Politics
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Wednesday January 4, 2006
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Print- Unborn Child Who Became Hockey Star Stopped his Mother From Taking Her Life
- Pope Benedict XVI Named 2005 "Anti-Gay Person of the Year"
- Canadian Catholics Urged to Give Life and Family Concerns Priority in January 23 Election
- Focus on the Family Calls on Evangelical Churches to Talk about Abortion
- Prominent US Priest Accuses Senate Democrats of Anti-Catholic Bigotry on Judicial Nominees
- Swiss Hospital Agrees to Help Kill Patients as of January 1, 2006
- Massachusetts Homosexual Activists Sue to Stop Marriage Amendment
- Gay Partnerships ‘Harmful’ Says British Muslim Leader
- Use Dying People For Embryo Stem Cell Experiments says British Cloning Researcher
Unborn Child Who Became Hockey Star Stopped his Mother From Taking Her Life
TODAY'S HEADLINES
By Gudrun Schultz
VANCOUVER, Canada, January 4, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) – A small kick from an unborn child was enough to save his mother’s life, and his own.
Justin Pogge, star goalie for the Canadian junior men’s hockey team, and newly signed to the Toronto Maple Leafs made a move 19 years ago that stopped his mother from throwing herself off a bridge into the river in Fort McMurray, Alta.
Annet Pogge was 22 when her boyfriend walked out on her at their engagement party, after she told him she was four months pregnant. After dealing with 126 confused guests, she walked onto the bridge that night and thought about ending her life.
“Just when I was thinking of doing it,” she told the Globe and Mail last week, ”when I was thinking of terminating everything, not just the pregnancy, but me, I felt a kick. It was light but I felt it. “
That tiny motion of her baby shocked her out of her despair.
“It was the first real sign of life,” she said. “I remember thinking, ‘Oh, my God. This is a sign. God wants me to live.’ I couldn’t end my life then. I couldn’t.”
Ms. Pogge underwent financial hardship and sacrifice to raise her son and keep him in hockey. She told him the story of that moment on the bridge, years before anyone else heard about it. She wanted him to know he was born out of love, she told the Edmonton Sun, and that it was his action that had saved her from ending their lives.
Back to TopPope Benedict XVI Named 2005 "Anti-Gay Person of the Year"
By Gudrun Schultz
WASHINGTON, DC, United States, January 4, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Pope Benedict XVI has been labeled the most anti-gay person of 2005 by the Washington Blade, one of the most prominent homosexual newspapers in the United States.
The paper bypassed the few groups which promote hatred of persons with homosexual tendencies to target the leader of the Roman Catholic Church, stating he has "unilaterally targeted gays as moral threats to society," and "aggressively lobbied against gay rights across the globe."
By ignoring perpetrators of violence and aggression against homosexuals and instead targeting the Holy Father, homosexual activism reveals it is not simply seeking freedom from persecution and violence. The goal of the movement is to force worldwide acceptance and support of the gay lifestyle.
The notorious Fred Phelps, pastor of Topeka Kansas Westboro Baptist Church in the United States, attends funerals of killed or deceased homosexuals nation-wide with signs reading "God Hates Fags". Yet, that was not enough to win him the 'anti-gay person of the year' title.
Countries and their leaders who impose the death penalty for homosexual activity were overlooked by the homosexual activists while the Catholic Church, which forbids any unjust violation of human rights or dignity, was targetted. In India, Sudan, Nepal and Saudi Arabia homosexual activity is sometimes punished by life imprisonment or death.
The gay movement has ignored the Church's insistence that all homosexual persons be treated with respect and dignity, despite the teaching that homosexual acts are "intrinsically disordered", and that the inclination itself is "objectively disordered".
The Catechism of the Catholic Church states, "[Homosexual men and women] must be accepted with respect, compassion and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided."(CCC. 2358)
The Blade article implies a personal vendetta on the part of Pope Benedict XVI, suggesting that he uses his role as spiritual leader to the Catholic Church to push his own agenda. The author fails to recognize that while the Pope's teachings reflect his personal beliefs, he is also presenting the moral beliefs of all faithful Catholics and of tradtional Christianity since its founding.
