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Tuesday February 19, 2008


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NY Catholic Church “Pulls out All the Stops” in Campaign against Abortion Bill

Church fears bill “shuts down legislative process” on abortion and removes conscience exemptions

By John Jalsevac

NEW YORK, NY, February 19, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The Catholic Church in New York State has launched a full-fledged attack against some of the United States’ most pro-abortion legislation – the so-called Reproductive Health and Privacy Protection Act (RHPPA), which was unveiled last April by Governor Eliot Spitzer. According to Governor Spitzer the bill was launched in response to the Bush Government’s progressive “rolling-back” of abortion “rights” in America, which is especially exemplified by the ban on partial-birth abortion.


The RHPPA seeks, amongst other measures, to make a positive “right” to abortion in New York law. According to Kathleen Gallagher, spokesman for the New York Catholic Conference, in so doing the bill seeks to “shut down the legislative process in regard to abortion.” The consequence, Gallagher told LifeSiteNews in an interview today, is that “reasonable regulations like parental notification, or restrictions on taxpayer funding, could never be enacted in the future.”

According to a government summary of the act, the act would ensure that a woman has the “right…to terminate a pregnancy prior to viability or whenever necessary to protect her life or health.”

The legislation, if passed, would also make an “emergency” exception to a current stipulation that there must be a second doctor present in the case of an abortion that is performed post-viability, opening the door to virtual abortion-on-demand throughout all nine months pregnancy. It would also authorize non-physicians to perform abortions, and would remove the age restriction for purchasing the over-the-counter morning-after pill.

Governor Spitzer has recently stepped up pressure on the New York legislature and Senate to pass the Act. During his January 9th State of the State Address, Spitzer referred specifically to the bill, saying, “We must also make a commitment to women’s health. Given the continued efforts at the federal level to dismantle protections for women’s reproductive health and privacy, I ask you to pass the Reproductive Health and Privacy Protection Act.”

The precarious political situation in New York at present leaves open the possibility that, if brought to a vote, the bill could pass. The Senate is currently controlled by the Republicans, but only by two members, whereas the Assembly is strongly controlled by the Democrats.

However, in response to the mounting pressure from the governor to have the Act passed, the Catholic Church in the state has in turn mounted an escalating campaign against the Act. In the past few weeks the Catholic Conference of New York has released and sent out copies of an 15-minute educational video on the Act, has uploaded a shorter version of the video onto Youtube, has sent out over 100,000 pamphlets to be distributed in parishes, as well as post-cards, fliers, bulletin inserts and petitions.

Besides the Church’s basic concern about a law that would sanction as a fundamental “right” the killing of thousands of unborn children, Church representatives have also expressed their concern that the legislation could be interpreted as having removed all conscience exceptions that would allow physicians and hospitals to opt-out of performing abortions.

“Our legal interpretation,” Gallagher told LifeSiteNews, “is that the bill says the state may not discriminate against the fundamental right to abortion, in the benefits, services or information that the state provides. If you take that step by step, the state is the entity that licenses hospitals, the state is the entity that licenses doctors and nurses. The state gives out funding to hospitals and charitable foundations. Those are all benefits of the state.

“If the state finds a hospital is not performing abortions, or a doctor refuses to perform abortions, the state could say ‘You’re discriminating against the fundamental right to abortions. Therefore we’re not going to give you any of the state benefits. We’re not going to license you. We’re not going to give you any state funding.'”

The governor’s office is, however, at present denying that the law could be interpreted as removing conscience restrictions. “Nobody will be required to perform an abortion,” assistant counsel to the governor, Lisa Ullman, said.

Representatives of the Church have in turn responded that if the intent is not to force institutions to perform abortions, then the obvious solution would be to amend the bill to state this fact clearly. “Why not include specific language that says the bill does not apply to institutions owned, operated or sponsored by a religious institution?” asked Dennis Poust, a spokesman for the Catholic Conference. “They are well aware of our concerns and have been shown zero interest in amending the bill. We have had lengthy discussions at the highest level of the administration on this and have gotten the cold shoulder.”

Gallagher said that the Catholic Church in New York is “pulling out the stops” to ensure that the Act never becomes law. “We’re trying to educate people and mobilize people.” In addition to its various other efforts, the New York Catholic conference has also posted an action alert on their website, where citizens can send e-mails directly to their lawmakers. To date that link has resulted in 24,000 e-mails.

