News,

David Cameron would force faith schools to teach that being gay is normal

David Cameron, leader of Britain's opposition Conservative party, has said that he would force faith schools to teach that there is nothing wrong with being gay. Mr Cameron's comments follows the government's attempts to force employers to promote the employment of homosexuals. Mr Cameron also urged the Anglican Communion to accept homosexual equality as essential. [Daily Mail, 5 February] [http://is.gd/7KLZF] John Smeaton, SPUC director, commented: "As Pope John Paul taught, it is an illusion to think that we can build a true culture of human life if we do not offer adolescents and young adults an authentic education in sexuality, and in love, and the whole of life according to their true meaning and in their close interconnection."

Brain scans reveal that patients in so-called persistent vegetative state can both think and communicate.

Experts have shown that some patients who show no outward signs of consciousness can in fact comprehend speech and answer simple questions. Doctors using hi-tech brain scanning equipment asked a 29-year-old patient in a so-called persistent vegetative state (persistent non-responsive state) to respond to biographical questions by imagining scenarios which used various parts of the brain. The scanned brain activity showed the patient answered 100% of the questions correctly. [Telegraph, 3 February] [http://is.gd/7FV6s] Alison Davis, of No Less Human, has criticised the report of the story as it appears in The Telegraph. Ms Davis says the major focus of the article is that the new technology will assist people in choosing to die, without recognising that such patients have a right to life.   [John Smeaton, 4 February] [http://is.gd/7KSEg]

Pentagon says all military bases must offer morning-after pills.

US military bases worldwide will be required to provide the morning-after pill, following directives from the Pentagon. Pro-life groups have regularly opposed the morning-after pill. The morning after pill works in a number of ways, one of which is to cause an early abortion to preventing the implantation of a fertilized egg into the lining of the uterus. [Air Force Times, 4 February] [http://is.gd/7KN2y]

Other stories

Abortion

• GP who sent daughter for late abortion is struck off. [Daily Mail, 3 February] http://is.gd/7KLvg
• Marie Stopes International reports record increase in abortions and contraceptives. [Marie Stopes International, 3 February] http://is.gd/7KOWc
• Pro-life campaign to protect black unborn children launched. [Jill Stanek, 4 February] http://is.gd/7KLGe

Embryology

• IVF may pass on infertility. [Telegraph, 8 February] [http://is.gd/7VHrN]

Euthanasia

• BBC accused of promoting euthanasia by ignoring rights of disabled. [Telegraph, 5 February] http://is.gd/7KLNk
• Testimony of man who recovered after being in a persistent non-responsive state. [Daily Mail, 5 February] http://is.gd/7KNr8
• Guernsey health minister says assisted suicide change depends on UK. [BBC, 3 February] http://is.gd/7KOB2
• The frightening historical links of the campaign for assisted suicide. [John Smeaton, 3 February] [http://is.gd/7CeR4]

Sexual ethics

• The Tablet's deceitful homosexual manifesto means churches should unsubscribe. [John Smeaton, 8 January] http://is.gd/7Xdzv
• Catholic episcopal policy in England and Wales undermines the culture of life. [John Smeaton, 6 February] [http://is.gd/7VzSp]
• Britain’s chief rabbi supports Pope Benedict’s stance over equality laws, while British Catholic MEP criticises the pontiff. [LifeSiteNews.com, 4 February] [http://is.gd/7VK2w]
• Girls to receive pregnancy tests at school. [Telegraph, 4 February] http://is.gd/7KNyt
• Spanish government use sex-education to promote sex to school-children. [LifeSiteNews.com, 4 February] [http://is.gd/7VKvI]
• Spanish government course teaches sex can be practiced with girl, boy or animal. [Catholic News Agency, 3 February] http://is.gd/7KNUV
• Further evidence that condoms fail to prevent sexually transmitted infection. [LifeSiteNews, 3 February] [http://is.gd/7FTSi]
• No conscience clause in Irish Civil Partnership Bill. [Christian Institute, 2 February] http://is.gd/7KPaE

General

• Archbishop and foreign minister stand up for life in Malta. [Times of Malta, 7 February] [http://is.gd/7VLzR] [Malta Media, 6 February] [http://is.gd/7VL1Q]
• Pope’s pro-life message to Scottish Catholic bishops. [John Smeaton, 5 February] [http://is.gd/7LwAx]
• Police expel pro-life protesters in front of European Union "human rights" meeting. [LifeSiteNews.com, 3 February] http://is.gd/7KK5D
• New Dominican constitution defends life from moment of conception. [Catholic News Agency, 1 February] http://is.gd/7KPvD

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