
In Texas, however, Travis County Judge Guy Herman ruled that a mother could go ahead with having sperm harvested from her dead son's body, the Associated Press reported April 9.
Nikolas Colton Evans died at age 21 as a result of a fight. His mother, Marissa, declared that her son had always wanted children.
The article quoted University of Texas law professor John Robertson, who said that while state law gives parents control over a child's body for organ and tissue donations, the situation regarding sperm ''is very unclear.''
Two days later, another article on the topic by the Associated Press focused on the ethical concerns. ''This is a tough way for a kid to come into the world. As the details emerge and the child learns more about their origins, I just wonder what the impact will be on a replacement child,'' said Tom Mayo, director of Southern Methodist University's Maguire Center for Ethics and Public Responsibility.
Mark Vopat, a professor of philosophy and religious studies at Youngstown State University in Ohio, was cited as saying that while the son may express a desire to have children some day, it's not to say that he would have wanted to father a child posthumously.
Then, from Australia came the news that a woman from the state of Queensland is pregnant with a child for her homosexual brother, after being impregnated with sperm from a third party, the Courier Mail newspaper reported June 2. The identities of the people involved were not revealed.
The child is due to be born early next year, and will not have any relationship with the biological father, according to the report.
Commenting on the news, Anglican Bishop Tom Frame, who was adopted at a young age and does not know who his father is, told the Courier Mail that the impact of such an arrangement would be overwhelming for a child.
"We've got a child here who will grow up without its biological mother or father," Frame said. "We are deliberately breaking to bond between the father, the mother and the child."
Even if such children later want to find their parents their efforts are often frustrated. Such is the case of Lauren Burns of Melbourne, Australia.
Born as a result of IVF she knows that her biological father's name is on record but state authorities are not allowed to reveal it to her, reported the Age newspaper April 12.
Four children were been born to four families using the sperm of someone who is only known to them as C11.
"It is interesting that in almost every other situation, society strongly encourages fathers to be part of their children's lives, and those who refuse ... are labeled deadbeat dads," she told the newspaper. "Yet in this exception, it is the exact opposite," she pointed out.
Not just cells
"The body of a human being, from the very first stages of its existence, can never be reduced merely to a group of cells," according to the Vatican document "Dignitatis Personae." (Par. 4)
The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith also commented on how in other areas of medicine health care authorities would never allow medical procedures to go ahead that resulted in such a high number of failures and fatalities. (Par. 15)
"In fact, techniques of in vitro fertilization are accepted based on the presupposition that the individual embryo is not deserving of full respect in the presence of the competing desire for offspring which must be satisfied," the document observed. The desire for children is indeed a strong force, but when satisfied at the cost of respecting life then it loses sight of fundamental ethical principles.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Polish bishops warn Catholic politicians that abortion support risks excommunication
Warsaw, Poland, Sep 6, 2009 / 06:10 pm (CNA).- The Catholic bishops of Poland have issued a document on the value of healthy families and pro-family policies. At one point, they clearly warn Catholic politicians that they risk excommunication if they voice support for or acceptance of abortion.
The 100-page document, titled “To Serve the Truth about Marriage and Family,” is a compilation of Catholic doctrine on the value of family life. It was drafted by the bishops’ Council for Family Issues. Polskie Radio reports that the document discusses the duties of society towards the family as a crucial, fundamental part of a healthy society.
Discussing the duties of Catholic politicians specifically, the document said it is “absolutely not true” that a politician or government member “has to, or can, act against his conscience.”
“When it comes to God's law, everybody is equal, politicians included,” the Polish bishops said.
The bishops said that anyone who publicly contradicts fundamental moral values, such as the commandment “Thou Shall Not Kill,” by voicing support or acceptance of abortion should be immediately excommunicated, Polskie Radio says.
Fr. Andrzej Rebacz, head of the bishops’ Council for Family Affairs and the National Chaplain for Families, commented on the document. He cited Pope John Paul II’s warning about “very strong, organized attacks on marriage and the family” and said these attacks could destroy the “Christian spirit” of Europe.
“These attacks include promotion of sex education at schools,” he added. “We have to remember who was the first to introduce the idea of sex education.”
Fr. Rebacz charged that sex education was developed by the Hungarian György Lukács, whom he described as a “communist ideologue.” The priest said Lukács thought promiscuity was the best method to fight the institution of marriage, “in order to fight Christianity.”
Last year Polish Health Minister Ewa Kopacz, a self-described Catholic, was reported to have arranged an abortion for a 14-year-old. Catholic groups protested and brought up the question of whether she should be excommunicated
This story can be found at http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=17036
The 100-page document, titled “To Serve the Truth about Marriage and Family,” is a compilation of Catholic doctrine on the value of family life. It was drafted by the bishops’ Council for Family Issues. Polskie Radio reports that the document discusses the duties of society towards the family as a crucial, fundamental part of a healthy society.
Discussing the duties of Catholic politicians specifically, the document said it is “absolutely not true” that a politician or government member “has to, or can, act against his conscience.”
