Politics
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Wednesday February 7, 2007
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Print- From 2003-2006 Bush Administration - $122 Million to Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research
- Vatican on the Death Penalty, Not Inherently Evil, but "difficult to justify today"
- Portugal to Vote Sunday in Abortion Referendum
- Ex-Conservative MP Who Called Christians “Taliban” Joins Ranks with Liberals
- Super Bowl Coach’s Christian Witness Reported by Mainstream Media World-Wide
- American Life League Prez Judie Brown on her new book 'Saving those Damned Catholics'
- LifeSiteNews.com NewsBytes
From 2003-2006 Bush Administration - $122 Million to Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research
White House: Bush "Only President in American History" to OK "Embryonic Stem Cell Lines"
TODAY'S HEADLINES
By John-Henry Westen
WASHINGTON, February 7, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Newly released figures from the February 5 budget indicate that from 2003 to 2006, the Bush administration spent $122 million on human embryonic stem cell research. Estimates in spending for 2007 and 2008 are $37 million per year.
The $122 million were spent specifically on research with stem cell lines derived from experimentation with live human embryos which resulted in their deaths.
Through the National Institutes of Health, the Bush administration also funded human non-embryonic (adult) stem cell research at higher levels. From 2003-2006, the Bush administration spent $799 million on such research. Non-human (animal) embryonic and non-embryonic stem cell research was also funded in the hundreds of millions.
A few days before the President was to address the January 22nd March for Life, White House spokesman Tony Snow addressed reporters on the subject. Responding to questions about embryonic stem cell research, Snow stressed that President George W. Bush "is the only President in American history who has ever made available for researchers embryonic stem cell lines, which he did back in 2001."
Snow also pointed out in the press briefing that the media frequently falsely allege that the President made human embryonic stem cell research illegal. "Furthermore, the President has not outlawed, as often as seemed to be alleged -- he's not outlawed embryonic stem cell research," he said.
The 2001 Bush policy on the matter was a compromise which satisfied neither the pro-life community nor those who demanded funding for research which destroyed human embryos. While he did permit funding for human embryonic stem cell research, that funding was restricted to embryonic stem cell lines already in existence prior to the policy formulation. Public funding would not be available for creation of new embryonic stem cell lines.
Snow responded to one reporter questioning the restriction of funds for ESCR stating: "The President believes that American taxpayers should not have to make the fateful decision of asking themselves, does this (research) come at the price of a human life, when you have non-controversial ways that have shown demonstrated promise that can benefit from federal funding, whereas the others continue to receive plenty of funding."
The same argument, however, is put forward by pro-life advocates who are critical of President Bush's, albeit restricted, funding of human embryonic stem cell research.
See the NIH funding sheet updated Feb. 5
http://www.nih.gov/news/fundingresearchareas.htm
See the transcript of the press briefing with Tony Snow Jan 17:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/01/20070117-5.html
Back to TopVatican on the Death Penalty, Not Inherently Evil, but "difficult to justify today"
By John-Henry Westen
VATICAN CITY, February 7, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) - A declaration of the Holy See regarding the death penalty was released today. It was delivered at a world congress on the death penalty, held in Paris, France from February 1 to 3.
Rather than condemning the practice outright, the Vatican used nuanced language to indicate that while it found the practice "an affront to human dignity", it could in some circumstances be necessitated. The language is starkly different from that used to condemn abortion, euthanasia and same-sex marriage which can never be justified.
"The Catholic Church continues to maintain that the legitimate authorities of State have the duty to protect society from aggressors," says the document on the death penalty. "Some States traditionally include the death penalty among the means used to achieve this end," an option "that is difficult to justify today."
Speaking about the court imposition of a right to same-sex 'marriage', the Vatican has suggested such actions "can never be justified." Writing in the official Vatican newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano in 2003, Vatican theologian Gino Concetti commented on the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court decision to permit homosexual 'marriage'. "This is a great wound to human dignity that can never be justified," he said.
Similarly on abortion, the USCCB document Catholics in Political life states, "It is the teaching of the Catholic Church from the very beginning, founded on her understanding of her Lord's own witness to the sacredness of human life, that the killing of an unborn child is always intrinsically evil and can never be justified."
