Friday October 17, 2003

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Florida Bishop's Statement on Euthanasia-Starvation of Terri Schiavo Deplorably Weak

TAMPA BAY, October 17, 2003 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Pro-life Catholics reacted with dismay to the weak statement issued by Bishop Robert Lynch of St Petersburg regarding Terri Schindler, the disabled Florida woman whose life-sustaining feeding tube was removed by court order two days ago.

Whereas pro-life leaders and anti-euthanasia experts internationally have identified the act as an act of euthanasia, the official statement from the bishop failed to even mention that there was wrongdoing at work in Terri's starvation.

The two paragraph statement by the bishop reads:

"With the news that the feeding tube has now been removed from Terri Schiavo, my own prayers and those of thousands of other people go out for Terri and for her family. May the author of all life look kindly on Terri and provide consolation and hope for those who love her.

"I continue to believe that such decisions should not be made in the court system but must be made on a case-by-case basis by families and/or other responsible parties at the clear direction of each one of us well in advance of a crisis."

This is not the first time some Catholics have been disappointed with Bishop Lynch. He gained international attention for officially calling to an end the traditional practice of regular adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in his diocese. Also, in 1997, he used very strong language to chastise Mother Angelica, the saintly pro-life nun who founded and heads the Eternal Word Television Network.

See Bishop Lynch's statement:
http://www.dioceseofstpete.org/news_releases/tubes.htm
Contact Bishop lynch at Phone (727) 341-6830
E-mail:

See also Desperate parents plead to Jeb Bush Today
'Crying out' to governor last hope for Terri after court denies writ to order intervention
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=35145

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Priest Who Blessed Terri Schiavo with Relic of Mother Teresa Hints at Hope for Miracle

TAMPA BAY, October 17, 2003 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The parents of Terri Schiavo, the disabled Florida woman who is destined to starve to death after a court ordered the removal of her feeding tube, were able to have a supervised visit with their daughter after her feeding tube was removed. Bob and Mary Schindler visited their daughter accompanied by Rev. Thaddeus Malanowski, a Roman Catholic priest who visits Terri weekly.

The New York Times reports that Father Malanowski took a scrap from a robe worn by Mother Teresa into Terri's room and blessed her with it. Recalling the fact that Mother Teresa is to be beatified Sunday October 19, the priest noted that to become a canonized saint, Mother Teresa would need to assist in another miracle.

Meanwhile, the round-the-clock prayer vigil outside the hospice where Terri lies starving continues. Doctors are disagreeing on whether the starvation of Terri will be painful, and the Schindlers are also concerned that the morphine to be given Terri to combat the starvation pains may be given in doses which will kill her. Otherwise she could live another eight days without food and water.

Finally Governor Bush has assured the Schindler's that he supports them, and has asked his legal team to investigate the possibilities of intervening in the case. Yesterday legal experts from the Thomas More Law Center provided overwhelming evidence that a criminal investigation into the causes of Terri's disability could be launched. Brian Burch of the Law Center told LifeSite that Governor Bush has the authority to launch the criminal investigation which would call for Terri's life to be preserved as she is integral to the case.

As of Friday afternoon, Bush has maintained that he is still not able to intervene. Bob and Mary Schindler nevertheless remain prayerfully hopeful.

See the New York Times coverage:
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/16/national/16FEED.html

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Belgian Cardinal Holds Press Conference to Slam Curial Cardinal over Statements Against Condoms

MECHELEN, Belgium, October 17, 2003 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Belgian Cardinal
Godfried Danneels, 70, the left-leaning media favorite to become the next pope, held a press conference at his residence Wednesday, in which he publicly belittled fellow Cardinal Alfonso Lopez Trujillo.

Cardinal Trujillo, head of the Pontifical Council for the Family, repeated the Church's teaching against contraception to a BBC program, and also noted the scientific evidence showing that condoms are not fail-safe protection against AIDS. He suggested that rather than allow the false image of 'safe sex' with condoms, condom packages should warn consumers that they are not reliable protection against the deadly disease.

Cardinal Daneels, was quoted by Reuters saying of Cardinal Trujillo's comments, "I deplore that comment the way it was received. It does not befit a cardinal to deal with the virtue of a product ... I don't know if what he said is reliable."

Beyond the obvious fact that condoms often break, Cardinal Trujillo pointed to scientific evidence that the rubber used in condoms has tiny holes through which the microscopic AIDS virus can easily pass. "The AIDS virus is roughly 450 times smaller than the spermatozoon," he said. "The spermatozoon can easily pass through the 'net' formed by the condom."

See the Reuters report on the
http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsArticle.jhtml?type=healthNews&storyID=3619216§ion=news

See evidence for the condom holes
http://dianedew.com/condom.htm

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LifeSite Posts New Page on Federal MPs Voting Records on Life and Family Issues

TORONTO, October 17, 2003 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Today, LifeSite has posted a new page on voting by federal Members of Parliament on life and family issue votes that have been recorded in the House of Commons.

The page also gives brief summaries of the bills and motions concerned and links to the original Hansard records of the vote.

This service is intended to help our readers hold the Members accountable for their actions and to facilitate praise and encouragement for those who have acted on behalf of life and family and facilitate effective grassroots lobbying of those who have done the opposite. These records will especially be of use at election time to help Canadians to decide who to support and oppose.

