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Friday January 25, 2002
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Print- PERU OFFICIALLY DECLARES MARCH 25 - DAY OF THE UNBORN CHILD
- SUPREME COURT OF CANADA MAKES RULING RELATED TO 'WRONGFUL BIRTH' CASE
- ABLONCZY'S WISHY-WASHY 'PRO-LIFE' STAND
- CHURCH OF ENGLAND BLASTS DECEPTIVE MORNING AFTER PILL AD
- ACLU THREATENS LAWSUIT AGAINST FLORIDA TOWN FOR BANNING SATAN
- GERMAN CATHOLIC AND EVANGELICAL LEADERS URGE POLITICIANS TO RETAIN EMBRYO RESEARCH BAN
- LONG-TIME CLC ACTIVIST AND STAFFER CARL SCHARFE DIES
- US NEWS ROUNDUP
PERU OFFICIALLY DECLARES MARCH 25 - DAY OF THE UNBORN CHILD
TODAY'S HEADLINES
LIMA, January 25, 2002 (LSN.ca) - LifeSite has just learned that today, the Peruvian government declared March 25 to be designated Day of the Unborn Child. The measure was put forward by Congressman Dr. Luis Solari.
Back to TopSUPREME COURT OF CANADA MAKES RULING RELATED TO 'WRONGFUL BIRTH' CASE
OTTAWA, January 25, 2001 (LSN.ca) - The Canadian Supreme Court ruled yesterday in what is believed to be the first time a case involving 'wrongful birth' has hit the high court. The nine justices ruled unanimously that the adult care of a child born with Down syndrome need not be covered by a doctor who failed to encourage the woman to undergo pre-natal testing which may have identified the disorder.
Pam and Murray Krangle of Maple Ridge British Columbia were demanding that Dr. Stanley Morrill continue to cover the costs of the special care needs for their 10 year old child Mervyn into adulthood. Mrs. Krangle says she would have aborted her son had she been made aware of his condition before birth. However, the case did not deal with the 'wrongful birth' issue head on since the court was asked only to rule on whether payments from the doctor's insurance company should continue indefinitely or whether Mervyn should be placed on welfare support. The justices decided he should be placed on welfare support.
The original 1997 B.C. Supreme Court decision against the doctor for being responsible for the 'wrongful birth' went unchallenged. However in a subsequent ruling on the case the B.C. Court of Appeal ruled Morrill should pay increased damages to cover the child into adulthood. This decision was appealed and quashed in the Supreme Courts decision yesterday.
'Wrongful birth' cases have led to astronomically high insurance fees for doctors who deliver babies - driving many professionals from the practice. The success of the suits, which penalize doctors for ostensibly failing to encourage genetic testing, or amniocentesis, is very disturbing both in terms of its implications for pro-life doctors and in terms of what it says about our society's recognition of the responsibility of parents. Many pro-life doctors refuse to refer patients for search and destroy amniocentesis and other such tests, so they face a higher risk of prosecution by dissatisfied parents. In late June 1999, a Michigan appeals court panel warned the logic of wrongful-birth suits "could quickly slide into applied eugenics and the elimination of supposedly unfit human lives."
Chief Justice McLachlin pointed out clearly in the ruling that "The only issue before this Court is the amount of that loss -- specifically, whether the Krangles are entitled to damages for the cost of caring for Mervyn after he reaches adulthood."
For a background on wrongful birth suits see the Interim:
http://www.lifesite.net/interim/feb98/8winifr.html
See the Supreme Court ruling on the case:
http://www.lexum.umontreal.ca/csc-scc/en/rec/html/morrill.en.html
See the coverage in the Toronto Star: http://www.thestar.ca/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Ty...
ABLONCZY'S WISHY-WASHY 'PRO-LIFE' STAND
OTTAWA, January 25, 2002 (LSN.ca) - With all the Canadian Alliance leadership hopefuls calling themselves "pro-life," the pro-life movement will be called on to clarify fact from fiction. The February Interim, released today, points out that while Stockwell Day and Grant Hill's pro-life convictions are well known Stephen Harper also has recently begun to make positive overtures towards the pro-life movement.
Dianne Ablonczy, however, seems to show confusion between being pro-life and pro-choice. On Global National news last Sunday, Ablonczy claimed to be personally, "more on the pro life end of the spectrum," going so far as to say that "I think we need to protect life and preserve it." However, those were only her personal beliefs. When it came to "what government should do" Ablonczy made it clear she did not envisage any consideration of legal protection for the unborn and suddenly considered the abortion issue one of "personal choice."
On government involvement on abortion she said, "I don't think Canadians want their governments to start meddling in these personal choice issues. Canadians have a lot higher priorities right now than personal choice issues when we have a 63 cent dollar and a failing health care system and safety and security an issue. Those are things people want their governments to be focusing on and let us decide as adults and as people who have strong values where we wish to go on these kind of issues."
