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Friday October 8, 2004
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Print- US Bioethics Expert Warns Children May be Created from Artificially Created Parts
- Alberta Argues Against Homosexual 'Marriage' Before Canadian Supreme Court
- Even Elimination of Poverty Cannot Justify One Abortion Says Bishop Sheridan
- Pro-Abortion Environmental Activist and Renegade Bishops Headline Catholic Program
- One-Child Policy Opponent Tortured in Chinese Labour Camp
- UN Institutes Same-Sex Benefit Plan: Entitlement based on Laws in Country of Origin
- LifeSiteNews.com NewsBytes
US Bioethics Expert Warns Children May be Created from Artificially Created Parts
TODAY'S HEADLINES
October 8, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) - One of a series of articles in the National Post on "Extreme Babymaking" has alarmed a US bioethics expert who warns that the creation of children from corpses is only the beginning if current research is allowed to continue. Dr. Dianne Irving, PhD, a graduate of the Kennedy Center for Bioethics at Georgetown University, told LifeSiteNews.com that research is moving forward to create cloned children out of left-over body parts from aborted babies and 'spare' IVF embryos.
The September 29th Post article quotes Dr. Gulam Bahadur, head of fertility and reproductive medicine for University College Hospitals in London, England. Dr. Bahadur tells a Montreal audience of fertility specialists to "imagine a scenario" where a man tells his date that he was created from ova collected from an aborted child. Dr. Bahadur says, "It's extremely frightening, it's bizarre, but in some years' time, with no regulation, we could be creating a child from mothers who were never born. Using fetal ovaries ... Can you imagine? A genetic mother who was not born?"
Commenting on the article Dr. Irving says that what was omitted is even more alarming. She says that in the near future, children may be created "from 'reconstructed' oocytes (ova) and artificial gametes." She says, "imagine the scenario 20 years from now when a woman or a man will have to explain to their partners and children that neither their mothers nor their fathers were ever born."
It may sound farfetched, but New Zealand has already passed legislation that would allow scientists to create children for experimentation from sperm and ova artificially constructed from other cell parts. This type of cloning was also among those allowed, though not specifically named as such, by Canada's Reproductive Technologies Act. This permission, camouflaged as a prohibition is found in clause 5 (1)(c) and allows the creation of "an embryo from a cell or part of a cell taken from an embryo or foetus," provided that the individual so created will only be used for experimentation and will not be allowed to live.
Dr. Irving calls for an honest public debate on such issues, which she says, has not been forthcoming while these and nearly identical laws are being passed around the world. She says that the era of human genetic engineering has already begun. "Similar scenarios describing the asexual reproduction of human beings -- or a combination of both -- should also be addressed publicly."
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Back to TopAlberta Argues Against Homosexual 'Marriage' Before Canadian Supreme Court
OTTAWA, October 8, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) - At the Supreme Court of Canada, presentations by lawyers arguing for and against allowing same-sex "marriage" will begin wrapping up today. Both Quebec and Alberta oppose the move.
Lawyer for Alberta, Robert Leurer, argued that the constitution defines marriage as between a man and woman, therefore any legislation that seeks to change the definition of marriage would necessitate a change to the constitution itself.
According to a Canadian Press account, newly appointed Justice Rosalie Abella countered Leurer: "You don't look at 1867 as the end of the story". Leurer maintained that the courts should not "obliterate in one fell swoop the wisdom accumulated since time immemorial."
Quebec opposes the move because it argues that marriage is a provincial jurisdiction. Quebec argues that, because the job of solemnizing marriages -- the issuing of marriage licenses, the ceremony, and the registration, is within the purview of the province, the decision to determine who can marry whom should also be left to the individual provinces.
A decision is not expected until the new year.
Read related LifeSiteNews.com coverage:
Quebec Opposes Federal Same-Sex "Marriage" Bill
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2004/sep/04092104.html
Canadian Supreme Court Judges Question Being Used to Bypass Parliament on Gay 'Marriage'
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2004/oct/04100606.html
Canada Supreme Court Launches Same-Sex Marriage Hearings
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2004/oct/04100605.html
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Even Elimination of Poverty Cannot Justify One Abortion Says Bishop Sheridan
COLORADO SPRINGS October 8, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Bishop Michael J. Sheridan of the Catholic diocese of Colorado Springs has again written on the near impossibility of finding a legitimate reason to vote for a pro-abortion politician.
In a column in today's edition of the diocesan newspaper, Sheridan writes that it is "virtually inconceivable" that an evil greater than abortion could exist that would justify voting for a politician who supports it. He says that even the elimination of poverty, an issue often compared to abortion as being proportionate, cannot justify "the direct murder of just one human being."
The misunderstanding of a single line in a letter by Cardinal Ratzinger mentioning 'proportionate reasons' for supporting pro-abortion candidates has caused frustration among pro-lifers and Catholics in the US. Some 'liberal Catholic' writers and bishops have used it as an escape clause to support politicians who, in addition to their support for abortion also espouse left-leaning economic policies.
Bishop Sheridan has been among the most outspoken critics of the 'liberal' view that a pro-abortion candidate can be supported by employing what one diocesan official called, "mental gymnastics."
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Pro-Abortion Environmental Activist and Renegade Bishops Headline Catholic Program
Event at Ontario Pembroke diocese Grey Sisters convent
PEMBROKE, ON, October 7, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Tickets are on sale now for the October 16 offering of "The Cosmic Culture of the Canoe", offered as one of many new age programs running at the Marguerite Centre in Pembroke Ontario this year.