Of special note is the handy chart giving every MPs response to four important recent votes, the 1999 and 2003 marriage definition votes, Svend Robinson's Bill C-250 and Garry Breitkreuz's Motion M-83.

See the Voting Records page
http://www.lifesite.net/clc/fedvotes/

See the four votes chart
HTML version (may take a while to load this large file)
http://www.lifesite.net/clc/fedvotes/mpvotinglastname.htm
Acrobat Version
http://www.lifesite.net/clc/fedvotes/mpvotinglastname.pdf

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November Campaign Life Coalition News Now on Line

Stories are as follows:
*Dirty tricks to get C-13 passed
*Pro-life M-83 defeated
* Canadian duplicity at UN cloning talks
* Municipal elections
* Ontario election
* Pro-life premier re-elected in PEI
* Supreme Court rejects BC bubble zone challenge
* Judges cozy ties to gay activists exposed
* Paul Martin is PM in waiting
* RU-486's lethal history
* Youth proclaim truth about ABC link
* Sr. Lucille Durocher, RIP
* Edmonton National Conference, Nov. 6-8
* Christmas cake sales
* Fr. Ted Scholarship
* Business for Life dinner

See the complete newsletter at http://www.lifesite.net/clc/national_news/2003/news_1103.html

Donate to Campaign Life Coalition
http://lifesite.net/contribute/clc/

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World Leader of Anglicans Acknowledges Massive Split Coming Over 'Gay' Bishop

LONDON, October 17, 2003 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, has come out against the appointment of a practicing homosexual as an Anglican Bishop. The US Anglican diocese of New Hampshire has refused to halt the consecration of homosexual minister Gene Robinson as a Bishop, which will take place November 2.

An emergency meeting to discuss the crisis over the U.S. bishop-elect and another Anglican Bishop in Canada who is also refusing to heed the direction of the worldwide Anglican leadership asking him to refuse to bless homosexual 'marriages' ended without resolution. "Undoubtedly there is a huge crisis looming," Williams said. "This will tear the fabric of our communion at its deepest level, and may lead to further division," said a joint statement from the Anglican leadership.

Williams who, prior to his becoming the leader of the Anglican church, defended homosexual clergy, was asked if Robinson should become bishop even if he remains a sexually-active homosexual. He responded, "No I don't". Gregory Venables, a high-ranking archbishop, said plainly, "There will be a split, there is no other option."

See the AFP coverage:
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_world/view/52835/1/.html

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Canada Seen as Model for Homosexual Activists Worldwide

PHILADELPHIA, October 17, 2003 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Homosexual activist Canadian politicians - federal MP Svend Robinson, Ontario MPP George Smitherman and Winnipeg Mayor Glen Murray - will be featured guests at an international homosexual activist conference this Spring in Philadelphia. The 'Equality Forum', is featuring Canada this year as a model country for homosexual activism.

The executive director of the international forum, Malcolm Lazin, said of selecting Canada, "It was an easy choice, Canada is really a leader when it comes to gay and lesbian civil rights."

Two of the homosexual activists who were part of the organized campaign of court challenges to Canada's marriage law will also be speaking at the April 26- May 2 event. Toronto residents Joe Varnell and Kevin Bourassa, who were legally 'married' under Ontario's court-imposed legalization of homosexual 'marriage', will be encouraging their strategy to be adopted worldwide.

Already in the U.S. homosexual activists have copied the Canadian marriage challenge strategy, and one state court, Arizona's, has ruled on the case. The Arizona Court of Appeals ruled October 8 that "recognizing a right to marry someone of the same sex would not expand the established right to marry, but would redefine the legal meaning of 'marriage'."

However with courts in Massachusetts, New Jersey, and several other states hearing similar cases, pro-family advocates in the United States are urged to maintain vigilance. The original court ruling in Canada on the homosexual 'marriage' challenges also ruled in favour of traditional marriage.

See the Reuters coverage:
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/local/7032651.htm

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LifeSite NewsBytes

U.S. Supreme Court Agrees to Hear Case to Protect Children from Internet Porn
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uslatest/story/0,1282,-3263777,00.html

Mel Gibson forced to rename The Passion in America after Miramax objects
http://metromix.chicagotribune.com/news/celebrity/sns-ap-film-gibson-passion,0,7510662.story?coll=mmx-celebrity_heds

UK Paper claims Plan to Press Pope to Resign revealed by "a very senior church official who declined to be named"
http://news.independent.co.uk/europe/story.jsp?story=453804

Canada's MD shortage among worst in Western world
http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20031016.wdoct1016/BNStory/National/

Author Says It's Time GOP Fought Back Against Liberal Tactics
http://headlines.agapepress.org/archive/10/afa/162003e.asp

Publisher Fears Canadian Law Could Label Holy Scriptures 'Hate Speech'
http://headlines.agapepress.org/archive/10/afa/162003a.asp

'They Want Marriage to Mean Nothing'
What do you think of the new report from the American Law Institute - a group made up of legal scholars and gay activists: "Principles of Family Dissolution," which calls for marriage to be "de-legalized"?
I think they want marriage to mean nothing. Indeed, if we do redefine marriage, marriage itself will be meaningless. But I think that the real agenda here is whether or not people who have Judeo-Christian values should be in the public square making decisions, and many people who are on the other side of this issue would say no.
http://www.family.org/cforum/feature/a0028405.cfm

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