News, 24 June 2002
The US senate has voted to allow privately-funded abortions in overseas
military hospitals, a measure opposed by the house of representatives
last month. Senator Sam Brownback pointed out that, even though women
might pay for their own terminations, the amendment to the defence
budget bill would turn tax-funded medical premises into abortion
facilities. Members of each chamber will need to reach agreement on the
conflicting votes. [
Zenit, 23 June]
The senate is reported as having rejected pro-abortion and anti-family
parts of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. It
approved other parts on the convention, including prohibitions of the
sale and military conscription of children. [
LifeSite and Catholic World News on EWTN, 20 June]
Female circumcision increases the risk of reproductive health problems
and stillbirth, according to a survey of 2,000 Nigerian women. The
World Health Organisation study, published in the
International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology,
found that scar tissue from circumcision increased the danger of
tearing in childbirth and made first labours longer. It is suggested
that two million female circumcisions take place annually, some on
girls as young as three. [
BBC, 23 June]
iscussion in the Canadian parliament of a bill to permit human embryo
research and cloning has been adjourned until mid-September. The House
of Commons' health committee has been hearing from witnesses and will
next consider amendments. The bill will subsequently be debated by the
full house and the senate. Mr Paul Szabo MP has called for an
indefinite moratorium on embryo research. Pro-life campaigners are said
to be relieved at the respite in the bill's progress during the
parliamentary summer recess. [
LifeSite, 21 June]
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