“When it comes to God's law, everybody is equal, politicians included,” the Polish bishops said.
The bishops said that anyone who publicly contradicts fundamental moral values, such as the commandment “Thou Shall Not Kill,” by voicing support or acceptance of abortion should be immediately excommunicated, Polskie Radio says.
Fr. Andrzej Rebacz, head of the bishops’ Council for Family Affairs and the National Chaplain for Families, commented on the document. He cited Pope John Paul II’s warning about “very strong, organized attacks on marriage and the family” and said these attacks could destroy the “Christian spirit” of Europe.
“These attacks include promotion of sex education at schools,” he added. “We have to remember who was the first to introduce the idea of sex education.”
Fr. Rebacz charged that sex education was developed by the Hungarian György Lukács, whom he described as a “communist ideologue.” The priest said Lukács thought promiscuity was the best method to fight the institution of marriage, “in order to fight Christianity.”
Last year Polish Health Minister Ewa Kopacz, a self-described Catholic, was reported to have arranged an abortion for a 14-year-old. Catholic groups protested and brought up the question of whether she should be excommunicated
This story can be found at http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=17036
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Despite disavowal of radical sex ed guide, UNFPA continues activist training
Berlin, Germany, Sep 5, 2009 / 05:18 pm (CNA).- While criticism has caused the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to pull its name from a graphic sex ed guide, the organization has just completed a conference in Berlin to train 400 activists to demand countries fund and provide similar programs and abortions.
The Non-Governmental Forum on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Development met from September 2-4. The German government co-sponsored the forum with the UNFPA.
Wendy Wright, president for Concerned Women of America, and Samantha Singson, Director of Government Relations at the Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute (C-FAM), were at the conference and reported on it in a C-FAM press release.
Sessions at the conference trained activists to agitate for more money from countries and foundations. They were taught how to pressure governments to provide sex education and abortion and how to train youth to advocate for abortion and “sexual rights,” C-FAM says.
Materials titled “Ensuring Women’s Access to Safe Abortion” and “I Need an Abortion” were distributed to attendees.
A statement to be released at the end of the conference tells countries to provide abortions through public health systems and to guarantee “sexual and reproductive rights as human rights.”
It also calls for the elimination of parental and age restrictions for youth access to “the full range of sexual and reproductive health information and services.”
Further, the conference statement calls for increased funding for non-governmental organizations to expand advocacy.
UNFPA director Thoroya Obaid told the conference: "Unlike us at the U.N. who are held accountable by intergovernmental mechanisms, you as NGOs have more freedom and space to push the agenda ahead."
In related news, CNSNews.com recently broke a story on a sex ed guide titled, “International Guidelines on Sexual Education,” and put out by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in cooperation with the UNFPA. The guide, published in June, advocates teaching 5 to 8 year olds about self-abuse. It calls for children ages 9 to 12 to be taught about abortions, while by age 15 it recommends teaching them about “advocacy to promote the right to and access to safe abortion.”
According to C-FAM, the guidelines are identical to the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS) and one of the guide authors is a former SIECUS employee.
Samantha Singson commented on the controversy, saying “In the same week that UNFPA backtracked on putting its name on the sex ed manual, it trained activists to demand ‘comprehensive sexuality education’ and access to abortion for all youth."
Wendy Wright was also critical:
"UNFPA tells people to 'create a need' for reproductive health care. Now we can see that UNFPA creates the need for abortion, HIV/AIDS treatments and other health care by teaching kids as young as five to be sexually active.”
This can be found at: http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=17038
The Non-Governmental Forum on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Development met from September 2-4. The German government co-sponsored the forum with the UNFPA.
Wendy Wright, president for Concerned Women of America, and Samantha Singson, Director of Government Relations at the Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute (C-FAM), were at the conference and reported on it in a C-FAM press release.
Sessions at the conference trained activists to agitate for more money from countries and foundations. They were taught how to pressure governments to provide sex education and abortion and how to train youth to advocate for abortion and “sexual rights,” C-FAM says.
Materials titled “Ensuring Women’s Access to Safe Abortion” and “I Need an Abortion” were distributed to attendees.
A statement to be released at the end of the conference tells countries to provide abortions through public health systems and to guarantee “sexual and reproductive rights as human rights.”
It also calls for the elimination of parental and age restrictions for youth access to “the full range of sexual and reproductive health information and services.”
Further, the conference statement calls for increased funding for non-governmental organizations to expand advocacy.
UNFPA director Thoroya Obaid told the conference: "Unlike us at the U.N. who are held accountable by intergovernmental mechanisms, you as NGOs have more freedom and space to push the agenda ahead."
In related news, CNSNews.com recently broke a story on a sex ed guide titled, “International Guidelines on Sexual Education,” and put out by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in cooperation with the UNFPA. The guide, published in June, advocates teaching 5 to 8 year olds about self-abuse. It calls for children ages 9 to 12 to be taught about abortions, while by age 15 it recommends teaching them about “advocacy to promote the right to and access to safe abortion.”