Visit the Catholic Conference’s website at:
https://www.nyscatholic.org

View the Youtube video on the governor’s bill at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZ6j2srG2iA

Write Governor Spitzer at:

Eliot Spitzer
State Capitol
Albany, NY 12224
Telephone: 518-474-8390
E-mail: https://161.11.121.121/govemail ;


The Questions that Got Bill Clinton All Riled Up Against Pro-Lifers

By John-Henry Westen

STEUBENVILLE, Ohio, February 19, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) – A video clip of former U.S. President Bill Clinton lashing out at pro-life students from the Franciscan University of Steubenville, which was featured on the Drudge Report and brought YouTube hundreds of thousands of viewers, exposed a rarely seen irate Clinton.

LifeSiteNews.com spoke today with David Vogel, the man whose questions sparked the angry outburst from Clinton. The YouTube video records only Clinton’s irate response, a transcript of which was posted on LifeSiteNews.com a few hours after he made them. “I gave you the answer. We disagree with you,” Clinton began in his tirade.

Vogel, a resident of Steubenville and a Catholic recording artist who regularly performs at Franciscan University, told LifeSiteNews.com that at one point during Clinton’s speech he was talking about what his wife, Senator Hillary Clinton, was doing for child protection. “What about the thousands who are being aborted,” asked Vogel, who could be heard by Clinton, as he was only about 10 feet from the stage. Clinton turned in response, saying, “I’ll answer that, you wait and hold your sign, and I’ll answer that.”

Signs were being held by University students standing with Vogel. One such sign read “Abortion Kills Children”, which Vogel notes as a providential coincidence given his line of questioning.

According to Vogel, Clinton went on with other subjects and eventually began speaking about child health care and mentioned Bush’s “no child left behind” program. Recalled Vogel, “I hollered: ‘No child left behind? What about the 4000 plus children that are scheduled for abortion tomorrow. They are people too and we want answers.'”

At that point, recalls Vogel, Clinton turned, pointed his finger, and began his now infamous tirade. After beginning with “I gave you the answer,” which, says Vogel, Clinton did not, Clinton continued: “You wanna criminalize women and their doctors and we disagree. I reduced abortion. Tell the truth, tell the truth, if you were really pro-life, if you were really pro-life, you would want to put every doctor and every mother as an accessory to murder in prison.” (for the rest see the LifeSiteNews.com coverage here: https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/feb/08021802.html )

Vogel had no chance to respond as Clinton had the stage, the microphone and a cheering crowd of abortion supporters rallying behind him.

However, when asked how he would have responded, Vogel said he liked the line used by Presidential candidate Mike Huckabee: “I have no desire to throw women in jail, I just want to stop throwing babies in the garbage.”

Asked who he supported for President, Vogel said that since “we’re down to four,” referring to Clinton, Obama, McCain and Huckabee, “I feel the most comfortable with Huckabee and next to him would be McCain.

Some of Vogel’s music can be sampled on his website:
https://www.david1.net


Ugandan Anglican Church Threatens to Quit Communion over Homosexuality

By Thaddeus M. Baklinski

KAMPALA, February 19, 2008 (LifeSIteNews.com) – The Anglican Secretary of Uganda’s Central province, Aaron Mwesigye, yesterday announced that Uganda’s Anglican Church will withdraw formally from the Anglican Communion unless U.S. clergy condemn homosexuality.

He said: “We have complained against homosexuality several times but no action is taken. If they don’t change and continue to support homosexual practices and same-sex marriage, our relationship with them will be completely broken. Anglicanism is just an identity and if they abuse it, we shall secede. Yes, we shall remain Christians, but not in the same communion.”

The announcement came after Uganda’s Anglican bishops decided last week to boycott this summer’s Lambeth Conference, a gathering of Anglican Church leaders that takes place every ten years, because of the U.S. Episcopal Church’s ordination of homosexual bishops.

Ugandan Archbishop Henry Luke Orombi, as well as archbishops from Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda and South Africa, informed Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams that they will not sanction the liberal attitudes of the western Anglican Church and that the actions of the US Episcopal Church could precipitate the disintegration of Anglicanism.