See full article here:
http://www.washblade.com/2005/12-30/news/national/bad-pope.cfm
Canadian Catholics Urged to Give Life and Family Concerns Priority in January 23 Election
COLF Document reflects political priorities in 2002 Vatican document "Catholics in Political Life"
By John-Henry Westen
OTTAWA, January 4, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The Catholic Organization for Life and Family (COLF), an autonomous organization founded and supported by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Knights of Columbus yesterday published an open letter to Catholics regarding the upcoming federal election.
Topping the list of considerations for Catholic voters are life and family concerns. "As we prepare to elect a new government, we must determine the position of candidates on the first of all human rights: the right to life," says the document.
Under 'Life', the first consideration mentioned, COLF notes, "At this time in the history of Canada, a realistic look at society reveals a fundamental problem - the loss of respect for human life and dignity. This is evident in so many ways: the legal void that permits abortion right up to birth; medical research that authorizes the destruction of embryos; a mentality that increasingly favours euthanasia and assisted suicide." COLF also notes violence, abuse of women and children, prostitution, pornography and drugs, contribute to the loss of respect for human life and dignity.
Explaining the primacy of the right to life as an election concern, the document states: "If this is not respected, should we be surprised that other rights will sooner or later be threatened?"
The COLF document reflects the political priorities mentioned in the 2002 Vatican document "Catholics in Political Life" which was signed by the current Pope while he was still the Cardinal prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. (see that document here: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2003/jan/030116a.html )
Under 'family', COLF notes that the family in Canada is "under attack" from the redefinition of marriage. The document notably calls attention not only to the marriage legislation but also warns that we must ensure that schools respect the traditional definition of marriage "by not proposing a conflicting vision to our children."
Under political family concerns, the document also notes that the state must support families in having children, always remembering that parents, not the state, are the primary decision makers for their children. "It is our responsibility to demand that the next government develop policies to support married couples who are ensuring the survival of society by giving birth to new citizens and raising them in the most stable environment," says COLF. "We should also remember that the family, as the vital social unit, is not at the service of the state; rather, the state should be at the service of the family. Following the principle of subsidiarity, the state is to respect the rights of the family and, through fiscal and social policies, help it to fulfill its duties, including the raising of children."
The document stresses the need for Catholics to consider freedom of expression when placing their vote. It warns that there is "a phenomenon that is increasing in Canadian society" which is an "aggressive secular ideology (that) refuses religion the right to exist in the public square."
See the full COLF open letter to Canadian Catholics:
http://ocvf.cccb.ca/PublicStatements.htm?CD=313&ID=585
Focus on the Family Calls on Evangelical Churches to Talk about Abortion
Clergy Asked to Reach Out to Post-Abortive and At-Risk Women During Sanctity of Human Life Week
COLORADO SPRING, Colo., January 4, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) - As US churches prepare to celebrate Sanctity of Human Life Week, January 15- 22, 2006, Focus on the Family has challenged clergy members to consider recent statistics on abortion when addressing their congregations in church. A survey by The Alan Guttmacher Institute conducted among women who had abortions found that one in five self-identified themselves as Evangelical Christian.
Kim Conroy, Sanctity of Human Life Director for Focus on the Family believes that it's time for churches to be proactive on this issue. "Every post- abortive woman sitting in our churches needs to know that there is help and forgiveness available -- and it's our hope during this Sanctity Week that pastors and other clergy will extend that to her."
Conroy added that while abortion is always a tough topic to discuss, especially when considering the emotions of someone who has experienced it firsthand, it is vital that churches prioritize talking about this growing problem.
"Justice, mercy and compassion must be at the forefront of the conversation if we truly desire to extend healing to the women in our churches affected by abortion -- both those who've already experienced it and those who are right now contemplating it," Conroy said.
For more information, or to request resources on Sanctity of Human Life Week 2006 or Option Ultrasound(TM), visit http://www.beavoice.net
Focus on the Family is a leader in the pro-life movement because of its many effective initiatives. Among them is Option Ultrasound(TM) which was started in 2004. The program's purpose is to make ultrasound machines and sonography training available to medical clinics that meet the professional requirements. In a recent survey the organization found that 79 percent of pregnancy resource center clients decide to carry their babies to term after viewing an ultrasound image of the baby inside them.
