---

SHARE THIS PAGE: E-mail  Print

---

---

DUTCH PLAN FOR KILLING 12-YEAR-OLDS

TORONTO, Aug. 11 (LSN) - The Netherlands, the world's most aggressive advocate of euthanasia, will make it legal to kill children as young as -- or as old as -- 12 years of age. A Reuters report cites the Justice and Health ministries as saying that "in the case of 12 to 15 year olds the consent of the parents or guardian is required, but in the event of refusal ... a minor's request may nevertheless be met if the doctor is convinced this would prevent serious detriment to the patient."

The new law, which went to the country's lower house on Monday, is seen by many as little more than a formality since the killing of elderly and handicapped, as well as simply depressed, individuals has been openly practised for several years without prosecution. The bill recognizes for the first time the validity of written requests to die, notes Reuters. A key aspect of the bill, though, is the proposed immunity from criminal prosecution for doctors who follow stipulated guidelines when "euthanasing" their patients.

Reuters notes that political opposition is expected from "the main opposition Christian Democrats and small Calvinist parties," but notes that there is enough support for this expanded euthanasia among the country's three governing parties to see the law passed. But, "the plans should encourage activism by pro-life opponents who have been lulled into a 'spiritual slumber'," said a prominent anti-euthanasia activist, as reported by Steve Ertelt of Pro-Life Infonet.

"A child of 12 can't make decisions about trivial things," Bert Dorenbos, leader of the largest Dutch pro-life group, Cry for Life, observed Tuesday. "Now he can decide about his own life or death," he said, referring to a shocking statement by Karin Hagelstein, spokesman for the Royal Dutch Medical Association. She claimed: "Doctors find that children who have gone through such a long and tragic illness are capable of making their own decisions. A child which has entered the last terminal phase can be very clear about what he or she wants. They've seen a lot, they're tired. If parents don't want to cooperate it is the doctor's duty to respect the wishes of their patient."

 Back to Top

---

ALLEGED ABORTION-CRIME LINK CONDEMNED

- Called a "quack thesis" by the Boston Herald -

UNITED STATES, Aug. 11 (LSN) - Critics of the study linking the abortion rate to a drop in crime have come out with their guns blasting, and they have not all been from the ranks of the political right. University of Chicago economist Steven D. Levitt and Stanford University Law professor John J. Donohue III, the authors of the study, appear to have been taken by surprise at the amount of opposition they have faced for what they consider to be a credible piece of work. "We've been stunned by the angry response, particularly from the left," Levitt said Monday, as reported in the Chicago Tribune. "Our intention was solely to understand this puzzling drop in crime. ... This isn't a paper about class or race. This is a paper about being unwanted." Nevertheless, an editorial in the Boston Herald called it "sickening" and a "quack thesis."

In a summary report by Steve Ertelt of the email service Pro-Life Infonet, National Right to Life was quoted, saying: "The conclusions of the study seem bizarre, since in the 90s the drop in the crime rate correlates with the drop in the abortion rate. One could just as easily argue that an increase in the respect for human life has led to a decrease in both the abortion rate and the crime rate. The true effects of the over 40 million lives lost since 1973 may never be known." NRTL also drew attention to a few of the many positive things we have lost through abortion including "future artists, scientists, musicians and teachers."

 Back to Top

---

VERMONT EUGENICS PROGRAM EXPOSED

VERMONT, Aug. 11 (LSN) - Sixty and 70 years ago when Darwinism was in its heyday, Vermont scientists launched a eugenics plan which led to a sterilization law for the handicapped in 1931. This revelation is based on work done by Nancy Gallagher, a doctoral student and 50- year old former biology teacher, who is publishing her findings later this year in a book to be called Vermont Eugenics Survey. The purpose of this 12-year eugenics survey was to eliminate the state's "degenerate" bloodlines and replenish "old pioneer stock," she told the Boston Globe.

The seemingly commendable intent of the program was to manage the misery of the poor so, with evolutionary theories attributing problems like domestic abuse and alcoholism to genetic defects, it was believed that by reducing the number of babies born to sick or unwed parents, and by attracting desirable settlers, a healthier society could be built. Vermont was not alone in its advocacy of eugenics. According to the Boston Globe, it was the 31st state to pass a sterilization law. Records do not show the extent to which the law was enforced in Vermont. Throughout America, including Vermont, sterilization laws were rolled back in the 1960s and 70s.

 Back to Top

---

IMPORTANT UPCOMING UN CONFERENCE

KOREA, Aug. 11 (LSN) - An International conference of NGOs will take place in Seoul, Korea, reports Ottawa-area pro-life U.N. observer, Dr. Jeanne Ferrari. The purpose of the conference, being held Oct. 10-16, is apparently to assess the commitments made by governments at recent UN Conferences, including the 1990 World Summit for Children, the 1992 Rio Conference on Environment and Development and the 1996 Food Summit in Rome. "They are advocating the fulfilment of these commitments by governments," says Mrs. Ferrari, adding that they will also be pushing an agenda of "trying to promote greater involvement by NGO's in UN Affairs."