The Anglican Communion of 77 million followers worldwide is embroiled in a fierce dispute between liberals and conservatives that began when openly homosexual U.S. bishop Gene Robinson was consecrated in 2003. Most Anglicans outside the U.S. believe homosexual relationships are sinful, and they are distancing themselves from the U.S. Church.

A Reuters Africa report quotes Ugandan Anglican laity in support of their church’s stand. Robert Rujuga, 47, who attends All Saints Church in Kampala said, “The whole issue of homosexuality is evil. Our leaders have done the right thing to boycott that conference and if possible they should secede from the Western Anglican Church.”

Senkubuge Siyasya, a prominent comedian on a local radio station, spoke from Namirembe Cathedral, Uganda’s largest Anglican Church, saying, “If western churches do not stop promoting this practice, then it is time for the church to split.”

Homosexuality is considered a criminal offense under section 140 of the Ugandan penal code, which deals with “unnatural offences.” It is punishable by life imprisonment.


George H. W. Bush Endorses McCain, Calls Conservative Criticism “Unfair” and “Absurd”

By Peter J. Smith

WASHINGTON, D.C., February 19, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Republican primary frontrunner Sen. John McCain picked up another important endorsement yesterday after former US President George H.W. Bush officially gave his support to the Arizona senator and asked conservatives dissatisfied with his record to stop attacking him.

“You know, if you’ve been around the track you hear these criticisms and I think they are grossly unfair. [McCain’s] got a … sound conservative record but he’s not above reaching out to the other side,” the former president said. Bush later called the attacks on McCain’s record “absurd.”

The McCain campaign has welcomed affirmations of support from Bush and other powerful figures in the GOP, as it is struggling to convince the GOP’s conservative base that McCain is actually a “true conservative.” The campaign is having to work hard to mitigate the risk of a depressed turnout of conservatives, who are necessary for the GOP to win the presidential election in November.

Current President George W. Bush has also stated he believes McCain is a “true conservative.”

However, many conservatives remember that McCain was pivotal in derailing Senate Republicans’ efforts to end the filibuster of conservative judges nominated by Bush, thereby preventing many pro-life, pro-family judges from filling vacancies in the US judicial system.

McCain also has made himself an opponent of conservative talk-radio and has been called an enemy of political free speech by conservatives for his McCain-Feingold campaign-finance reform restrictions that insulate incumbents from criticism in the days before an election.

McCain’s appearance before the Conservative Political Action Committee (CPAC) in early February was given a decidedly mixed and less than enthusiastic reception.

Some pro-family and pro-life conservatives, including Paul Weyrich and Dr. James Dobson, have expressed serious doubts about McCain, especially over McCain’s passive attitude toward homosexual “marriage,” endorsement of the theory of man-made global warming, and unapologetic support of the destruction of human embryos for stem-cell research.

Dobson, the founder of Focus on the Family, said he refuses to vote for McCain since his record on family and conservative issues like free speech “makes his candidacy a matter of conscience and concern for me.”

Weyrich, a cofounder of the Moral Majority and CEO of the Free Congress Foundation, told RenewAmerica columnist Wes Vernon that he believed a liberal Clinton or Obama presidency would be a better alternative to McCain. With the former, conservatives could regroup and retake the House and Senate in two years, as was done in 1994. “It would be better than McCain, who would fight us on everything,” Weyrich said. Weyrich, like Dobson, also endorsed Gov. Mike Huckabee against McCain, after switching his support from former candidate Mitt Romney, on the basis of pro-life and pro-family issues.

A number of other conservative pro-life leaders, however, while not endorsing McCain, have said they believe McCain is ultimately a pro-life candidate and a better alternative to a Clinton or Obama abortion presidency.

Even the strongly pro-life Representative, Chris Smith, has attested to McCain’s pro-life credentials. “He is pro-life in his heart of hearts, in my opinion,” pro-life leader Rep. Chris Smith told the Washington Times.

“When you contrast him with the alternative and you think about such things as Supreme Court appointments, McCain is a far better choice,” added Barbara L. Lyons, executive director of Wisconsin Right to Life, whose organization successfully challenged portions of McCain’s campaign finance laws before the US Supreme Court in 2007.