Prominent US Priest Accuses Senate Democrats of Anti-Catholic Bigotry on Judicial Nominees
FRONT ROYAL, Va., January 4, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The Rev. Thomas J. Euteneuer, president of Human Life International, has accused Senate Democrats of the "Catholic bashing" of Supreme Court nominee Judge Samuel Alito. "The unrelenting campaign waged by many Senate Democrats, some who claim to be Catholics themselves, against Catholic judicial nominees who embrace and practice their Catholic faith is disgraceful at best and at worst is a blatant form of religious bigotry reminiscent of a less civil period of history," said Rev. Euteneuer.
The HLI leader warns that such tactics will serve to "alienate Roman Catholics who are increasingly frustrated over attacks on those beliefs they hold most dear."
"Religion should never be used as a weapon of discrimination. Democrats and their anti-Catholic allies such as People for the American Way, Moveon.org and Alliance for Justice must abandon their Catholic bashing strategy," said Fr. Euteneuer. "It is time for these Senators-led by the likes of Sen. Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.)-to put an end to this shameful behavior."
Swiss Hospital Agrees to Help Kill Patients as of January 1, 2006
LAUSANNE, Switzerland, January 4, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Lausanne University hospital, Switzerland has decided to permit assisted suicides starting from January 1, 2006. Assisted suicide has always been considered a form of active euthanasia. In addition to Lausanne, other leading Swiss hospitals are now actively discussing permitting the procedure. Though Swiss law initially did not allow doctors to kill their patients the practice of euthanasia has been gradually extended from private groups into the public health systems.
According to Doctors for Life (DFL), extensive experience with euthanasia laws in other countries has revealed a consistent pattern. Assisted suicide is presented to the public as a last resort necessary to alleviate human suffering. Once this becomes acceptable to the public, says DFL, the categories of people deemed expendable steadily expands to include those perceived to have a diminished value to society or to themselves.
In the Netherlands, doctors have been allowed to practice active euthanasia since 1973. While Dutch death regulations initially required that euthanasia be strictly limited to the sickest patients, it has been steadily redefined with the protective guidelines gradually eroded. As a result, Dutch doctors now legally kill the terminally ill, the chronically ill, disabled people and depressed people, on demand, Doctors for Life reports. Furthermore, repeated studies sponsored by the Dutch government show that a significant number of patients are killed by their doctors every year as a result of involuntary euthanasia.
Consequently, says DFL, "eugenic infanticide has now become common in the Netherlands (even though babies cannot ask to be killed)." According to a 1997 study published in the British medical journal The Lancet, approximately 8 percent of all Dutch infant deaths result from lethal injections. An alarming 45 percent of neonatologists and 31 percent of pediatricians who responded to Lancet surveys had killed babies. "A more severe slide down this slippery slope has been well documented in Belgium with euthanasia advocates actively fighting to not only expand the categories of killable people but to also force health care workers with moral objections to participate in assisted suicides against their consciences."
Massachusetts Homosexual Activists Sue to Stop Marriage Amendment
Oppose democratic process on their issue
By Hilary White
BOSTON, January 4, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The Massachusetts homosexual activist group, Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD), has filed a suit with the state to block the passage of the constitutional amendment to stop same-sex “marriage.”
After citizens had collected over 120,000 signatures on a petition, a ruling by state Attorney General Tom Reilly found the amendment drive was legal and could go forward. Family advocacy groups and over 1,200 communities of faith – including Catholic, Protestant, Jewish and Muslim collected twice the 65,000 signatures that were necessary to have the amendment part of the 2008 ballot.
Should the amendment pass, says Gary Buseck, GLAD legal director, it would overturn the 2003 judicial ruling that made Massachusetts the first state in the US to accept homosexual “marriage.” Buseck says that the Massachusetts Constitution bars any citizen-initiated amendment that “relates to the reversal of a judicial decision.”
A spokesman for Reilly countered saying that the amendment proposal was accepted because it is a constitutional measure, not an attempt to change a judicial ruling. Homosexual activists have long relied upon the tactic of using the courts to overturn existing laws.
Buseck admits that his organization does not believe that lawmaking should be left to elected officials. “ ‘Let the people vote’ is not the answer to every question that confronts our democracy,” he said.
