News,

The Pope has warned President Bush of the evils of embryo research, describing how consciences had been coarsened. During a meeting at the papal summer residence, the pontiff also mentioned assaults on the unborn and euthanasia. John Paul II said that a free and virtuous society needed to: "reject practices that devalue and violate human life at any stage from conception until natural death." [This is London, 23 July ] American Catholics have urged Mr Bush not to allow federal funding for embryo research. Encouraging the president to continue his "courageous stance", Fr Michael Place of the Catholic Health Association said that embryonic stem cells had not benefited human patients. Cardinal Adam Maida of Detroit warned of the dangers to society of putting its hand "on the switch of life".[Catholic News Service, 23 July ] SPUC has commented on a warning from parliamentarians that morning-after pills threaten children's health. Anthony Ozimic, SPUC's political spokesman, said: "It is especially important for parents to be aware of the danger that the abortion-inducing morning-after pill represents to their daughters' health. We urge parents to sign SPUC's petition against the supply of morning-after pills to schoolgirls as a way of supporting the parliamentarians' initiative." Nine MPs and three members of the House of Lords signed a letter dated a week ago to all education authorities in England and Wales. SPUC has also commented on the blocking by MPs of Mr Edward Leigh's appointment as chairman of the House of Commons select committee on international development, reported in Friday's digest . A spokesman said: "Had Mr Leigh's chairmanship not been blocked on nakedly discriminatory grounds, I am sure he would have allowed the committee to consider alternatives to promoting abortion, which is neither a solution to third-world poverty nor a legitimate means of family planning." A new law in the Czech Republic will require women to make funeral arrangements for their aborted children, though some politicians hope to abolish the provision. [LifeSite 23 July ]