News,

Advertising regulators in the UK are considering allowing abortion services to be promoted on radio and television. SPUC's John Smeaton said any change would mean that abortion would be promoted as a solution to women's problems. He said it would discriminate against pro-life organisations which had less money than abortion providers. The Advertising Standards Authority's consultation continues until June. [Independent, 26 March] Rt Rev Patrick O'Donoghue, Catholic Bishop of Lancaster, said the proposal would lead to more deaths of unborn children and harm to women. He praised the Cardinal Winning Pro-Life Initiative which helps expectant mothers and their families. [Zenit on EWTN, 26 March] Mrs Nadine Dorries MP said abortion was distressing and traumatic yet she feared advertisements would minimise that. The procedure ended life and had consequences. [Independent Catholic News, 27 March]

The US minister for foreign affairs has told Planned Parenthood that "women's reproductive health and rights" are important parts of her policy. Mrs Hillary Clinton, secretary of state, was receiving the pro-abortion organisation's Margaret Sanger Award. [Medical News Today, 31 March]

The pro-abortion governor of Kansas has approved a bill requiring abortion providers to offer ultrasound scans and foetal heartbeat monitoring to women about to undergo the procedure. The measure which Ms Kathleen Sebelius signed last week also provides for the production of materials describing prenatal development and abortion. [Medilexicon, 31 March] Ms Sebelius has been proposed for health secretary by President Obama. When she gets to Washington, DC, the Catholic archbishop will support her local bishop's request that she refrain from holy communion because of her views on life issues. [EWTN, 31 March]

A euthanasia supporter from Australia is reportedly considering providing kits with which people in the UK could test the strength of poisonous barbiturates. Dr Philip Nitschke may launch the equipment on a visit to this country next month. He says he can do more here than at home. Care Not Killing said his actions could endanger vulnerable people. The Science Museum in London is exhibiting Dr Nitschke's machine for administering fatal drug doses. [New Kerala, 30 March]

There were almost 90 pro-life demonstrations throughout Spain recently, as the government plans to liberalise abortion further. Several thousand gathered in Madrid, the capital. [Catholic News Agency, 31 March] Archbishop Javier Martínez of Granada says pro-life people should wear a white ribbon next week (holy week) [Catholic News Agency, 31 March] Commenting on the Spanish campaign, John Smeaton writes: "A powerful, peaceful, prayerful pro-life resistance (and, I believe, prayer) will, in time, roll back the culture of death, and the truth about human life will be seen clearly." [John Smeaton, 1 April]

The British government minister responsible for children and schools wants pupils to be taught to tell right from wrong. Mr Edward Balls was issuing instructions for school inspectors. SPUC's national director points out the irony of the directive given that further education colleges are to be flooded with birth control, doctors will be paid to facilitate increased sexual activity and abortion, and parents will still be marginalised from their children's moral development. [John Smeaton, 31 March]

The European Union is extending fully paid maternity leave from 14 to 18 weeks. [PA on Channel 4, 31 March]

Patients' own cells could be used to treat angina, according to preliminary research by Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Illinois. [Medical News Today, 31 March]

Pre-eclampsia in pregnant women could raise the risk of stroke in their offspring, says Oregon Health and Science University. [Reuters, 31 March] A pregnant woman was allegedly rebuked by staff at an English public house (tavern) for drinking alcohol. Mrs Caroline Williams was then asked to leave the bar in East Sussex. [Daily Mail, 31 March]

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