News,

A former Presbyterian minister who killed an abortion doctor and his escort has been executed by lethal injection. Paul Hill died unrepentant, calling upon others to follow his example. A spokeswoman for Florida Right to Life condemned Hill's actions. "You do not take the law into your own hands and kill in the name of life, that is a contradiction in terms and is absurd." [The Belfast Telegraph, 4 September ] The 3rd District Court of Appeal has ruled that Florida can legitimately ban Medicaid payments for abortion. Pro-abortion groups have reacted angrily to the decision, claiming that the ruling discriminates against poor women who cannot afford a private abortion, but the Agency for Health Care Administration defended the interests of the state in protecting life. [News-Press, 4 September ] A Chinese doctor, who was charged with murder and later acquitted after he prescribed a lethal injection to a terminally ill woman, has spoken of his decision 17 years later. Pu Liansheng argued in favour of the 'happy death' afforded by euthanasia and urged the state to reconsider the law, though he urged his colleagues not to act illegally as he did. [The People Daily, 4 September ] A report by the Culture and Life Foundation has cited the growing evidence supporting adult stem cell research over the use of human embryos and aborted babies to develop effective medical treatments. The report cites the successful treatment of damaged heart tissue with bone marrow cells against the use of foetal cells in the treatment of Parkinson's Disease, which not only failed but caused irreversible side-effects. [CWNews.com, 4 September ] The police officer who arrested two pro-life activists for displaying a picture of an aborted baby has justified his actions in court on the grounds that: "The general public demanded the poster be taken down and some ladies were in tears and visibly upset." The court was told that bystanders applauded as Joseph Biddulph and Fiona Pinto were arrested. "I was extremely upset when people clapped," Ms Pinto told the court, "I couldn't understand why they were clapping." Ms Pinto and Mr Biddulph were charged with a public order offence and disorderly behaviour, though the disorderly behaviour charges have been dropped. [BBC, 4 September ]