News,

The Irish Family Planning Association has called for the ban on abortion in Ireland to be lifted. The IFPA claims that 9000 women travel abroad for abortions every year. [Irish News, 5 September] The coalition of pro-family, pro-life and pro-women organisations NEART have issued a press release to mark the 20th anniversary of the passing of the 1983 Pro-Life Amendment. It reflects upon the attacks that have been made to weaken the pro-life laws of Ireland and calls upon pro-life people to work together to protect human life. [SPUC source]


Two pro-life activists, who were charged with public order offences after displaying a picture of an aborted baby, have been cleared by an Abergavenny court. On announcing the not guilty verdicts, Sally Ann Flemming-Jones said: "The bench takes the view that the poster is somewhat in poor taste... However, taken in light of modern day images used daily in the media, and with regard to the laws of freedom of expression, we do not find the charges of causing insult proved." Fiona Pinto and Joseph Biddulph plan to sue the Gwent police for false imprisonment. [The Guardian, 5 September]


A federal judge this week refused to stop a Florida court from ordering the removal of Terri Schiavo's feeding tube, CNSNews reports. Terri Schiavo's family have, however, been given 10 days to amend their lawsuit against Michael Schiavo, the hospice where she has been cared for and the hospital where she recently received medical treatment. The decision came in spite of evidence from doctors and nurses that Terri Schiavo is not in a persistent vegetative state and responded to her environment. One nurse also claimed that her husband and guardian frequently asked when she was going to die and became 'visibly excited' when her condition worsened, talking about what he would do with the money he would receive after she died. A date is expected to be set for the removal of Terri Schiavo's feeding tube at a hearing on September 11th. [CNSNews, 3 September]


One of President Bush's nominees for the Appeals Court, Miguel Estrada, has withdrawn his nomination after Senate Democrats prevented him from receiving a vote seven times. Estrada, who would have been the first Hispanic to sit on the Appeals Court, was filibustered on the urging of pro-abortion groups who oppose his pro-life views. [LifeNews.com, 4 September]


In an extension of the Mexico City Policy, which prohibits the US government development agency USAID from funding foreign abortion and family planning providers, President Bush this week issued an executive order restricting state funding of groups that perform or promote abortions overseas. The decision has been criticised by abortion advocates such as Gloria Feldt, president of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, who claimed: "The world's poorest women and their children again are bearing the brunt of Bush's obsession with appeasing his domestic political base." [C-Fam, 5 September]

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