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Top stories:

Dolphins are persons with the right to life, claim experts

A group of experts meeting in Canada are claiming that dolphins are persons with the right to life. The experts are calling for recognition of their Declaration on the Rights of Cetaceans. [Metro, 21 February] Anthony Ozimic of SPUC commented: "The most commonly-accepted definition of person is 'an individual substance of a rational nature'. Dolphins are not of a rational nature, unlike unborn children who have an innate rationality which develops with age. The proposed declaration shows just how far modern bioethics has become divorced from reality."

UK prime minister reiterates determination to establish gay marriage

The office of David Cameron, the British prime minister, has reiterated his strong personal support for the establishment of a gay marriage. An unnamed source told The Independent newspaper: "Nothing has changed on this as far as he is concerned. He is very passionate about this subject – it is something that has defined him." [Independent, 21 February] SPUC has published a position paper and a background paper in the run-up to next month's public consultation on gay marriage.

Other stories:

Abortion

• Please continue to lobby government to overrule abortion ads decision [John Smeaton, 21 February]
• Undercover at a pro-abortion meeting: final part [SPUC youth blog, 21 February]
• Skilled attendance at birth and maternal mortality – what the data show [Pat Buckley, 21 February]
• New attempt to introduce abortion in Ireland [Pat Buckley, 20 February]
• Traditionalist Catholics protest against abortion ads outside regulator's HQ [Integrity and Action, 17 February]
• 40 Day for Life London launches latest campaign [SPUC youth blog, 16 February]

Embryology

• UK mother went to Belgium for controversial IVF screening process [Mail, 16 February]

Population

• Chinese forced abortion opponent collapses from home detention [LifeNews.com, 20 February]

Sexual ethics

• Episcopal failures to oppose the sexual revolution have global consequences [John Smeaton, 17 February]
• European Parliament denounces Russian ‘gay propaganda’ laws [Pink News, 16 February]

General

• Ash Wednesday is a national day of prayer and fasting for life [John Smeaton, 21 February]
• Please support the 100 Masses for life campaign [John Smeaton, 18 February]
• The importance of pro-life education [SPUC youth blog, 17 February]
• UK equalities chief attacks Christians over conscientious objection [Telegraph, 17 February]
• Referendum on children's rights to be held in Ireland [Pat Buckley, 17 February]

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