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Knights Of Columbus To Encourage Arthritis Society To Withdraw Support For Embryonic Stem Cell Research

TORONTO, May 22, 2003 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Following the revelation that The Arthritis Society (TAS) of Canada has indicated that it will fund embryonic stem cell research (ESCR) in accordance with Canadian governmental guidelines, the Knights of Columbus (KofC) of Ontario - the primary TAS supporter - has said it is very concerned about the TAS position. In an interview with LifeSite yesterday, TAS President and CEO Denis Morrice admitted for the first time publicly that TAS would fund such research. He said he was not concerned about a loss of funding from the Knights since TAS offers donors the opportunity to channel funds to different research projects.

When LifeSite contacted KofC Ontario State Council over the matter of TAS and ESCR, the KofC was in the process of reviewing their list of beneficiaries for their major car raffle fundraiser for next year. Ontario State Council Executive Secretary Rick McLauchlan told LifeSite that stances on ESCR would be considered in KofC funding decisions.

LifeSite spoke today with Mr. Grant Ertel the liaison from the KofC Ontario State Council to TAS. Mr. Ertel expressed concern over TAS' decision to support ESCR. Ertel told LifeSite that the KofC has very clear policy against destructive research on embryonic humans and that the statements which originate from the New Haven headquarters of the Knights and those of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops govern the KofC Ontario Council's stance on such research.

At their annual international meeting in 2001, the KofC passed a resolution on the contentious issue of embryonic stem cell research, urging "researchers and physicians to reject experiments and treatments that destroy human embryos," and governments to "terminate all federal funding for such research." The resolution declares: "Destroying human life at any stage of development in order to improve the quality of human life is intrinsically evil."

Also in 2001, The Catholic Organization for Life and Family (COLF), a joint arm of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB), and the Knights of Columbus issued a statement on embryonic stem cell research. The letter argues against the use of 'spare' embryos from fertility treatments for experimentation. The statement totally condemned embryonic stem cell research "knowing that the research subject, a human being, will be destroyed." The paper stresses that "No amount of public benefit can ever justify the deliberate killing of a human being."

Given that the Catholic Church, and thus the KofC, considers ESCR a matter of life and death, the TAS's confidence in continued funding from the Knights may be misplaced. In the interview with LifeSite TAS President Morrice indicated he was unaware of the serious nature of the controversy surrounding ESCR by inappropriately comparing objections over ESCR to a controversy over funding sign language programs.

To express your concerns to TAS:
The Arthritis Society (National Office)
393 University Avenue, Suite 1700
Toronto, Ontario M5G 1E6
CANADA
Phone: 416-979-7228
Fax: 416-979-8366
E-mail:

See related LifeSite coverage:
ARTHRITIS SOCIETY DOES NOT OBJECT TO FUNDING EMBRYONIC STEM CELL RESEARCH
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2003/may/03052101.html
KNIGHTS PASS PRO-LIFE RESOLUTIONS INCLUDING ON STEM CELL RESEARCH
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2001/aug/01081504.html
CANADIAN CONFERENCE OF BISHOPS ISSUES STEM CELL DOCUMENT
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2001/may/01052401.html

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Harvard Survey Notes College Students Not So Liberal On Abortion

Campus Kids Called the 'Key Swing Group of the 2004 Elections'

CAMBRIDGE, Mass, May 22, 2003 (LifeSiteNews.com) - While college students are normally believed to be more liberal, especially on social issues such as abortion, a new Harvard survey has found that on abortion college students are on par with the general U.S. population with 73% wanting total or partial legal restrictions on abortion. College students can be a potent political force in 2004, according to the national survey of undergraduates conducted by Harvard University's Institute of Politics. These "Campus Kids", the offspring of the Soccer Moms and Office Park Dads, are a persuadable group who are not yet slanted to one major political party or ideology, notes the study.

"Campus Kids can be the key swing group of the 2004 elections if the campaigns and the candidates for office properly engage them," said Dan Glickman, Director of the Institute of Politics and a former US Cabinet Secretary and member of Congress. "This is an enormous reservoir of potential voters and volunteers, almost 10 million strong, who can be channeled to winning campaigns if they are nurtured. But candidates who ignore or alienate this demographic group risk losing their elections."

The survey asked, "Do you think abortions should be legal under any circumstances (the current Roe v Wade mandated status), legal only under certain circumstances, or illegal in all circumstances?" Only 26% responded it should be legal under any circumstances; 53% said it should be legal only under certain circumstances; and 20% said it should be illegal in all circumstances.

In addition, a full 62% of respondents indicated that "the most important consideration when you vote for President" was "Agree with the candidates on the issues".

The full report is available online at:
http://www.iop.harvard.edu/iopstudents/survey/spring_2003.pdf

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Pope Says Pro-Life Movement Is A Peace Movement

No Peace Without Respect for Life

VATICAN, May 22, 2003 (LifeSiteNews.com) - In an address to the Italian pro-life movement today, Pope John Paul II quoted Mother Teresa of Calcutta saying, "Abortion is a practice that endangers peace in the world". The Pope concurred saying "there can be no authentic peace without respect for life, especially for the innocent and defenseless, as are unborn children. Basic coherence requires that those who seek peace defend life. No action for peace can be effective if attacks on life at every stage are not opposed with the same effort."