The Centre, run by the Grey Sisters of the Immaculate Conception and housed in their Motherhouse, features the Executive Director of the pro-abortion Sierra Club of Canada Elizabeth May as well as renegade Catholic Bishops Thomas Gumbleton and Remi De Roo as part of its series entitled "Created and Sustained By Love: Earth as Home."
See the rest of this LifeSiteNews.com Special Report at
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2004/oct/041008a.html
One-Child Policy Opponent Tortured in Chinese Labour Camp
BEIJING, October 8, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) - A Chinese woman imprisoned for activism against China's restrictive one-child rule is a victim of inhuman torture in prison, according to a civil rights organization.
According to the New York-based Human Rights in China (HRIC) report, Mao Hengfeng was fired from her job a Shanghai soap factory in 1988, after becoming pregnant with her second child, in contravention of China's one-child policy. Her managers at the factory tried to force her to have an abortion -- when she resisted they bound her and took her to a psychiatric hospital, where she was forcibly admitted and injected with abortifacient medication. Mao managed to retain her pregnancy and give birth to the child, but the factory dismissed her from her job.
See the rest of this LifeSiteNews.com Special Report at
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2004/oct/041008b.html
UN Institutes Same-Sex Benefit Plan: Entitlement based on Laws in Country of Origin
NEW YORK, October 8, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The United Nations instituted its same-sex benefit package last Friday. Partners of employees in same-sex arrangements are now eligible for pension and health benefits if their country of origin also recognizes their cohabitation as either a civil union or a "marriage."
A number of Islamic and African nations spoke vehemently against the measure noting that their nations objected to funding such measures. The Organization of the Islamic Conference, a 57-country-strong lobby, said it was "seriously concerned about extending the scope of the family," according to an AP report.
"A legally recognized domestic partnership contracted by a staff member under the law of the country of his or her nationality will also qualify that staff member to receive the entitlements provided for eligible family members," the new UN directive states.
During debate over same-sex benefits in March, Sandra Haji-Ahmed, Officer-in-Charge of the Office of United Nations Human Resources Management, argued in defence of same-sex benefits, comparing it to polygamous marriages, where benefits are granted to all spouses. She told Committee members, "Polygamous marriages are not questioned by the Organization when they were valid under the national laws of Member States. The Organization makes no value judgement on that type of marriage -- it accepted it as a fact." She explained that UN staff who were polygamous could have all their spouses receive benefits.
Read related LifeSiteNews.com reports:
Homosexual Activism Pits Third World and Vatican against UN Secretariat, Canada and EU
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2004/mar/04031603.html
UN: Don't Worry About our Support for Gay 'Marriage'; We Support Polygamy Too
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2004/mar/04032301.html
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LifeSiteNews.com NewsBytes
CFAC Action Update on Royal Bank Boycott Because of Banks Gay Activist Pressure on Bank Employees
"To date, this Rainbow program has already incited divisiveness, fear, mistrust and feelings of duress among employees. CFAC has received communication from several RBC employees who fear losing their jobs or loss of future promotions, and are concerned about their reputations. One person would not provide their name due to fear of reprisals. The program raises issues of discrimination regarding those who choose not to apply the sticker. "
http://www.familyaction.org/Articles/issues/sexuality/rbc-action-update.htm
Pope Says States Should Not Fear Religious Symbols
France last month began applying a law banning "conspicuous religious symbols" from state schools, including Muslim headscarves, Jewish kippas and large Christian crosses.
While most attention in France has focused on headscarves, some state school principals there this month began turning away Catholic chaplains because the priests were wearing a cassock, a traditional black robe. In Italy, a court in the city of L'Aquila sparked nationwide fury last year by ordering a school to remove crucifixes from its walls.
http://reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=6453643
Australian Anglican Faithful Win Gay "Marriage" Battle
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,11007849%255E2702,...
Musical youth fault today's political music as long on Bush-bashing
http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/news/special_packages/election2004/98...
Grave Concern About Where Gay Activists Are Taking Schools and Students
http://www.afajournal.org/2004/october/1004schoolsout.asp
U.S. Officials Try To Salvage Flu Shots From Tainted Supply
http://www.wnbc.com/health/3790466/detail.html
Pope says states should not fear religious symbols
http://reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=6453643
Now, dangers of a population implosion
http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/1007/p16s02-cogn.html
Poll finds narrow support for same-sex 'marriage' - 52% vs. 45%
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1097079996511_16?hub=Canada
Vatican says family based on traditional marriage is key to society
http://www.catholicnews.com/data/briefs/cns/20041007.htm#head7
The Ultimate John Kerry Ad - Kerry Agrees With You, No Matter What Your Positions Are
http://johnkerryads.websiteanimal.com/
Bishop: Anglican church may be beyond repair
http://www.irishexaminer.com/breaking/2004/10/07/story170002.html
Pro-Kerry Rockers Have Much Wider Agenda
http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=15397
Homosexual S&M part of Christianity?
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=40813
Gay Music Icon Elton John an addictive, compulsive person consumed by self-loathing
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/showbiz/showbiznews.html?in_artic...
Last-minute agreement averts confidence vote In Canadian Parliament
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1097146479608_92555679/?hub=...
Canadian Church groups argue against gay marriage in Supreme Court
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_T...
Poll: Five Percent of High School Students 'Identify As Gay'
http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewCulture.asp?Page=%5CCulture%5Carchive%5C200410%5CCUL2...
U.S. House urges committee to include 'sexual orientation' in federal law
http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=40774
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