News,

Research published in the American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse has found that women whose first pregnancy ended in abortion are much more likely to abuse drugs and alcohol. Many studies link abortion and substance abuse but this appears to be the first to compare women whose first pregnancies ended in abortion with those whose pregnancies did not end with abortion. James Cougle who co-authored the study said: "I know that some women can be ambivalent about the decision when coming in at first for an abortion, so learning about different risk factors which would make them more vulnerable to negative emotional consequences is important." [About.com, 31 August ] The German Finance Ministry has announced an increase in compensation payments to people who were forcibly sterilised by the Nazis, stating: "We believe Germany has a moral duty to allow them to live out their twilight years with dignity." Tens of thousands of people, many with disabilities or of mixed race, were sterilised because the Nazis regarded them as 'unfit' to have children. As a result of being robbed of family life, many are being left to cope with old age alone. The Ministry has also said that it will make it easier for the children of victims of the euthanasia programme to claim compensation. [Yahoo News, 1 September ] Mary Robinson, the pro-abortion former Irish president and UN Human Rights Commissioner, spoke at a recent meeting of the heads of Catholic religious orders, urging them to fight 'the resurgence of fundamentalisms.' She said: "We need to be aware that a certain threat to women's right s is also posed by the resurgence, particularly in the United States, of Christian fundamentalism, and the alliance of countries influenced by fundamentalist thinking evident at recent world conferences." Wendy Wright of Concerned Women for America commented: "If she's talking about people who oppose what she considers to be women's rights issues that have been raised at the UN then the Vatican would be considered 'Christian fundamentalist.' [Catholic World News, 1 September ] A news editor for Reuters may face disciplinary action after sending an offensive email to the National Right to Life Committee in response to its press release on the decision against the partial birth abortion ban. Todd Eastham wrote "What's your plan for parenting and educating all the unwanted children you people want to bring into the world? Who will pay for policing our streets and maintaining the prisons needed to contain them when you, their parents and the system fail them? Oh, sorry. All that money has been earmarked to pay off the Bush deficit. Give me a frigging break, will you?" Mr Eastham has defended his actions even though they contravened Reuters' editorial policy, claiming that he 'didn't intend this as a professional communication.' [Lifenews.com, 1 September ]