News,

SPUC has commented on the resignation of the British international development secretary on which we reported yesterday. Anthony Ozimic, SPUC's political spokesman said: "We do not mourn Clare Short's resignation from the government, but we mourn instead the countless numbers of innocent unborn children who were killed by the abortion programmes that she helped impose upon vulnerable women in poor countries. Clare Short seemed stuck in the past with the myths that population control equals less poverty and that China's one-child policy was being softened. We lament Tony Blair's choice of Baroness Amos to succeed Clare Short. Baroness Amos' denial that the British government supports population control has even less credibility than her predecessor's pro-abortion prejudices." [SPUC, 12 May]


An American fertility expert is reported to be planning to implant an embryo cloned from a 46-year-old American woman in a 23-year-old woman in the middle east within a few weeks. Dr Panayiotis Zavos is said to have refrigerated the embryo. [The Advertiser, 11 May] Although our source is describing this process as being subject to full external scrutiny, it is unclear whether the embryo has been verified as a clone of the 46-year-old woman.


A Catholic hospital system could challenge a bill now before the governor of Hawaii which would require hospitals to provide abortifacient morning-after pills to rape victims. The St Francis healthcare system says the law would force them to go against their religious beliefs. Governor Linda Lingle expressed surprise that the bill did not exempt religious organisations. The measure would allow for hospitals to be fined $5,000 for not co-operating and, if they offended twice, their licence could be revoked. [Honolulu Advertiser, 12 May]


The Canadian House of Commons has debated a motion calling on the government to report to parliament on the medical necessity for abortion and the relative risks of having an abortion and carrying a baby to term. Mr Garry Breitkreuz's motion was discussed for one hour and has been described as the parliament's first pro-life vote in 12 years. Canadian law defines abortion in terms of medical necessity. Mr Breitkreuz said that women and their families should know about the risks of abortion before deciding to have one. It is reported that the motion will be voted on later, but also that it is at the bottom of the order paper. [LifeSite, 12 May]

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