News,

A mother is taking legal action to stop her teenage daughters from being prescribed the morning after pill, The Times of London reports. Julie Kosmala is acting to defend her parental rights following a decision at her daughters' school to offer 'fast track' appointments to under-16s seeking the morning after pill or condoms. Mrs Kosmala said: "Sex under the age of 16 is illegal. We are encouraging children to break the law." [The Times, 15 May]

A study published in the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology appears to provide conclusive evidence of a link between abortion and subsequent premature births. The French study of 2,837 births found that women who had previously had an abortion were 1.7 times more likely to give birth at under 28 weeks gestation. Dr Caroline Moreau, who led the study, said: "Clearly there is a link. The results suggest that induced abortion can damage the cervix in some way that makes a premature birth more likely in subsequent pregnancies." [The Telegraph, 15 May]

A poll by the Times of Malta has reported that a small majority of respondents agree with the Justice Minister's proposal to entrench the country's pro-life law into the Constitution. 56.23% agreed against 43.77% who were against, with many who disagreed stressing their opposition to abortion and their concern that the proposal was a political distraction from other issues such as the economy. Very few argued that abortion should be decriminalised, whilst other respondents described abortion as murder. [The Times of Malta, 14 May] The right to life is already included within the Constitution. [di-ve news, 16 May]

The Brazilian government has launched a 'family planning programme' that involves the distribution of the morning after pill at thousands of hospitals and clinics throughout the country. Bishop Rafael Llano Cifuentes, president of the Bishops Committee on Life and the Family for the Brazilian Bishops Conference, described the move as 'nothing more than medical and moral barbarism.' [CWNews, 13 May]

Approximately 6000 people took part in a pro-life march in Montreal, Canada yesterday, up from 3500 last year. At least half of those who attended were under the age of 25. Speakers included MPs, religious leaders and women who regret their abortions. [LifeSiteNews.com, 13 May]

To subscribe to SPUC's email information services, please visit www.spuc.org.uk/em-signup. The reliability of the news herein is dependent on that of the cited sources, which are paraphrased rather than quoted. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the society. © Society for the Protection of Unborn Children, 2018