While the McCain campaign is confident it has secured the GOP nomination, the current GOP rules and Mike Huckabee’s persistence in the race means McCain must still campaign for the remaining delegates. McCain has 908 delegates according to an Associated Press tally. Since Romney’s delegates are released to vote for whomever they wish, McCain must capture at least 1,191 delegates to call himself the official nominee before the GOP convention in Minneapolis/St. Paul.

See previous LifeSiteNews.com coverage:

McCain Forces Romney to Submit, but Faith & Family Leader Dobson Calls Vote for McCain Unconscionable
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/feb/08020713.html

Pro-Abortion Republicans Endorse McCain
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/feb/08020605.html

McCain Wins Big in US Republican Primary Over Romney, Huckabee
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/feb/08020609.html

Republican Candidates Romney, Giuliani, McCain Repudiate Government Effort to Save Terri Schiavo
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2007/may/07052511.html

McCain’s Rejection of Roe v. Wade Seems As Wobbly as His Rejection of Gay “Marriage”
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2007/feb/07021908.html


“Countercultural Revolution” Cited as Ex-Gay Ministry Undergoes Rapid Growth

ORLANDO, FL, February 19, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) – As the issue of homosexuality continues to be hotly debated in public settings across the country, Exodus International, the largest worldwide support organization to those affected by unwanted same-sex attraction, is seeing rapid growth within its organization.

In the last five years, Exodus International has seen a 59% increase in its member agencies, growing from 117 in 2003 to over 200 in 2008. This compared to more spotty growth in years past. Requests for resources and speaking engagements are also up.

Alan Chambers, President of Exodus International, commented, “We believe that the escalating growth we are seeing as well as the progress within our movement is part of a countercultural revolution.”

As Exodus adapts to the demand, there has also been a dramatic shift in the types of individuals interested in the Exodus message. Attendance statistics from the ministry’s 2007 annual conference show that more than half were first-time conference attendees – a stark comparison to years past where the majority were longtime conference attendees. That number was even higher at Exodus’ Regional Freedom Conference in Nashville, Tennessee this year as over 60% had never attended an Exodus event before.

Exodus has also seen tremendous growth in newer initiatives as well. In 2006, the ministry created the Exodus Church Network, an interdenominational coalition of churches that provides local support to those seeking freedom from homosexuality. In the two years since its formation, it has grown to more than 70 churches, including Chicago megachurch Willow Creek Church.

Chambers concluded, “People are hungry for a hopeful message about homosexuality that encompasses God’s truth as well as His compassionate heart. We are thrilled to be a small part of what God is doing to reach a new generation with His liberating truth.”


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Gay Rights a Liberal Party Priority for Foreign Policy: Bob Rae

He would support private members’ bill by NDP MP to add “transsexuals” to Canada’s hate crimes legislation

By Hilary White

TORONTO, February 19, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) – A Liberal government in Ottawa would make the homosexual political agenda a priority in foreign policy says Bob Rae, the former NDP Premier of Ontario and now Liberal candidate for the riding of Toronto Centre.

“We need to look at where we find people who are facing the most awful forms of discrimination, prejudice and repression in a great many countries and a great many societies around the world,” he said.

Rae, a key figure in the Liberal party’s policy development for the next federal election, described the party’s plans for expanding the homosexual agenda at the federal level. Speaking to the Toronto-area homosexual magazine X-Tra, Rae said he would support a private members’ bill by NDP MP Bill Siksay to add “transsexuals” to the list of groups covered by Canada’s hate crimes legislation.

The Church and Wellesley section of the riding for which Rae is a candidate, sometimes referred to by locals as “boys’ town”, is the location of Canada’s largest and most politically active homosexual community. Toronto Centre has been a safe Liberal party riding since Bill Graham was elected to the seat in 1993. Graham retired last year and the by-election is slated for March 17.

Rae said he “leans” towards raising the age of sexual consent from 14 to 16, but is in favour of lowering the age for consent for sodomy from 18 to 16 and is opposed to the “ban” on sexually active homosexuals donating organs. He also said he and the party support restoring funding to the federal Court Challenges programme that was used extensively by homosexual activists to achieve their goals, such as the re-writing of the federal definition of marriage.