The Vatican explains its aversion to the death penalty noting that states now have new ways "of preserving public order and people's safety," which include "offering the accused stimuli and encouragement" to mend their ways. Such non-lethal means of prevention and punishment, suggests the document, "correspond better to the ... common good and conform more to the dignity of the human person."
"Any decision to use the death penalty involves many dangers," such as "that of punishing the innocent, and the temptation to foment violent forms of revenge rather than true social justice," warns the document.
(with files from the Vatican Information Service)
Portugal to Vote Sunday in Abortion Referendum
By Gudrun Schultz
LISBON, Portugal, Feb. 7, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Campaigning continues in Portugal in preparation for the coming abortion referendum vote on Sunday Feb. 11.
The ruling Socialist Party has been pushing for liberal abortion laws with a proposal to make abortion on demand legal up until 10 weeks gestation. Currently in the historically Catholic nation abortion is illegal except in cases of fetal abnormality or to save the life of the mother, and then only up until the 12th week.
The referendum will ask voters to support or reject the proposed change to the law. While more than eight million electors are eligible to vote, observers are anticipating a low voter turnout on an issue that is highly divisive in the country.
“Abstentions will be high, between 45 and 55 percent,” said pollster Rui Oliveira Costa, reported Reuters.
More than half of all eligible voters must participate in the referendum for the results to be considered valid. A previous referendum in 1998 resulted in a ‘no‘ win, a victory for those who want to maintain Portugal’s laws against abortion, but the results were discarded as invalid since only 30 percent of the electorate showed up for the vote.
There is speculation that a vote for the yes side would not be discarded even if total voter turnout is under half.
Regardless, the Socialist government has said it will turn to Parliament to pass abortion legislation if low voter turnout renders the referendum results void--the government holds a majority of seats.
A poll last week showed plummeting support for changing the legislation, with 38 percent of those questioned saying they would support the proposal, down 15 percentage points from October.
See previous LifeSiteNews coverage:
Abortion Referendum Planned for Portugal by New Socialist Government
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2005/mar/05032310.html
Portugal Anti-Abortion Demonstration Draws 18,000 Pro-Life Supporters
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2007/jan/07012901.html
Five Convicted of Abortion Crimes in Portugal
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2006/jul/06070505.html
Ex-Conservative MP Who Called Christians “Taliban” Joins Ranks with Liberals
By Gudrun Schultz
OTTAWA, Ontario, February 7, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) - An MP who said Christians were “Taliban” and “flowers of evil” has been welcomed into the ranks of the Liberal Party, after being ousted from the Conservatives over accusations of breaching party confidentiality last fall.
MP Garth Turner announced yesterday he was joining the Liberals, welcomed by leader Stephane Dion as a fiscal conservative with a concern for the environment.
“Garth Turner is an exceptional Member of Parliament, known across Canada for his passion and accomplishments,” said Stéphane Dion in a press release Feb.6. “He is an outspoken advocate for fiscal prudence, progressive values and environmental sustainability, and I know Mr. Turner’s constituents of Halton will only be better served by his decision today.”
Following a May 2006 televised debate with Christian political activist Charles McVety of Defend Marriage Canada, on homosexual “marriage” in the RCMP, Turner wrote on his blog that he had “no time for groups in our society who try to force their morals, or their culture, on the rest of us.”
“Call it Defend Marriage Canada. Call it the Taliban. Fleurs de mal [Flowers of evil].”
Later denying that he had made the comparison, he wrote, “But a faith-based government? Forget it. Our brave troops in Afghanistan spend every day tracking down and squishing the freaks who tried that one.”
Joanne McGarry, executive director of the Catholic Civil Rights League, told LifeSiteNews.com the organization is “very concerned” about the increasing trend toward muzzling any voice not supportive of the liberal social agenda.
“There are a lot of people out there who do not think Christians should be heard,” McGarry said, “whether they are conservative Catholics, evangelicals, [even] liberal Christians--the place for committed Christians, for committed believers in public life continues to shrink.”
“They think your faith is something you can check at the door--well, some of the positions that the people who support what--for shorthand--I’ll call the liberal agenda are just as motivated by their beliefs.”