 Back to Top

---

TORONTO POLICE DOING DAMAGE CONTROL

- Responding to allegations of secret deal with gay bars -

TORONTO, Aug. 11 (LSN) - The Toronto police are engaged in damage control following an expose in yesterday's National Post of a secret deal between the force and homosexual bars which protects from prosecution those who engage in criminal public sex in gay bars. The Toronto Police Association has also issued a letter demanding the suspension of a Staff Inspector and Superintendent accused of interfering in a case in an attempt to have 19 charges dropped against gay bar patrons. Police chief David Boothby issued a statement claiming that "We do not make special arrangements or secret deals with anyone that would condone criminal behaviour."

But Christie Blatchford, author of yesterday's piece in NP, instead of backing off her original story, probes deeper into yesterday's claims. "The Post revealed [yesterday] that Supt. [Aiden] Maher last week called on senior Toronto Crown attorney Paul Culver and asked him to drop the charges against patrons of a bar called the Bijou," she writes today. Even more damning, she notes today that: "The Post has now learned that so entrenched is the force's arrangement with the gay community that Supt. Maher brought with him on that visit a standard form ..."

For the NP article, go to:
http://www.nationalpost.com/news.asp?f=990811/51446&s2=national&s3=news

For the Toronto Sun article, go to:
http://www.canoe.ca/TorontoNews/ts.ts-08-11-0009.html

 Back to Top

---

LIFESITE NEWSBYTES

* Paul Weyrich, the American pro-family activist who generated controversy several months ago for a pessimistic review of current U.S. culture, has endorsed Steve Forbes for the Republican presidential candidate. In a report distributed by the Republicans for Life PAC (Political Action Committee), Mr. Weyrich is quoted saying: "While there are many good conservatives running for President in 2000, in my view Steve Forbes is the only economic, social and pro-life conservative in the race with the ability to win the White House. ... When asked directly by NBC's Tim Russert on Meet the Press what he'd do as President if he could only do one thing, Steve Forbes said he would ban abortion."

* A report out of the Czech Republic indicates that abortions in that country continue to drop, continuing a trend evidenced through the 1990s. "The Czech News Agency reports that 62% of all pregnancies ended in births last year with the rest ending in abortion, compared with 51% in 1990," reports the U.S. email service, Pro-Life Infonet. The number of births, however, has dropped by 30% since 1990 to 90,535 last year.

* "The Life Research and Communications Institute has launched a web site to serve as a resource on life issues, bioethics and the dignity of the person," reported Zenit news service yesterday. "With facts from credentialed research, we hope to better engage mainstream culture with the message of life," said Robert Best, President of the 2-year-old Institute. The website is: http://www.culture-of-life.org/

* Justice Minister Anne McLellan granted an audience to the Canadian Civil Liberties Association this week so that they could explain to her the importance of legalizing kiddy porn. Ms. McLellan wouldn't speak with reporters following the meeting, said the Edmonton Journal, but CCLA lawyer, Alan Borovoy said her response was "disappointing", according to CBC Online news. Mr. Borovoy attempted to use the tried and true method of eroding laws against sexual perversion, an appeal to the freedom of expression needed by artists. For the CBC article, go to:
http://www.newsworld.cbc.ca/cgi-bin/templates/view.cgi?/news/1999/08/11/porn9908...

* Cabinet Ministers no longer have to refer to God in the oaths of secrecy they take when joining the government's inner circle, reports the Ottawa Citizen today. The changes were made by Kim Campbell's short-lived government and went unnoticed at the time. The Citizen reports opposition to the change from NDP MP Pat Martin, Reformer Peter Goldring and Tory Elsie Wayne. "I don't know where we're headed, what's happened to this country. I really feel very strongly we should keep the reference to God. If we want to take a look at what's wrong with our society, it's steps such as this that come from government," said Mrs. Wayne.

 Back to Top

---

SHARE THIS PAGE: E-mail  Print

---

---

MORE NEWS: LifeSiteNews.com Home Page  Last 10 Days   Archives   Special Reports

Copyright © LifeSiteNews.com. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivatives License. You may republish this article or portions of it without request provided the content is not altered and it is clearly attributed to "LifeSiteNews.com". Any website publishing of complete or large portions of original LifeSiteNews articles MUST additionally include a live link to www.LifeSiteNews.com. The link is not required for excerpts. Republishing of articles on LifeSiteNews.com from other sources as noted is subject to the conditions of those sources.