News,

The number of recorded abortions in England and Wales declined by 2.2% from 1998 to 1999, with 13.6 terminations being carried out per 1,000 women aged 14 to 49. Government statistics released today state that, of the 183,250 abortions performed in England and Wales last year, 89% were performed on babies of less than 13 weeks' gestation, and 99% were on babies of under 20 weeks. [government statistics ] Paul Tully, general secretary of the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children, said: "Although any drop in abortions is welcome, 1998 showed the highest ever number of abortions, and the figures for last year still represent 500 unborn lives destroyed every day." Doctors in Manchester, England, can operate on the Maltese conjoined twins, after decisions by their parents and the official solicitor not to challenge an appeal court judgement that they could be separated. It has been reported that the procedure will result in the death of Mary, the weaker twin and that, without separation, both of the six-week-old girls would die. Doctors say that they will not proceed to operate without the parents' knowledge. [BBC news ] US group Priests for Life are to write to all priests in the United States to ask them to talk about abortion from the pulpit. Fr Frank Pavone, director of the organisation, said that the protection of innocent human life was the most important election issue. In television advertising, Fr Pavone will quote the US bishops' statement that no public official can responsibly advocate abortion. Priests for Life plans to spend one million dollars on TV ads before November's elections. [Priests for Life ] The American Life League has described the RU-486 abortion pill as a chemical assault weapon that is aimed at the smallest of babies. Ms Judie Brown, president of the league, was anticipating that the Federal Drugs Administration would soon approve the use of the pill in the United States. Ms Brown has called for the Congress to hold oversight hearings on the matter. [Yahoo ] A pro-life campaigner has criticised rock stars for letting representatives of Planned Parenthood tour with them. Mr Bryan Kemper said: "Kids hear the message [at rock concerts] that the first nine months of their lives had no value, and that it would have been all right if their parents had aborted them." Mr Kemper urges people to write to bands associated with Planned Parenthood, which are listed on his website . [EWTN ]