News,
Plenty of chances and dangers in the new UK parliament
Last week’s UK general election presents both dangers and opportunities for the pro-life movement, according to John Smeaton, SPUC director. Several anti-life MPs lost their seats and several pro-life candidates were elected. Mr Smeaton said that the most immediate concern for SPUC in this new Parliament is to protect children from the pro-abortion ideology which lies behind plans to make sex and relationships education compulsory in England from the age of five. SPUC is therefore launching a parents’ right to know campaign and will be organizing regional seminars for head-teachers and for parents on the threat posed by the draft guidance on sex and relationships education published earlier this year by the Department of Children, Schools and Families. [John Smeaton, 7 May] http://bit.ly/c5Nt38
Study suggests babies develop moral code by six months after birth
The Daily Mail has reported on a new study, which suggests that babies develop the knowledge of the difference between right and wrong by six months after birth. The newspaper claims that the study is challenging the idea that human beings are born as blank slates and that our morality is shaped by our parents and experiences. The study has involved monitoring babies’ responses to puppet shows with some good characters and some naughty characters. Professor Paul Bloom of Yale University, who is leading the research, said that a growing body of evidence suggests humans do have a rudimentary moral sense from the very start of life. [Daily Mail, 10 May] http://bit.ly/95rvWD
Scottish carers told to ignore underage sex
Scottish Government chiefs have said that consensual sex between teenagers should not automatically be reported to the police. In guidelines given to social workers, Scottish ministers have described underage sex as part of “typical sexual development”. The Scottish Sunday Express has reported that people fear the guidelines could cause a rise in teenage pregnancies, STDs and abortions. A spokesman for Scottish Catholic leaders described the guidelines as muddled and unhelpful. [Scottish Sunday Express, 10 May] http://bit.ly/dmjv3F
Cardiff students demonstrate against abortions
A small but committed group of university students recently held a pro-life demonstration in Cardiff. The group bore posters protesting against abortion. The demonstration was one of 51 events around Britain taking part in SPUC’s pro-life chains campaign. [AOL Message Boards, 7 May] http://bit.ly/9bEy3Y
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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