He commended the work to protect all unborn life including IVF embryonic children "conceived with artificial methods which are not morally acceptable." He encouraged women especially to "defend the alliance between women and life and to become promoters 'of a new feminism which rejects the temptation of imitating models of male domination in order to acknowledge and affirm the true genius of women in every aspect of the life of society, and overcome all discrimination, violence and exploitation'."

"May God help you to work incessantly," he said, "so that all people, believers and non-believers, understand that the protection of human life, starting at conception, is a necessary condition to build a future worthy of man."

The text of the full address in Italian is available at:
http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/speeches/2003/may/documents/hf_jp...

(with files from the Vatican Information Service)

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Catholic Georgetown University Upset with Commencement Speech on Catholic Moral Doctrine by Senior Vatican Cardinal

Zero tolerance expressed for Cardinal Arinze's teaching on homosexuality

Washington, May 22, 2003 (LifeSiteNews.com) - On Saturday May 17 Nigerian Cardinal Francis Arinze gave a commencement address at Washington's prestigious Catholic, but notably liberal, Georgetown University. One of the University's most illustrious graduates is former president Bill Clinton.

Students and faculty received more than they bargained for as Arinze -- president of the Vatican's Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue and who is often spoken of as a possible successor to John Paul II, gave a blunt talk on the importance of Catholic moral and spiritual doctrine. He had been invited to give an address on Christian-Muslim Relations.

Today's Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC) reports the Cardinal told the assembly "that happiness is found not in the pursuit of material wealth or pleasures of the flesh, but by fervently adhering to religious beliefs."
Arinze continued, "In many parts of the world, the family is under siege…It is opposed by an anti-life mentality as is seen in contraception, abortion, infanticide and euthanasia. It is scorned and banalized by pornography, desecrated by fornication and adultery, mocked by homosexuality, sabotaged by irregular unions and cut in two by divorce."

The AJC article reported that theology professor Theresa Sanders left the stage while Arinze was speaking and other students left "according to e-mails on a subscription list used by many of the university's gay and lesbian students."

70 faculty members signed a letter protesting the speech and submitted the letter this week to Jane McAuliffe, dean of the university's school of arts and sciences.

See the complete AJC report at http://www.ajc.com/news/content/news/0503/22arinze.html

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Massachusetts Bishop to Boycott Graduation at Jesuit College

Boston, May. 22 (CWNews.com/LifeSiteNews.com) - Bishop Daniel Reilly of Worcester, Massachusetts, has pulled out of a scheduled appearance at graduation ceremonies for Holy Cross College, because the Jesuit-run school is honouring a proponent of legal abortion.

Bishop Reilly announced on Wednesday, May 21, that he will not attend the commencement exercises at Holy Cross on May 23. The main speaker at that event will be Chris Matthews, a political commentator who supports abortion.

The bishop explained his withdrawal in a public statement. ''I cannot let my presence imply support for anything less than the protection of all life at all its stages." He added that he would absent himself from the ceremonies at Holy Cross-- the largest Catholic university in his diocese-- "with a heavy heart." But Bishop Reilly stressed that he was "not questioning the fidelity of the College of the Holy Cross to its mission as a Catholic college or its dedication to the mission of the Catholic Church."

Bishop Reilly made his decision to withdraw after Holy Cross alumni had mounted an energetic protest campaign against the selection of Matthews as commencement speaker.

Rev. Michael McFarland, the president of Holy Cross, defended the choice, making the implausible argument that Matthews' support for legal abortion "is arguable within Catholic thought." In reaction to the announcement that Bishop Reilly was boycotting the commencement ceremonies, a spokesman for the school said, "We are proud of our alumnus Chris Matthews."

Catholic World News commented that it is good that the bishop has withdrawn from the graduation ceremonies because the college is honouring Chris Matthews. "So far, so good." says CWN, "But the bishop emphasizes that he does not doubt the commitment of Holy Cross to Catholic education. Huh? If they're committed to the Church, why do they honour an abortion advocate?"
http://www2.bostonherald.com/news/local_regional/holy05222003.htm

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LIFESITE NEWSBYTES

Marvin Olasky Says Liberal Teachers' Unions Are Attempting To Protect More Than Just Economic Interests When They Fight School Choice
http://headlines.agapepress.org/archive/5/222003A.asp

Fighting Back: Protecting Children From Violent Video Games
http://www.cwfa.org/articledisplay.asp?id=3990&department=cfi&categoryid=cfrepor...

Mr. Horowitz Owes Christians An Apology
http://www.cwfa.org/articledisplay.asp?id=3987&department=cfi&categoryid=cfrepor...

Gays And Social Conservatives
http://www.frc.org/index.cfm?i=AR03E16

Coalition Criticizes Colleges Honouring Questionable Speakers
http://www.ncregister.com/Register_News/051803_1.htm

More And Younger Doctors Support Natural Family Planning
http://www.ncregister.com/Register_News/051803_2.htm

Request For Claification From Bishops' Expert Denied
http://thewandererpress.com/A5-15-03.htm

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