Articles for Month: February 2006

SEATTLE, February 22, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Over 500 doctoral scientists have now signed a statement publicly expressing their skepticism about the contemporary theory of Darwinian evolution. The statement reads: “We are skeptical of claims for the ability of random mutation and natural selection to account for the complexity of life. Careful examination of the evidence for Darwinian theory should be encouraged.” The list of 514 signatories includes member scientists from the prestigious US and Russian National Academy of Sciences. Signers include 154 biologists, the largest single scientific discipline represented on the list, as well as 76 chemists and 63 physicists. […]

By John-Henry Westen NEW ORLEANS, February 22, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Just after Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans rumors circulated that at least one hospital had euthanized patients during the mayhem. LifeSiteNews.com reported in September 2005, that an unnamed doctor admitted to a UK newspaper that such activities had taken place at Memorial Medical Center (https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2005/sep/05091205.html ). In October another doctor at the hospital confirmed in a CNN interview that he suspected such activities and admitted he left the hospital saying he would rather abandon patients than actively kill them. (see coverage: https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2005/oct/05101303.html ) Later in October hospital workers were subpoenaed […]

By John-Henry Westen ROTTERDAM, Holland, February 21, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Marianne van den Anker, an alderman in the Rotterdam city council in charge of public health and security has proposed forced abortion and forced contraception for teenage mothers whose origin is in the Antilles and on drug addicts and people with mental handicaps. The alderman suggested that such mothers are nearly always guilty of child abuse. While several reports have referred to van den Anker and her Leefbaar Rotterdam party as “right wing”, the alderman is the furthest thing from the right side of the social conservative spectrum. In addition […]

By Gudrun Schultz HALIFAX, Nova Scotia, February 21, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Nova Scotia’s new premier has openly declared himself to be pro-life. Rodney MacDonald, who was elected as leader for the Nova Scotia Progressive Conservative party on Saturday, said twice that he is pro-life, in an interview with Steve Murphy of CTV News. As Charles Moore pointed out for the Halifax Daily News, it is “extraordinary courageous” for any politician, particularly one newly elected, to take a definitive stand on the side of life in Canada these days. MacDonald, 34, will be the youngest premier in Canada after his swearing-in […]

By Gudrun Schultz MANILA, Philippines, February 21, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The bishops of the Philippines have responded emphatically to growing pressure from anti-life activists, calling for accountability from Catholics on moral issues. The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) have rallied Catholic leaders throughout the country to educate parishioners on the immorality of artificial birth control methods, in response to a concerted onslaught by population control advocates. Supported by the United Nations, activists for population control have launched an aggressive assault on the country, pushing for anti-life legislation that would limit family size to two children, increase the social […]

By Terry Vanderheyden LONDON, February 21, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The number of children born outside of marriage has skyrocketed to 42% from 12% previously in 1980, according to statistics released from the UK’s Office for National Statistics. “Although most children are born to married couples, this substantial rise in births outside marriage is a reflection of the rising trend in cohabiting parents,” said ONS editor Hayley Butcher, according to a BBC report. The UK is fourth in Europe for number of births outside marriage, after Sweden, Denmark and France. The trend not only reflects higher rates of unwed partnering, but […]

By Terry Vanderheyden LONDON, February 21, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Body Shop founder Anita Roddick has criticised pop stars such as Britney Spears and Beyoncé for glorifying a “pimp and whore” culture through their sexually suggestive performances and lyrics. “A lot of people seem to think it’s cool to be a pimp or a whore,” she told London’s Evening Standard. “It’s not cool. The reality is dark and evil and appalling and unregulated.” Roddick condemned the pop culture icons for portraying prostitution as glamorous. “The reality is sexual trafficking, which is about young women being forced into rooms to have sex […]

By Terry Vanderheyden LUBLIN, Poland, February 21, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) – A university in south-eastern Poland has banned a controversial “T-shirt for freedom” campaign expected to occur simultaneously with a campus human rights film festival. The t-shirts, which were to be worn through campus during the campaign by celebrities, boasted such things as “I had an abortion,”“I didn’t cry when the Pope died,”“I have AIDS,”“I don’t go to church,”“I masturbate,” or “I am gay,” according to a Radio Polonia report. The predominantly Catholic student population found the t-shirts offensive and complained that they were insensitive to people living with AIDS, or […]

By Hilary White PITTSBURGH, February 21, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The US collaborator of disgraced Korean cloning doctor Hwang Woo Suk, has been found by an independent investigation to be innocent of participating in the fraudulent cloning “breakthroughs,” of his university. Dr. Gerald Schatten of the University of Pittsburgh was among the first to blow the whistle on the Korean cloning scandal and had asked that his name be removed from the Science journal articles on the bogus research. The University of Pittsburgh conducted an investigation into Schatten’s role in the affair and has concluded that he “did not deliberately fabricate […]

By John-Henry Westen and Gudrun Schultz WASHINGTON, D.C. United States, February 21, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The legality of partial-birth abortion will come under the scrutiny of the U.S. Supreme Court, the court announced today. The Court will hear arguments and decide the case during its next term which begins in October. An analysis by National Right to Life notes that the federal law now stands a good chance of being approved and the decision will rest on Justice Anthony Kennedy. Among currently sitting Supreme Court justices, five have voted in favor of Roe v. Wade—that is, in support of the […]