The people, however, seem to be clear that they do not want homosexual “marriage” in Massachusetts. A Zogby International poll conducted in 2004 found that 69% of likely voters in Massachusetts want to vote on a constitutional amendment to keep Massachusetts a traditional marriage state.
Read related LifeSiteNews.com coverage:
Massachusetts Turns in Two Times the Necessary Signatures to Repeal Gay “Marriage” on 2008 Ballot
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2005/nov/05112808.html
Gay Partnerships ‘Harmful’ Says British Muslim Leader
By Gudrun Schultz
GREAT BRITAIN, January 4, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Sir Iqbal Sacranie, top Muslim leader and head of the Muslim Council of Britain, said new same-sex civil partnerships are “harmful” to society, in an interview with BBC radio.
“It does not augur well in building the very foundations of society – stability, family relationships. And it is something we would certainly not, in any form, encourage the community to be involved in,” Sir Iqbal said.
Britain’s Civil Partnership Act came into effect December 5, 2005. The Act grants legal status to same-sex unions, similar to that of civil marriage.
Sir Iqbal said his statement expressed the teachings of the Muslim faith, and was also in union with the position of Judaism and Christianity on the issue, among other religions.
Cardinal Keith O’Brien, of the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland, spoke against same-sex civil unions in a New Year’s Day sermon, warning that reducing marriage to just one of many close relationships equal before the law is both “dangerous and mistaken.”
“Marriage is more than a close relationship between individuals. It is uniquely capable of providing stability, producing children and providing the complementary roles of mother and father. It is a social institution rather than a private relationship.”
Sir Iqbal said the harm done by homosexuality is visible in society, both in health issues and morality.
“It is not acceptable. Each of our faiths tells us that it is harmful and I think, if you look into the scientific evidence that has been available in terms of the forms of various other illnesses and diseases that are there, surely it points out that where homosexuality is practiced there is a greater concern in that area.”
He also emphasized that everyone needs to be tolerant, and should freely express their views in the democratic process, saying both those who support and oppose civil partnerships have the right to speak out.
“We may not be happy with the views being expressed by others. But the difficulty comes in that at the end of the day we are human beings.”
Use Dying People For Embryo Stem Cell Experiments says British Cloning Researcher
EDINBURGH, January 4, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Dr. Ian Wilmut, one of the world’s most prominent cloning and stem cell researchers and the creator of Dolly the cloned sheep, has suggested that researchers be allowed to use people with severe neurological disabilities as human lab rats in “high risk” embryonic stem cell research.
The UK’s Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), one of the world’s most permissive government overseers, granted a license to Wilmut in Feburary 2005 to use existing human embryos in cloning research. He told the BBC that he intended to create cloned human embryos with motor neurone disease (MND) in order to obtain their stem cells.
Dr. Wilmut, who was appointed this month as the first director of Edinburgh University's new Centre for Regenerative Medicine, said that his proposal would of course be aimed at finding cures for such diseases as ALS, but not necessarily in the given human test subject himself. Wilmut claims that the strong desire of patients suffering from MND is enough reason to justify ignoring ethical standards in research.
“I've come across people who have neuro-degenerative disease who face a steady, slow decline and premature death, a very unpleasant situation. They would be only too keen to participate in trials,” he said.
International agreements on ethical use of human test subjects were developed and laid down after Nazi medical atrocities on concentration camp inmates were discovered after the Second World War. The Directives for Human Experimentation in the Nuremberg Code require that human test subjects can be used only after sufficient animal testing has been done and the positive outcome from the research can be found in no other way.
“The experiment,” the code says, “should be such as to yield fruitful results for the good of society, unprocurable by other methods or means of study, and not random and unnecessary in nature.” Such has not been the case with embryonic stem cell research.
Thus far embryonic stem cell research has yielded no cure or treatment that has not been more easily and safely obtained using adult stem cells. Embryonic stem cells, when used directly in therapeutic trials, have been found to produce tumours and sometimes bizarre and horrifying untreatable side effects.
Wilmut said, however, that such practices as animal testing and the standard ethics procedures for research slow things down too much. “If we wait until things are totally tested and analysed in animals, it will deny some people that treatment.”
“They should be allowed to use treatments which have not been properly tested because in their case the benefits may outweigh the risk. The sad fact is if we wait until all the tests have been done, some patients will have passed away,” he said.
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