Recent Catholic News

CARELESS INCINERATION OF DEAD UNBORN LEADS TO CALL FOR FUNERALS

LONDON, May 23, 2001 (LSN.ca) – Every year in Britain the bodies of nearly 500,000 unborn children are incinerated along with clinic waste such as used syringes and soiled swabs, according to an investigation by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN). The investigation found that environmental legislation, which stops most hospitals from incinerating the bodies on site, means that 10,000 foetuses are transported to 37 regional incineration units every week. Most of the bodies are those of the estimated 300,000 unborn children who die each year in miscarriages during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy as well as the 180,000 […]
News
 • 

NATIONAL ABORTION FEDERATION RUNS ADS FOR RU-486 IN WOMEN’S MAGAZINES

NEW YORK, May 23, 2001 (LSN.ca) – The National Abortion Federation (NAF) has launched a $2 million campaign to promote the abortion drug RU-486 known as mifepristone or under its brand name Mifeprix or finally under its marketing name, “the Early Option Pill.” The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reports that the ad will appear in popular women’s magazines including Cosmopolitan, People, Vanity Fair, InStyle, Jane, Mademoiselle, Glamour, Fitness, Health, Self, First for Women, Essence and Marie Claire but it has been rejected by Redbook for fear of “negative reader and retailer reaction.” A NAF press release notes the ads are […]
News
 • 

ITALY’S NEW COALITION GOVERNMENT INCLUDES PRO-LIFERS

ROME, May 23, 2001 (LSN.ca) – The center-right coalition, elected with a majority government in Italy May 13, includes pro-lifers. The coalition called Casa delle libert^ or ‘House of Liberties’ is headed by Silvio Berlusconi, media tycoon and former prime minister. The coalition is pro-business, against big government and socially conservative. The socially conservative element comes from the influence of the Christian Democrats who have encouraged the coalition to honor life and family. During the campaign Prime Minister Berlusconi called “for a more convinced defence of life”. Recalling this campaign promise, Monsignor Giuseppe Betori, secretary of the Italian bishops’ conference, […]
News
 • 

LIFESITE NEWSBYTES

The Toronto Star reported Friday May 18 that the Global Television Network is facing a Human Rights complaint after terminating the contract of TV reporter Colleen Thorpe last February-nine days after she advised her bosses she was pregnant with twins. Catholic World News reports that the Latin American bishops’ council (CELAM) ended its 28th Ordinary Assembly with a message calling on Catholics to defend life, strengthen democracy, and fight poverty in the continent. In the document, the bishops renewed, “in the name of Jesus,” their “commitment to the defense of each human life, from its conception to it’s natural end. […]
News
 • 

FORMER US-VATICAN AMBASSADOR ASKS UNIVERSITY TO RETRACT ABORTION ADVOCATE HONOUR

WASHINGTON, DC, May 22, 2001 (LSN.ca) – Former U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican, Raymond Flynn, has asked a Catholic university to retract an award it conferred on a pro-abortion advocate at this year’s commencement ceremonies. Flynn, now President of Catholic Alliance, put his support behind Fr. Peter West of Priests for Life who publicly called on Msgr. Robert Sheerhan, President of Seton Hall University to rescind the honorary Doctorate bestowed on Dr. Dolores Cross. Cross, who served on the National Abortion Rights Action League’s “National Commission of America Without Roe’”, was honoured at the Seton Hall ceremony on May 7. […]
News
 • 

PRO-HOMOSEXUAL RESEARCHER ATTACKED FOR STUDY SHOWING GAYS CAN CHANGE

WASHINGTON, May 22, 2001 (LSN.ca) – Dr. Robert Spitzer, the psychiatrist who released a study two weeks ago showing that “contrary to conventional wisdom some (homosexuals) . . . can and do change (sexual orientation)” has been assailed by homosexual activists. The rage has been so volatile that Spitzer canceled his appearance at a press conference on Monday citing concern for his family. The inaugural issue of the Culture and Family Report (CFR) by Concerned Women for America reports that Spitzer had planned to appear at a press conference at the National Press Club, hosted by Anthony Falzarano of Parents […]
News
 • 

PARAGUAY AND CROATIA RATIFY INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT

ZAGREB, May 22, 2001 (LSN.ca) – Yesterday Croatia became the 32nd country to ratify the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC). LifeSite has learned that Paraguay ratified the Rome Statute on May 14. The numbers of signatures to the statute is currently 139. The ICC will assume universal jurisdiction, even over countries that have refused to sign on to it, once 60 countries have ratified the agreement. Pro-lifers have warned that the ICC is a dangerous tool in the hands of United Nations feminists, population controllers and one-worlders. Gwen Landolt of REAL Women Canada told LifeSite “The ICC […]
News
 • 

POPE’S TOP 4 POLITICAL PRIORITIES IN ITALY: FAMILY, LIFE, PRIVATE SCHOOLING AND THE POOR

VATICAN, May 22, 2001 (LSN.ca) – Pope John Paul II met with the bishops of Italy last Thursday after Italians had elected Silvio Berlusconi as Prime Minister. Zenit News reports that in his discussions with the bishops, the pope appealed to the new government for four commitments to Italy for the support of the family, defence of human life, recognition of private schools, and solidarity. The Pope called for a commitment “in favor of human life, from conception until its natural end.” He also called the government to “safeguard the rights of the family based on marriage, without confusing it […]
News
 • 

CHINESE WOMAN BEATEN TO DEATH FOR REFUSING STERILIZATION

BEIJING, May 22, 2001 (LSN.ca) – Sun Zhonghua, a 34-year-old mother of two boys aged 12 and 13, was beaten to death by Chinese birth-control officials who wanted to sterilize her against her will, according to her relatives. Agence France Presse reported that the women from southeast China’s Fujian province was taken forcibly from her home Wednesday after refusing sterilization due to medical reasons. While officials claim she jumped to her death from a window in the birth-control clinic, family members said the large bruises on her head and the types of injuries to other parts of her body could […]
News
 • 

LIFESITE NEWSBYTES

BRITAIN CHANGES RULES TO DISCRIMINATE AGAINST PRO-LIFE PHARMACISTS Britain’s professional body for pharmacists has altered the “conscience clause” which allowed pro-life pharmacists to “object on grounds of conscience to the dispensing of certain medicinal products for the control of fertility, conception or termination of pregnancy.” The Royal Pharmaceutical Society changed the wording last week to say: “Pharmacists assuming responsibility for any pharmacy function . . . must ensure that before accepting employment pharmacists must disclose any factors which may affect their ability to provide services.” Pro-life pharmacist Caroline Hubert commented: “This would effectively render pharmacists who have a conscientious objection […]
News
 •