Pro-lifers held a massive rally in Madrid, the Spanish capital, on Saturday to protest against a government's bill to expand abortion. Estimates of the size of the rally vary. The regional government and the BBC http://is.gd/4qFdJ estimated the crowd to be over a million. The rally's theme was "Every life matters". [Fr Tim Finigan, 18 October] http://is.gd/4qdVS
This Thursday (22 Oct) the European Parliament will vote on amendments, supported by SPUC, against coercive and sex-selective abortion. Please contact your MEPs immediately to urge them to support the amendments [SPUC campaign alert, 19 October] http://is.gd/4rfRP
Researchers have made a breakthrough in the development of ethically-created stem cells. Scientists from the Scripps Research Institute in America used chemicals to speed up the process of creating induced pluripotency stem (iPS) cells. iPS cells are human cells modified to have properties similar to embryonic stem cells. [BBC, 18 October] http://is.gd/4qfg9
Relatives of elderly patients who died in suspicious circumstances at a hospital in Gosport, England, have called for a new criminal investigation. The relatives have given prosecutors a dossier, calling for charges against Jane Barton, a doctor at the hospital. Medication prescribed by Dr Barton is alleged to have contributed to the patient's deaths. [Portsmouth News, 17 October] http://is.gd/4qfyA
Other stories:
Abortions fell in US between years 1990 and 2005, official stats show [LifeNews.com, 15 October] http://is.gd/4qeoK
Catholic archbishop of Denver says pro-aborts will have to account to God [Catholic News Agency, 16 October] http://is.gd/4qeUQ
Catholic bishop of Pittsburgh, US condemns anti-life evils [Catholic Culture, 16 October] http://is.gd/4qez7
Claims new embryo test doubles pregnancy chance; also detects Down's [Daily Mail, 19 October] http://is.gd/4qeeB
Many couples wasting money on IVF, should give up earlier, says study [Telegraph, 17 October] http://is.gd/4qf3y
Cancer treatment during pregnancy need not risk baby's health, finds study [Medical News Today, 18 October] http://is.gd/4qfpv
Government cancer tsar responds to concerns about Liverpool Care Pathway [Telegraph, 17 October] http://is.gd/4qeFn