In 1994, as the first NDP Premier of Ontario, Bob Rae angered the homosexual activist community by allowing his MPPs to vote according to their conscience on a bill that would have granted same-sex partners the same legal rights as people in natural marriages.

Rae defended his decision, saying that the public support for the homosexual political goals was not there fifteen years ago. But with the Toronto riding by-election coming up, Rae told the homosexual newspaper X-Tra that he would do things differently today.

“One has to look back 15 years and recognize that public opinion in the province and in all three parties was very, very different than it was to become.”

“We had people who were very opposed to it in the NDP caucus at the time. Obviously in the Liberal party, there were a lot of people who were not prepared to vote for it. There was nobody in the Conservative party who was prepared to vote for it.”


US School Districts Cover Up Teacher Sex Abuse with Confidential Agreements and Payouts

By Hilary White

SALEM, Oregon, February 19, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) – An exposé by the Oregonian daily newspaper shows that US teachers who sexually abuse their students are often given a pass into other teaching jobs as a cost-saving measure.

A search for the phrase “sex abuse cover-up” in the Google internet search engine produces news reports almost exclusively focused on the Catholic Church. But advocates for sex-abuse victims have long known that the problem of persons placed in authority abusing minors is far from being restricted to clergy.

The Oregonian reported yesterday that in some US school districts teachers found to be abusing students are being paid off with letters of recommendation, cash settlements and health insurance in confidential agreements, in return for a quiet immediate resignation. In the agreements, district officials promise not to tell potential employers of the teacher’s past misconduct.

Kenneth John Cushing was a recipient of one of these pacts, and left Claggett Creek Middle School in 2004 after allegedly molesting some of his female students. The Oregonian obtained a copy of the deal in which school officials promised not to reveal Cushing’s behaviour to prospective future employers.

The paper says it has obtained 47 similar confidential settlement agreements between district officials and teachers.

The document said school officials would mention “personal reasons” for Cushing’s resignation and make “no reference to this agreement”. Cushing’s license was eventually revoked in 2005 by the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission.

Another teacher, Stephen John Koller, who left his job at Illinois Valley High School, was found to be living with a 17 year-old student. Three Rivers School District offered Koller $10,000 in severance, six months of health insurance and a letter that said, “He is personally committed to his work and will work extra hours to be successful.”

The paper reports that in the past five years, “nearly half” of Oregon teachers disciplined for sexual misconduct left their schools with such pacts. The practice is well known throughout the country, with officials nicknaming it “passing the trash”.

Out of 767 cases of teacher misconduct over the past ten years 165 cases were sex-related offences, making them the most common.

The Oregonian writes that confidential agreements came into use because of economic pressure, and officials admit that the agreements are the cheapest and fastest way of getting a problem teacher out of a particular school. One of the deterrents to firing teachers who are caught molesting students outright is expensive court battles with the unions. Keeping a teacher on paid leave while the teacher is under investigation can also be costly.

Hillsboro Superintendent Jeremy Lyon told the paper, “The whole world of reference checks has become a legal arena. You are in a precarious place if you say anything positive or negative about a past employee.”

The paper cites several systemic reasons for the problem of teachers abusing students, including enormous backlogs of investigations that can extend up to a year, inconsistent reporting methods, inadequate background checks on potential teachers, and the fact that older teens are not protected under state laws.

But victims’ rights advocates say that such agreements undermine the ability of victims to come to terms with abuse, and perpetuate the problem. The Oregonian quotes Mary Jo McGrath, a school law attorney and sexual abuse expert in Santa Barbara, California, who said, “The secret deals are one of the main things that keep the wheels greased on the machinery that keeps passing around the molesters.”

The secret deal solution may be short lived, however, as victims sue. Similar deals in California were dropped by school boards when the state Supreme Court ruled that districts can be sued for having them. In the 1997 case of a 13-year-old student who was sexually molested by a middle school vice principal in Livingston Union School District, the Court ruled that the girl could sue the three districts who had previously employed the man for fraud and negligent misrepresentation after all three districts had offered him confidential agreements.

In 2004, a report from the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights revealed that teachers are more likely than priests to sexually abuse minors. The report said that previous studies from the early 1980’s to 1991 showed that one in four girls and one in six boys is sexually abused by a teacher by age 18. Another revealed that 17.7 per cent of males who graduated from high school and 82.2 per cent of females reported sexual harassment by faculty or staff during their years in school.

