Recent Catholic News

LINCOLN, Neb., May 14 – A teen-aged mother recently won a settlement against the father of her child, who prevented her from procuring an illegal abortion.  In 1994, the young father and his parents told police his ex-girlfriend was planning an abortion.  Upon learning that the girl was already six months pregnant, the police took her into custody,  and released her only when her parents finally agreed in court that the child in her womb would not be killed. Abortion is illegal at such a late stage in the state of Nebraska.  After the birth of the child ten weeks […]

WASHINGTON, May 14 (LSN) – A bill to prevent people from getting around parental-notification laws by taking pregnant minors across state borders was proposed in the U.S. House of Representatives yesterday. The “Child Custody Protection Act” will effect the 22 states which require that parents be notified if their daughters are scheduled for an abortion. House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott strongly support the bill, and hope to pass it through both houses by this summer. Supporters argue that despite disagreement over abortion,  all legislators must support the adherence to duly enacted state laws.

TORONTO, May 14 (LSN) – Pro-lifers, ethicists, and spokesmen for Canadians with disabilities all reacted with indignation yesterday at the two-year sentence handed down to Maurice Genereux, the first Canadian doctor convicted of assisting suicide.  Dr Philip Hebert, a medical ethics expert who testified against Genereux in court, said, “It’s an extremely light sentence for a very, very serious charge.” Hugh Scher, spokesman for the Council of Canadians with Disabilities, told reporters the ruling reinforces the fears of people with disabilities. “It’s a horrible prospect for disabled people,” he said. “There’s a lot of fear around this issue, and it’s […]

ORLANDO, May 13 (LSN) – In response to the successful pro-family Disney boycott, homosexual activists are planning a Disney “buy-cott” on June 6, 1998. Gays, lesbians, and bisexuals are being encouraged to spend money at Disney stores and theme parks in an effort to minimize the action of prominent pro-family Christian groups.  The American Family Association suggests the pro-family grassroots should contact Disney stores on June 6, and express concerns about Disney’s promotion of anti-Christian and anti-family material in recent years.  To locate the Disney store(s) in your community, point your browser:  http://www.afa.net/disney/storelist.htm   For more information on the moral […]

WINNIPEG, May 13 (LSN) – Manitoba Family Services Minister Bonnie Mitchelson announced the provincial government will spend $370,000 over the next three years in an effort to reduce teen pregnancies. While pro-lifers in the province would welcome help to pregnant teens and would encourage programs aimed at helping them refrain from sex outside of marriage, they are concerned about the lack of specifics so far in the government’s plan.  The minister has already said the programme will not encourage pregnant teens to consider placing their children for adoption. Further, one might infer from the ministry “fact sheet” on the plan […]

TORONTO, May 13 (LSN) – Prominent Toronto AIDS doctor Maurice Genereux was sentenced today to two years less a day for assisting the suicide attempts of two of his patients. Although Canadian law stipulates a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison for such offenses. Crown attorney Michael Leshner had called for a six-year sentence.  Genereux gave lethal doses of Seconal to at least two of his patients in 1995 and 1996. During the trial it was discovered that he also concealed evidence of his actions and falsified death certificates.  Mark Jewitt, a former patient who was “unsuccessful” in a […]

GENEVA, May 12 (LSN) – A report released Friday by the Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute (CAFHRI) indicates many of the non-governmental organizations (NGOs) which collaborate with the United Nations hold views which most people would consider extremist and anti-family.  CAFHRI quoted several feminist speakers meeting in conjunction with the 54th Session of the UN Commission on Human Rights to illustrate the point. Valsa Verghese of Change International said that within the family, a “woman’s freedom and dignity is eroded on a daily basis.” Miriam Outara from Anti-Slavery International argued that “one of the greatest violations of women’s rights […]

OTTAWA, May 12 (LSN) – Statistics from the Ottawa-Carleton Children’s Aid Society (CAS) show that two thirds of the child abuse accusations resulting from custody cases are false. After years of pleading by falsely accused parents who have lost any right to contact with their children, a parliamentary committee is finally studying the issue.  Liberal MP Roger Gallaway noted that the Ottawa-Carleton CAS received 1,500 complaints of child abuse,  900 of which were involving custody and access disputes. Two-thirds, or 600 of those complaints were found to be false, unfounded or unsubstantiated.  Recommendations from the committee to halt the abuse […]

WESTPORT, May 12 (LSN) – A Massachusetts Youth Risk Behavior Survey conducted in 1995 found that teens who identified themselves as gay, lesbian or bisexual are significantly more likely to engage in high-  risk sexual behaviour and drug use, and to attempt suicide.  The survey found that the 2.5% of youth who called themselves homosexual or bisexual were more than three times more likely to have attempted suicide in the past year, and more than nine times more likely to have injected drugs. Also, the heterosexual youth were significantly less likely to have been sexually active, and significantly less likely […]

PARIS, May 12 (LSN) – The American Journal of Public Health reported in its March issue on a new French study which indicates women who have had an abortion are 50% more likely to have an ectopic (tubal) pregnancy later on. Further, women who have had more than one abortion face an increased risk of 90%. The study followed 1,955 subjects and was undertaken between 1988 and 1991.  The authors of the study note that in the past 20 years there has been a 300-400% increase in the number of tubal pregnancies in the developed countries. During the first trimester […]