Mexican Bishops have warned that the culture of death is making inroads into Mexico. In a Lenten message, the Catholic Bishops of Veracruz denounced “murders, abortion, euthanasia, suicide,” noting also that the “massive imposition of sterilization of women in various sectors; and massive distribution of contraceptives … profoundly offend human dignity.” (Zenit News March 13, 2001)
Statistics Canada reports today that Canada recorded its lowest-ever number of stillbirths with a gestational age of 28 weeks or more, known as late fetal deaths, in 1998. Medical officials reported 1,079 stillbirths at 28 weeks or more in 1998, down 8.1% from 1997. Since 1990, the number of late fetal deaths has fallen 30.8%. There were 3.1 stillbirths at 28 weeks or more for every 1,000 total births (live births plus stillbirths) in 1998, compared with 3.4 in 1997 and 3.8 in 1990.