To read the original Oregonian report, see:
https://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/new…;


“Philosopher of Abortion Movement” Says Obama A Better Choice than Hillary

By Peter J. Smith

WASHINGTON, D.C., February 19, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Not all pro-abortion feminists from the heyday of the Sexual Revolution are behind Hillary Clinton as their abortion candidate. Frances Kissling, former president of the abortion advocacy group, Catholics for Free Choice, has instead come out swinging for Barack Obama, whom she believes is the best abortion candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination.

“While I believe in the nitty gritty of a day-to-day legislative agenda, there will be little difference between Clinton and Obama, I am convinced that in the larger struggle to complete the social transformation promised by Roe, Obama’s instincts and values will bring us closer to that transformation,” said Kissling.

Kissling, who has been called the “philosopher of the pro-choice movement” among abortion advocates, said she disagreed with the 10 fellow radical feminists, such as Martha Burk, Cecelia Fire Thunder, Irene Natividad, Ellie Smeal, and Gloria Steinem, who endorsed Sen. Clinton in a recent Huffington Post article.

She agreed that both Clinton and Obama would nominate pro-Roe v. Wade justices, overturn the Mexico City policy, and give back funding to UNFPA, which lost US funds after being exposed for its cooperation in coerced abortions in China. But for Kissling nothing indicates that Obama would be any less of a pro-abortion leader than Clinton.

The main difference between the two candidates, for Kissling, was that Sen. Clinton was not radical enough on the issue of abortion and “had more than once failed the movement.” Kissling criticized Clinton for failing to require abortion coverage in her health care reform plan as First Lady in 1994, and for allowing “any provider, religious or not, to refuse to provide any service they deemed immoral and still participate in the plan and reap the benefits of participation.”

According to Kissling Clinton still has not sufficiently addressed whether her plan for universal government health care would require abortion coverage or whether it “will give religious organizations the right to refuse to provide services they consider ‘immoral’ – emergency contraception, voluntary sterilization, condoms to prevent HIV, and assisted reproduction come to mind.”

Kissling also chastised her radical feminist colleagues for not holding Sen. Clinton to task for not restoring Medicaid funding for abortions, which were banned under the Hyde Amendment signed by her husband, former President Bill Clinton.

“It is no longer about ‘winning, the culture war. It is about completing the social transformation that Roe began but did not solidify,” Kissling concluded. “That task, I believe, will best be accomplished by a president who sees her or his role as calling us to greatness … I think Barack Obama is the person who can do that.”


Briefing on UN activities: February 11-15, 2008

Homosexual groups denied ECOSOC status; more UNFPA, UNICEF, IPPF shenanigans

February 19, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com)

GROUPS PROMOTING THE RIGHTS OF LESBIANS, GAYS, BISEXUALS AND TRANSGENDER INDIVIDUALS DENIED CONSULTATIVE STATUS WITH UN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL

The website pinknews.co.uk reported last week that Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) advocating for the rights of Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) were denied observer status at the United Nations.

The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) NGO committee, which is composed of 19 members, is in charge of reviewing applications from NGOs seeking observer status with the council. Once the ECOSOC NGO committee has made its recommendations, the ECOSOC, comprised of 54 members, can approve or reject the decision. LGBT groups from Spain, the Netherlands and Brazil were denied observer status after a tied vote in the ECOSOC NGO committee. The UK, Israel, the US and 4 others voted in favor of granting the desiring groups status whereas, China, Egypt, Russia and 4 others voted against it. Four other countries either abstained or were not represented at the meeting.

According to pinknews.co.uk, the International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA) expressed in a statement their outrage at the fact that ” The nature of the questions LGBT human rights defenders were asked, repeatedly trying to link homosexuality and pedophilia, simply show how far our stubborn opposition is ready to go”. Many LGBT advocates are also accusing a group of countries of continuously delaying consideration of certain applicants.

In 2006 and 2007, five groups promoting the rights of LGBT were granted consultative status with the ECOSOC including one Canadian group, the Gay and Lesbian Coalition of Quebec (CGLQ).