According to C-FAM, the guidelines are identical to the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS) and one of the guide authors is a former SIECUS employee.
Samantha Singson commented on the controversy, saying “In the same week that UNFPA backtracked on putting its name on the sex ed manual, it trained activists to demand ‘comprehensive sexuality education’ and access to abortion for all youth."
Wendy Wright was also critical:
"UNFPA tells people to 'create a need' for reproductive health care. Now we can see that UNFPA creates the need for abortion, HIV/AIDS treatments and other health care by teaching kids as young as five to be sexually active.”
This can be found at: http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=17038
Thursday, September 3, 2009
some quotes to think about
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]).
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]).
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]).
"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" (
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" (
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" (
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" (
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]" (
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Austrian Bishops Blast Vienna Mayor for Abortion Anniversary Party at City Hall
By Hilary White
VIENNA, August 31, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Two of Austria's most senior Catholic prelates have taken the mayor of Vienna to task for his support of a "celebration" of one of the city's commercial abortion facilities. In a letter of protest to Mayor Michael Haupl, Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, the archbishop of Vienna, said that abortion, as the taking of a human life, "is not a trivial issue."
The furor comes in connection to the celebration of the 30-year anniversary of the "Turning Pro-woman ambulatory" clinic, to be held at the Vienna city hall.
As Kathpress reported, the Archbishop of Vienna said that the planned party demonstrates that "obviously there is no consensus regarding the protection of human life from conception."
"Nobody is calling for desperate women to be punished. But abortion is not a solution."
Cardinal Schönborn recalled the words of Pope Benedict XVI in 2007, saying, "I do not close my eyes to the problems and conflicts of many women and I am aware that the credibility of our discourse on the human right to life also depends on what the Church itself does to help affected women."
The cardinal wrote that the "time has come" to discuss providing women with alternatives to abortion. He referred to a diocesan fund for women in unexpected pregnancies: "In the 36 years since the founding of the fund it has helped thousands of women - both materially and spiritually - and thousands of children were born, because these funds were available."
"A rich society like Austria, a thriving city like Vienna can create a structure so that women do not feel impelled to consider abortion," said Cardinal Schönborn.
Unusually, the cardinal's letter was published by the diocesan media service.
Klaus Küng, the bishop of St. Pölten and the head of the office for marriage, family life and protection of life of the Austrian Bishops' Conference, said, "I ask myself as a man and a bishop, in fact exactly what should be celebrated.
"The 30-year existence of an abortion clinic, in which thousands of children were killed, can not be a cause for celebration." He said that Häupl's giving permission to host a ceremony for the facility at City Hall sends a completely wrong signal.
Häupl said that the event was a cocktail party for the volunteer staff of the facility that had been organized not by himself but by the Bureau of Health Councilor Sonja Wehsely. Wehsely told media that a cancellation is “not an option.”
this can be found at: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/aug/09083102.html
VIENNA, August 31, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Two of Austria's most senior Catholic prelates have taken the mayor of Vienna to task for his support of a "celebration" of one of the city's commercial abortion facilities. In a letter of protest to Mayor Michael Haupl, Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, the archbishop of Vienna, said that abortion, as the taking of a human life, "is not a trivial issue."
The furor comes in connection to the celebration of the 30-year anniversary of the "Turning Pro-woman ambulatory" clinic, to be held at the Vienna city hall.
As Kathpress reported, the Archbishop of Vienna said that the planned party demonstrates that "obviously there is no consensus regarding the protection of human life from conception."
"Nobody is calling for desperate women to be punished. But abortion is not a solution."
Cardinal Schönborn recalled the words of Pope Benedict XVI in 2007, saying, "I do not close my eyes to the problems and conflicts of many women and I am aware that the credibility of our discourse on the human right to life also depends on what the Church itself does to help affected women."
The cardinal wrote that the "time has come" to discuss providing women with alternatives to abortion. He referred to a diocesan fund for women in unexpected pregnancies: "In the 36 years since the founding of the fund it has helped thousands of women - both materially and spiritually - and thousands of children were born, because these funds were available."
"A rich society like Austria, a thriving city like Vienna can create a structure so that women do not feel impelled to consider abortion," said Cardinal Schönborn.
Unusually, the cardinal's letter was published by the diocesan media service.
Klaus Küng, the bishop of St. Pölten and the head of the office for marriage, family life and protection of life of the Austrian Bishops' Conference, said, "I ask myself as a man and a bishop, in fact exactly what should be celebrated.
"The 30-year existence of an abortion clinic, in which thousands of children were killed, can not be a cause for celebration." He said that Häupl's giving permission to host a ceremony for the facility at City Hall sends a completely wrong signal.
Häupl said that the event was a cocktail party for the volunteer staff of the facility that had been organized not by himself but by the Bureau of Health Councilor Sonja Wehsely. Wehsely told media that a cancellation is “not an option.”
this can be found at: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/aug/09083102.html
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