Articles for Month: November 2004

REGINA, November 1, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) – A group of Canadian Anglicans has broken away from the Anglican Church of Canada in defiance of its pro-homosexual position. The group, calling itself the Anglican Communion in Canada, says homosexual unions are not supported by scripture. Three Saskatchewan congregations have joined the new group, along with their pastor.  Reverend Tom Needham of Regina resigned from his position as an Anglican pastor to become pastor for break-away groups in Regina, Qu’Appelle and Indian Head. “What happens to the church if the morals and the ethics of Christians are decided by a body of men?” […]

WASHINGTON, November 1, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Actor Mel Gibson has taken a leading role in the campaign to defeat Proposition 71, the controversial California initiative that will fund human embryonic stem cell research.  “I’m concerned that people aren’t fully informed about Proposition 71,” said Gibson, who appeared on “Good Morning America” Thursday with Dianne Sawyer, and is now being featured in “No on 71” radio commercials airing this weekend.  “We’ve got a lot of questions to ask. Why aren’t private companies paying the $6 billion bill?,” asked Gibson. “Because in 23 years, embryonic stem cell research has not produced a […]

ROME, November 1, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Leftist and Socialist Members of the European Parliament have succeeded in forcing conservative Italian minister, Rocco Buttiglione, to step aside from his appointment to the European Commission. Buttiglione, a friend of Pope John Paul II, was opposed for making comments based on Catholic teaching on the family and homosexuality. Cardinal Martino, the head of the Vatican’s Council for Justice and Peace called the effort to oust Buttiglione a ‘new inquisition.’  On Saturday, Buttiglione said he was “ready to stand aside to smooth the way for [the] Commission.” He told reporters, “I’m an innocent victim […]

LONDON, November 1, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The UK’s Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has moved forward another step into the brave new world of cloning and eugenics by allowing embryos created in IVF labs to be ‘screened’ for the gene for a particular form of cancer. The HFEA has granted a license for University College Hospital in London to genetically examine embryos for familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), an inherited genetic colon condition. Any embryo carrying the gene will be selected out and killed at the request of parents’ who opt for the procedure. The mapping of the human genome […]

CANBERRA, November 1, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Australia’s acting Prime Minister, John Anderson, said the time is right for a debate on the country’s late-term abortion policy. In light of recent statistics from the state of South Australia, suggesting that most women abort their healthy unborn children late in pregnancy for reasons of so-called mental health, Andersen said he would “welcome a wider debate to re-examine our understanding of medical science and the law,” according to a report from The Australian.  A private members bill to make late-term abortions illegal has been tabled by Liberals in both the Northern Territory and […]

GREEN BAY/ORLANDO, November 1, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The bishops of Green Bay Wisconsin, and Orlando Florida have issued 11th hour statements on the responsibilities of Catholic citizens in voting. Bishop David Zubik of the Catholic diocese of Green Bay, in a letter published in the diocesan newspaper, urged his flock “for God's sake, to vote.” The bishop, a lifelong political observer wrote, “Never, in the course of those 44 years, have I seen a campaign as heated or as divergent or as critical as the current one.” Bishop Zubik writes that the right to life “is the most basic of […]

PHILADELPHIA, November 1, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Philadelphia’s Archbishop, Cardinal Justin Rigali, reminded Catholics that the “highest priority” for the voter in Tuesday’s US presidential election is “our duty to defend innocent human life.”  In a letter published Thursday in the diocesan newspaper, The Catholic Standard & Times, Cardinal Rigali said, “The Church identifies moral principles about which Catholics should be informed when exercising their right to vote. As Catholics, we hold in highest priority the right to life and our duty to defend innocent human life. This principle applies directly to the protection of unborn children as well as to […]

WASHINGTON, November 1, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) – One of the United States’ most well-known Catholic priests said today that most priests will vote for President Bush in Tuesday’s election. Fr. Frank Pavone heads up several national organizations (Priests for Life, the National Pro-life Religious Council, and Gospel of Life Ministries) but made it clear that he was speaking in his personal capacity, and not as the representative of those groups.  “The President understands Christian moral values far better than John Kerry does. In fact, the President, though not Catholic, also understands Catholicism better. It is a religion that does not allow […]

MILWAUKEE, November 1, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) – As the US Presidential campaign reaches its final hours, President George W. Bush has remained a strong voice for life and family.  Speaking to supporters at Cellular Arena today, Bush outlined five main areas where he clearly differed from contender John Kerry, one of which was life and family issues.  The President said decisions around abortion and same-sex ‘marriage’ make for a “clear choice in this election” based “on the values that are crucial to keeping our families strong.”  To resounding applause Bush said, “I stand for marriage and family, which are the foundations […]