NEW MATERNAL HEALTH FUND LAUNCHED BY THE UN POPULATION FUND (UNFPA)

On February 14th, the UNFPA announced the creation of a new thematic fund dedicated to maternal health. According to the website oneworld.net, the fund’s aim is to “boost global efforts to reduce the number of women dying in pregnancy and childbirth”. The fifth Millennium Development Goal focuses heavily on maternal health and the reduction of maternal mortality. The fund was established to support 75 countries.

The UNFPA hopes that governments and private enterprise will help raise the targeted $465 million during 2008-2011. It is hoped that the money raised will be used for its intended purpose; to insure that “No woman should die giving life”.

However, a UNFPA issued report about the Maternal Health Fund discuses related issues in the context of sexual and reproductive health, i.e. abortion, contraception, etc. It also mentions different initiatives “for generating political priority at the global level”, and cites as a prime example The Women Deliver conference held in London last October. This event was largely focused on abortion. In the past few months, many UN agencies have been attempting to make child and maternal health undividable. They are also trying to create linkages between maternal health and sexual and reproductive rights, including the right to “safe abortions”. It is hoped that the money raised will be used for its intended purpose; to ensure that “No woman should die giving life”, but it is doubtful considering the UNFPA’s long standing history of giving a high priority to the promotion of family planning and abortion.

UNICEF OFFICIAL UNDER FIRE AFTER CONTROVERSIAL FUNDRAISING INITIATIVE

Ann Veneman, the UN Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) chief, is under scrutiny after a fundraiser was deemed to have infringed on many rules and regulations.

Newsmax.com reported that the public relations firm responsible for the event, KCD International, is under formal investigation by New York State Attorney General. The firm was hired by the Italian fashion House Gucci, which paid for the event that was held on the UN’s North Lawn in New York City. The ‘gala like’ event raised approximately $4 millions for UNICEF and Madonna’s charity, Raising Malawi.

It is apparently not the first time KCD International has used high profile locations to boost the image of their company. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon was so upset with the lack of judgment of UNICEF officials and lack of adhesion to the standard practice that he cancelled his appearance at the event. Newsmax.com reported that the situation is so bad that “there is talk inside UNICEF that Veneman (…) who was appointed in 2005, may not serve her full five-year term”.

UN RELEASES INTERNATIONAL PLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDERATION’S (IPPF) STATEMENT TO THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL (ECOSOC)

International Planned Parenthood Federation, one of the most notorious pro-abortion Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) operating at the UN, released a statement endorsing the theme of the 41st session of the Commission on Population and Development; population distribution, urbanization, internal migration and development. The session is scheduled to take place April 7-11.

According to the IPPF, “Urban growth is predominantly fuelled by natural population increase rather than migration. It is, therefore, incumbent upon policy-makers and governments alike to insure long term investment in sexual and reproductive health, family planning and the empowerment of women and girls.” It appears IPPF, an extremely well funded and influential lobbying group, is attempting, as usual, to manipulate the chosen theme to push their pro-abortion agenda.


LifeSiteNews.com NewsBytes – February 19

* Disclaimer: The linked items below or the websites at which they are located do not necessarily represent the views of LifeSiteNews.com. They are presented only for your information.

Human Rights Watch criticizes Mexico’s Human Rights Commission for opposing abortion
https://www.calcatholic.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?id=bbff97cc…

The Clintons: More Pro-Life Than Pro-Lifers?
https://newsbusters.org/blogs/tim-graham/2008/02/19/tapped

First Amendment Rights Denied in Georgia as Pro-Life Activist is Arrested on Public Sidewalk
https://christiannewswire.com/news/272225722.html

Author: George Soros brains behind McCain-Feingold
https://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&page…

Embryonic Debate – A Reply to William Saletan, liberal bioethics writer, former embryo
https://article.nationalreview.com/?q=Y2IxM2QzNDc4OTJhNmJjODE…

Bobby Schindler Assails “False Compassion” of Intentional Dehydration – Wesley Smith
https://www.wesleyjsmith.com/blog/2008/02/bobby-schindler-ass…

Producer of ‘Demographic Winter’ Responds to ‘The Nation’s’ Polemic
https://www.christiannewswire.com/news/392695729.html

A network of “suicide gurus” who use the internet to advise people how to kill themselves has been exposed.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/02…

