News, 7 February 2000
Supporters of the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children will
lobby their members of the Westminster Parliament on euthanasia on 4, 5
and 6 April. They will raise concerns about British Medical Association
guidance which promotes the intentional killing of patients by
withdrawing or withholding assisted food and fluids, the government's
position on legislative proposals which could force doctors to withdraw
or withhold assisted food and fluids or necessary medical treatments,
and the government's hostility to the Medical Treatment (Prevention of
Euthanasia) Bill. UK constituents wishing to lobby in April should
email lobby@spuc.org.uk
The pope has urged Italian couples to have more children. Married
couples, he said, have to "revive the culture of love and life." Italy
has one of the lowest birthrates. [The Times, 7 February 2000]
Today's Times suggests that Bishop Cormac Murphy O'Connor of Arundel
and Brighton will be the next archbishop of Westminster. The paper
describes him as a reformer and a radical.
The Times also reports a claim by the Family Planning Association that
doctors are reluctant to adopt new abortion procedures. Women who are
less than nine weeks pregnant can be given Mifepristone which induces
abortion, followed two days later with a prostaglandin which causes the
abortion. Women in the north of England are much more likely to have a
non-surgical abortion than those in the south.
Criticism of Cardinal Winning of Glasgow's Pro-Life Initiative will not
stop it from continuing to help pregnant girls have their babies. A
12-year-old who has been supported by the organisation allegedly gave
birth in south-west England recently, causing adverse comment. The
initiative has helped 181 women since its foundation in 1997. Also,
Cardinal Winning has met members of the Scottish executive to discuss
amendments to a bill before the Scottish parliament which would
legalise intentional killing by neglect. [Scottish Catholic Observer, 4
February, 2000]
A Scottish surrogate mother, who has had seven babies for other women,
has used the proceeds of nearly 40,000 pounds to pay for holidays for
herself, her husband and two daughters. Mrs Morag Riva says that she
views surrogacy as a business-transaction. [Daily Record, 7 February,
2000]
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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, 2012