News,

The US senate has voted to allow privately-funded abortions in overseas military hospitals, a measure opposed by the house of representatives last month. Senator Sam Brownback pointed out that, even though women might pay for their own terminations, the amendment to the defence budget bill would turn tax-funded medical premises into abortion facilities. Members of each chamber will need to reach agreement on the conflicting votes. [Zenit, 23 June ] The senate is reported as having rejected pro-abortion and anti-family parts of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. It approved other parts on the convention, including prohibitions of the sale and military conscription of children. [LifeSite and Catholic World News on EWTN, 20 June ] Female circumcision increases the risk of reproductive health problems and stillbirth, according to a survey of 2,000 Nigerian women. The World Health Organisation study, published in the International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, found that scar tissue from circumcision increased the danger of tearing in childbirth and made first labours longer. It is suggested that two million female circumcisions take place annually, some on girls as young as three. [BBC, 23 June ] iscussion in the Canadian parliament of a bill to permit human embryo research and cloning has been adjourned until mid-September. The House of Commons' health committee has been hearing from witnesses and will next consider amendments. The bill will subsequently be debated by the full house and the senate. Mr Paul Szabo MP has called for an indefinite moratorium on embryo research. Pro-life campaigners are said to be relieved at the respite in the bill's progress during the parliamentary summer recess. [LifeSite, 21 June ]