Calls to Liberal Party headquarters were not returned by press time.
Indefinitely suspended from the Conservative Caucus in October under accusations of breaching party confidentiality on his blog, Turner sat as an Independent for the past three months. He resigned from the Tories in November after he was told he would not be allowed to seek a party nomination again.
The Liberals now have 101 seats in the House, with the Conservatives at 125, the Bloc Quebecois at 51 and the NDP with 29. There is one Independent remaining, and one vacant seat.
See related LifeSiteNews coverage:
Canadian Conservative MP Calls Christian Political Activists “Taliban” and “Flowers of Evil”
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2006/jun/06060907.html
Super Bowl Coach’s Christian Witness Reported by Mainstream Media World-Wide
Bloomberg News Service removed the Christian content from the coach’s response
By Gudrun Schultz
FLORIDA, United States, February 7, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Indianapolis Colts’ coach Tony Dungy, who led his team to a 29-17 win in the Super Bowl XLI Sunday, used the post-game interview to give an impassioned witness to his Christian faith and that of his fellow coach for the opposing Chicago Bears.
Asked about the “social significance” in being African-American at such a moment--the coaches of both teams were black, for the first in Super Bowl history--Dungy responded by saying, “I'll tell you what. I'm proud to be representing African-American coaches, to be the first African-American to win this. It means an awful lot to our country.
“But again, more than anything, I've said it before, Lovie Smith and I, not only the first two African-Americans, but Christian coaches showing that you can win doing it the Lord's way. And we're more proud of that.”
Dungy’s comments triggered a media furor over the place of personal Christian witness in the secular world of sports. Los Angeles Times columnist Kevin Modesti wrote, “It was no shock to hear religion come up at that moment; we're used to athletes crediting God for their victories…But Dungy had to know when he told the biggest audience of his life that promoting his Christian identity meant more than achieving a racial milestone, he was poking a hornet's nest.”
Among the international news sources covering Dungy’s comments were the Associated Press, International News Service, (Australia), The Edmonton Sun and the Toronto Star (Canada) The Scotsman, UK. and the UK ChristianToday.
While the Associated Press covered the story without editing Dungy’s quote, Bloomberg News Service removed the Christian content from the coach’s response and presented it as a simple commentary on racial achievement, as World Net Daily coverage of the event pointed out.
Bears’ coach Smith also spoke out about his Christian faith in an interview last week, saying, “"My relationship, first, is with Jesus Christ, and he is the center of my life," said Smith when asked about his faith. "I try to live a Christian life. I would like for players to know my faith based on what they see on a day-to-day basis."
American Life League Prez Judie Brown on her new book 'Saving those Damned Catholics'
By John-Henry Westen
WASHINGTON, DC, February 7, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) - "Saving Those Damned Catholics" exposes the warts on the underbelly of the Catholic leadership in America today, and it is not a pretty picture. Too many among them are caught up in a twisted vision of what it takes to effectively lead Catholics. There is too much moral relativism and too little desire to say what is right, especially when doing so will bring down the wrath of the media and maybe even a few politicians."
So reads a teaser on the website which markets 'Saving those Damned Catholics' the new book by American Life League President Judie Brown.
LifeSiteNews.com spoke with Mrs. Brown about her new book while in Washington for the March for Life.
LifeSiteNews.com: What is the book about and what is the general idea?
Brown: The book is an expression of my concern, as a Catholic- that, after waiting for 30 some years for the Bishops to do something to end abortion - it has come to my attention that historically they will not do anything and millions of souls have been lost in the process - which is where the title came from.
Nobody knows how many people have gone to their uncomfortable reward because of the lack of the bishops to stand up and teach and preach the truth which is what they are called to do. So, what I did is write a book based on case histories of people that I have encountered over the last 34 years and the various terrible experiences that they have had because of the lack of the bishops to teach and preach the truth.
LifeSiteNews.com: Do you actually name names in the book?