For the complete transcript of the Global National interview with Ablonczy and Harper see:
http://www.canada.com/national/globalsunday/story.asp?id={8BDBBB43-8E15-490F-A7E...
CHURCH OF ENGLAND BLASTS DECEPTIVE MORNING AFTER PILL AD
Pro-Life Group Pursuing Legal Action Since Pills Cause Abortions
LONDON, January 25, 2002 (LSN.ca) - The first ad in Britain for the abortifacient morning-after pill has been slammed by the Church of England and pro-life groups. The ad, featured in women's and teen magazines reads: "Split Condom. Oops. Emergency Contraception!!! Quick. Pharmacy. Buy Levonelle . . . Phew."
Steve Jenkins, spokesman for the Church of England, said: "It's not contraception, because conception has already taken place. It's actually nearer to abortion. It would be better if the need to take it did not arise - in other words, don't get pregnant."
The UK's Society for the Protection of Unborn Children is currently pursuing a legal action against sales of the morning-after pill from pharmacists on the basis that they cause abortions.
See the coverage in the Telegraph at:
http://portal.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2002/01/24/npill24.xml&s...
ACLU THREATENS LAWSUIT AGAINST FLORIDA TOWN FOR BANNING SATAN
INGLIS, Fla, January 25, 2002 (LSN.ca) - The American Civil Liberties Union has threatened a federal lawsuit against Carolyn Risher, the mayor of a small Florida town for her proclamation banning Satan within the town limits. Fox News reports that Risher, described as a devout Christian who has been mayor for nine years, wrote up an official proclamation banning Satan on Halloween and had it posted on all entrances to the town.
ACLU claims it was acting on behalf of Polly Bowser, a woman in the town who was upset with the proclamation. However the woman says she is unsure whether or not to support the lawsuit. The ACLU however, says it will act as plaintiff if the woman refuses involvement.
See the Fox News coverage:
http://foxnews.com/story/0,2933,43909,00.html
GERMAN CATHOLIC AND EVANGELICAL LEADERS URGE POLITICIANS TO RETAIN EMBRYO RESEARCH BAN
BERLIN, January 25, 2002 (LSN.ca) - Cardinal Karl Lehmann, president of the German Catholic Bishops Conference, and Manfred Kock, president of the Council of Evangelical Churches, joined together in writing an open letter opposing scientific research with embryonic stem cells. The letter was followed by a release from the Permanent Council of the Catholic Conference calling on politicians to vote in defense of life next week, as the German Parliament considers allowing the importation of human embryos for experimentation.
Zenit reports that the bishop's document said, "The importation of embryonic stem cells accepts, in fact, the killing of people in the embryonic stage, and this is in fundamental opposition to Christian ethics."
See Zenit's coverage:
http://zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=15585
LONG-TIME CLC ACTIVIST AND STAFFER CARL SCHARFE DIES
TORONTO, January 25, 2002 (LSN.ca) - Long-time Campaign Life Coalition activist and staffer Carl Scharfe passed away this morning after a four month battle with cancer. Funeral and related information will be made available from Campaign Life Coalition 1-800-730-5358.
CLC National President Jim Hughes said Carl would be missed. Carl was a man "very strong in his opinions who faced death with courage and faith," said Mr. Hughes. "Even in disagreements there were never any grudges, he knew the life issues inside out and could smell a compromise a mile away." On behalf of the pro-life movement, Mr. Hughes extended deepest sympathy to Carl's ex-wife, his son Courtney, his daughters and grandchild.
Steve Jalsevac, LifeSite manager and director of the CLC Toronto office said, "Carl was one of the most dedicated pro-life people I have ever met. A convert to Catholicism as a result of studying under the late media guru Marshall McLuhan, he gave his all to the pro-life movement and was very disturbed by the cultural breakdown he witnessed over the past few decades. He recognized acutely that modern media played a massive role in that breakdown, crippling the public's discernment and critical thinking ability, even among religious people."
Interim editor Paul Tuns told LifeSite he had worked with Carl on layout of the CLC National News for three years. "He had a combination of Christian wisdom, general knowledge and penetrating analysis that led him to think constantly about pro-life issues," said Tuns. Carl Scarfe, says Tuns, made for some of the "most memorable and insightful conversation I have ever had. I will greatly miss him."
LifeSite editor John-Henry Westen attended high school with Carl's son Courtney and recalled fondly the great love Carl had for his children and his special care to see that they were encouraged in their faith.
US NEWS ROUNDUP
WISCONSIN SENATE PASSES BILL ALLOWING THERAPEUTIC CLONING
http://www.pioneerplanet.com/news/wis_docs/234274.htm
CLONING DEBATE CONTINUES TO RAGE IN FEDERAL SENATE SUBCOMMITTEE
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A33787-2002Jan24.html
US ABORTION ACTIVISTS LAUNCH CAMPAIGN AGAINST PRO-LIFE JUDICIAL NOMINEES
http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewPolitics.asp?Page=\Politics\archive\200201\POL2002012...
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