Abortion Rebellion is Rooted in Realities Feminists Ignore
https://www.eppc.org/publications/pubID.3278/pub_detail.asp

Once More William Neaves Misleads on Human cloning – Wesley Smith
https://www.wesleyjsmith.com/blog/2008/02/once-more-william-n…

A dramatic withdrawal from the Beijing Games committee gives a lead to those concerned about China’s human rights record.
https://www.mercatornet.com/articles/let_a_hundred_protests_b…

Mr. Bush, said Mr. Geldof, “has done more than any other president so far” to fight disease and poverty in Africa
https://video1.washingtontimes.com/fishwrap/2008/02/bob_geldo…

Pope, Bush to meet at White House in April
https://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2008/0…

Priests becoming too worldly, Vatican prelate says
https://www.cwnews.com/news/viewstory.cfm?recnum=56642

Sudan: The Church is booming as south Sudan recovers from civil war
https://members4.boardhost.com/acnaus/msg/1202857303.html

Catholic Church Training Hundreds of Exorcists to Meet Growing Demand in Australia
https://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,23223768-31…

Pull your children out of public schools, say two family protection leaders
https://www.calcatholic.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?id=bb24793e…

Why Today’s Young Americans Are More Confident, Assertive, Entitled — and More Miserable Than Ever Before.
https://www.newoxfordreview.org/briefly.jsp?did=0208-briefly

John McCain endorses Hillary’s “good character, honesty, integrity”
https://michellemalkin.com/2008/02/18/john-mccain-endorses-hi…

You Say You Want a Revolution – Political worshippers of the new Messiah Obama By Mark Steyn
https://article.nationalreview.com/?q=NGJkMWFmZmIxMDY0M2Q5Nzd…

Why Hillary Will Lose By Dick Morris and Eileen McGann
https://www.townhall.com/columnists/DickMorrisandEileenMcGann…

That’s why Catholics should vote for Sen. Obama?
https://insightscoop.typepad.com/2004/2008/02/thats-why-catho…

Conservatives say they´re most election-ready of all Canadian parties
https://www.thehilltimes.ca/html/index.php?display=story&…

Married for 83 Years
https://www.startribune.com/local/east/15724647.html

ABC’s Cuomo Frets Over ‘Gender Discrimination’ in Private School
https://newsbusters.org/blogs/scott-whitlock/2008/02/18/abcs-…

Baptist Leader Shows Creation and Evolution are Two Irreconcilable Worldviews
https://www.albertmohler.com/blog_read.php?id=1098

Former CIA agent Graham Fuller talks to Kate Fillion about the difference between Muslim and Islamist.
https://www.macleans.ca/article.jsp?content=20080213_34842_34…

Global Warming – Nearly 1,000 people have died in heavy snowstorms and severe cold during the harshest winter to hit Afghanistan in 30 years
https://www.terradaily.com/reports/Almost_1000_dead_from_cold…

Global Warming – Heavy snow brings Greece to standstill
https://www.ana.gr/anaweb/user/showplain?maindoc=6157497&…

When Ideology Corrupts Science and Medicine
https://catholiceducation.org/articles/medical_ethics/me0115….

British Health System Meltdown: Dentistry in Disarray – Wesley Smith
https://www.wesleyjsmith.com/blog/2008/02/nhs-meltdown-dentis…

UN Cracks Down on Human Trafficking
https://www.citizenlink.org/fnif/A000006549.cfm

New Jersey Government Report on civil unions says it is discriminatory and gay ‘marriage’ is now needed
https://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newjersey/ny-bc-nj–g…

San Francisco public agencies asked not to fund yearly homosexual festival because of its public nudity and sex acts
https://www.calcatholic.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?id=50f7afc4…

Hundreds of licensed counselors in American Counseling Association Urged to Reconsider Homosexuality Statement
https://www.citizenlink.org/CLNews/A000006587.cfm

Both Massachusetts pro-homosexual Planned Parenthood bill AND Parents’ Rights bills sent to “study” – effectively killing them.
https://www.massresistance.org/docs/gen/08a/PR_bill_news.html

What did Limbaugh, Hannity, Ingraham and Coulter been hide about Romney? And why?
https://www.undergroundjournal.net/igroops/theunderground/adm…


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