Brown: Oh yes, there are many names in the book. Not in a disrespectful way. Every single time a person's name is mentioned it is because there is a quote from that individual. Sometimes I have used fictional examples and composites of various bishops and the things they have said. But the point of the book is to teach people that yes, there is a problem but there is also a solution and by facing the fact that we have a problem, we can come up with a solution as Catholics and we can help our bishops to come up with a solution because they are not all bad guys - we have some very heroic bishops.
LifeSiteNews.com: Who are some of the more heroic bishops in your opinion?
Brown: Bishop Bruskewitz, Bishop Olmsted, Archbishop Burke, Archbishop Chaput to name just a few. The recently retired Archbishop Donahue - there are some tremendous bishops. Bishop Vasa in Oregon would be another one. What we have to do is hold them up with prayer and encouragement and let the rest of these bishops know that we want them to do their job - that is not a disrespectful thing to ask them to do.
The book documents all the Catholic hospitals that provide rape treatment that is inappropriate according to Catholic teaching. Catholic hospitals where there are people being killed by euthanasia. There are just all kinds of problems and if we continue to ignore them - what is going to happen - they are going to get worse.
LifeSiteNews.com: Do you actually think that some of these bishops might come to a point where they would rather distance themselves from Rome than toe the true line on family and life issues?
Brown: Well, knowing that each and everyone of us is a human being, I am sure that in the minds of some of them, that has already happened - I honestly do. In fact, in the book, a very dear friend of mine who is now dead, said to me one time that one of the most disappointing things in his whole life was realizing that some bishops that he knew personally did not even believe that Christ was truly present in the Blessed Sacrament. That is the beginning of the end - if you don't even believe that, the most fundamental teaching of the Church, are you going to teach and preach any of the teachings of the Church?
LifeSiteNews.com: So, I guess you could say there is sort of a schism already.
Brown: See, the schism doesn't bother me - it's the loss of souls. I tell people this and they say to me "you are so radical about Nancy Pelosi" - I am worried about her soul and that is where we have to go with this - there is an eternal price to be paid for denying the truth. These bishops have to take that seriously and they have to do everything within their power to help people see the truth. And if, at the end of the day, as it says in the Bible - if you tell the truth and the person to whom you have told the truth decides not to do anything about it anyway, God will not hold you accountable but if you fail to tell the truth - you will be held accountable - thus the name of the book.
To order the book visit:
http://www2.xlibris.com/bookstore/bookdisplay.asp?bookid=33830
LifeSiteNews.com NewsBytes
Adoptions of foreign children by homosexual couples will not be recognised in Australia
http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/no-recognition-of-gay-couples-foreign-ado...
Swede Man facing charges over attempted abortion for slipping pills into girlfriend's food
http://www.breitbart.com/news/2007/02/05/upiUPI-20070205-022601-5362R.html
Ratzinger Memo: Membership in Masons is Mortal Sin and Such May not Receive Communion
http://catholicagenda.blogspot.com/2007/02/hello-membership-in-masons-is-mortal....
Lost in translation: Pope's asides might be changed in official texts
http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0700650.htm
Planet Gore - Climate change has been wildly exaggerated
http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=MGMyZWY4NjMxOWUyNDExMTMwMTUxYzNjMjE4N2ZmNjg...
Open letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi
http://www.speroforum.com/site/article.asp?id=7738
Rent-a-womb in India fuels surrogate motherhood debate
http://www.reuters.com/article/inDepthNews/idUSDEL29873520070205
Global Warming is not due to human contribution of Carbon Dioxide: The Cold, Hard Facts?
http://www.canadafreepress.com/2007/global-warming020507.htm
Concerned Women for America Statement on the New HPV Vaccine
http://www.cwfa.org/articles/12292/CWA/misc/index.htm
New evidence about the plot to kill John Paul II in 1981
http://www.canadafreepress.com/2007/dastych020507.htm
Maurice Strong will resurface Feb. 20 in Nancy Pelosi's San Francisco.
http://www.canadafreepress.com/2007/cover020207.htm
A disturbing children's book craze
http://www.mercatornet.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=469
Maine school teaches kids 'transgendering'
http://www.onenewsnow.com/2007/02/maine_school_teaches_kids_tran.php
42 percent of Internet users ages 10 to 14 have viewed sexual images
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16981028/
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