Recent Catholic News

Focus on the Family reports that the newest edition of the Associated Press Stylebook (used by most press in America) makes several changes concerning homosexual issues. One telling example: “Avoid references to gay, homosexual or alternative ‘lifestyle.’” Problem: the word “lifestyle” admits the possibility of leaving homosexuality.  http://www.fotf.org/cforum/fnif/news/a0012832.html William Brennan, professor at the St. Louis University School of Social Service, writes an article for New Oxford Review detailing the dehumanizing rhetoric used to in reference to unborn babies. He quotes feminist leaders referring to unborn children as parasites, and decries “America’s Best-Loved Hate Speech.”  http://www.newoxfordreview.org/may99/williambrennan.html Trinity Western University has asked […]

VATICAN CITY, Sept 19 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Over the last few days world news media have been rife with reports suggesting falsely that the Vatican has made “a theological U-turn” with regard to condoms. Quoting an April 19 issue of L’Osservatore Romano out of context and with gross errors in translation, various papers and newswires suggested that the Catholic Church might now accept the use of condoms in AIDS prevention programs. Catholic World News (CWN) reports that the erroneous reporting stems from a flawed report in the current issue of the liberal Jesuit magazine America, which reportedly argued that the article […]

STRATFORD, PEI, Sept 18 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Two male homosexuals from Quebec have lodged a complaint with the Prince Edward Island Human Rights Commission (HRC) against a Christian couple who run a bed-and-breakfast out of their family home. The Charlottetown Guardian reports that Dagmar and Arnost Cepica, owners of the Beach View Bed and Breakfast, are to be investigated by the Human Rights Commission (HRC) for having refused to allow the homosexuals to rent a room with only one bed during the province’s first “gay pride” events earlier this year. Mr. Arnost told the CBC, “That’s the custom that we are […]

CANBERRA, Sept 18 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Australia has openly criticized the United Nations for overstepping its power and infringing on the sovereignty of nations through its human rights treaty monitoring committees. Australian foreign minister Alexander Downer revealed the contents of a government review of the committees, saying they require “a complete overhaul.” The National Post reports that the government has put in place a number of measures ensuring its concerns will be addressed. The review says the UN must – ensure adequate recognition of the primary role of democratically elected governments and the subordinate role of NGOs – ensure that committees […]

TORONTO, Sept 18 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Canada’s largest annual pro-life witness, Life Chain, is fast approaching and pro-life organizers have encouraged local leaders to commence preparations. This year Life Chain Sunday is October 1. Mary-Ellen Douglas, national organizer for Campaign Life Coalition, told LifeSite that local leaders should commence contacting churches to alert them to the upcoming event. She also said CLC is strongly urging grassroots pro-life Canadians to take part. Life Chain Sunday coincides with the first day of the International Week of Prayer and Fasting to End Abortion (IWPF), which runs from Oct. 1-9.

LONDON, Sept 18 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Pro-life leaders in England are condemning the presentation of an 18th-century preserved human fetus decorated with beads which forms part of an art exhibit in London. The exhibit, which also includes a scalped head, opens October 19 in London and is entitled Spectacular Bodies: the Art and Science of the Human Body from Leonardo to Now. Paul Tully, general secretary of the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children, told the Times, “We are deeply disturbed by this sort of activity. There are ethical considerations. Things are being overstepped here. We would object to this […]

Catholic and pro-life groups said this week they will protest outside of the cathedral in Worcester, Massachusetts, on Sunday during a Mass celebrating the anniversaries of the diocese and the consecration of the bishop. Leaders of the pro-life group Operation Rescue said they are concerned that Democrat Edward M. Kennedy, Senator from Massachusetts, has been invited to attend, despite Kennedy’s longtime support of pro-abortion legislation.  After performing a botched abortion that killed a young woman, being tried for murder, convicted of involuntary manslaughter and eventually sentenced to six months in county jail, abortionist Bruce Steir is being released more than […]

OTTAWA, Sept 15 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The recent news that Chinese “family planning” officials had killed a newborn, drowning him in a rice paddy in front of his parents, as part of their one-child policy has led to political controversy in Canada. The Canadian Alliance party is demanding parliamentary hearings into human rights abuses in China before Prime Minister Jean Chretien goes there on another trade mission. The Globe and Mail reported Wednesday the objections from Alberta MP and newly appointed foreign affairs critic, Monte Solberg, who said this incident is just one example of many human rights abuses in China, […]

A British study has shown that one in five girls aged 13 to 15 would like the age of consent raised from 16 to 18 to make it easier for them to say no to sex. The survey based on responses to questionnaires completed under exam conditions by 2,250 13 to 15-year-olds at 21 schools from England between November 1999 and March 2000, highlights the difficulties many girls have in fending off unwanted sexual advances from boyfriends and resisting peer pressure to have sex. The report also noted that twenty one per cent thought sex education helped prevent teen pregnancy, […]

LONDON, Sept 15 (LifeSiteNews.com) – A study commissioned by a parliamentary group in Britain has revealed that family breakdown is costing $30 billion in direct breakdown costs and perhaps another $30 billion in indirect costs. Direct costs include such things as lost productivity, income support, criminal justice, and domestic violence. Indirect costs include lost income, increased welfare, remedial education, failure to reach potential, and physical and mental health problems. The report, The Cost of Family Breakdown, from the Family Matters organization, says the social consequences of the British “family crisis” are enormous. The report says: “The whole of society is […]