NEWS SHORTS FOR THURSDAY
Disclaimer: The linked items below or the websites at which they are located do not necessarily represent the views of The Illinois Federation for Right to Life. They are presented only for your information.
Abortions cannot be reduced without overturning Roe v. Wade, bishops say
In a response to groups claiming that pro-life organizations should find ways to reduce abortions through government programs rather than trying to overturn Roe v. Wade, two prominent U.S. bishops have released a statement saying that Catholics must find ways to support pregnant woman as well as strive to overturn the 1973 Supreme Court decision.
In a statement released on Monday, Cardinal Justin Rigali, the chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities, and Bishop William Murphy, the chairman of the bishops' Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, began by explaining the decision to legalize abortion and the bishop’s immediate opposition to it.
http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=14131
200,000 Silent Pro-Life Students Lend Voice to Unborn
At least 32 women and teenage girls have decided against abortion after speaking to students involved in a pro-life protest on Tuesday. Oct. 21 marked the 5th annual Pro-Life Day of Silent Solidarity. Students engaging the silent protest wore red duct tape reading "LIFE" over their mouths or red armbands as a way to lend their voices to the thousands of unborn babies who will never have one. They had the choice of breaking their silence to converse with a student inquiring about the event or to hand out a flyer.
http://christianpost.com/article/20081023/200-000-silent-pro-life-students-lend-voice-to-unborn.htm
Hospital Clarifies Abortion Memo
Sanford Health agreed Wednesday to circulate a letter to doctors outlining the position of backers of an abortion ban that will appear on South Dakota's Nov. 4 ballot. The letter questions the position of Sanford lawyers, who said in an earlier memo that the new law could have "substantial legal implications." Officials with VoteYesFor Life.com said their legal team met Tuesday with Sanford administrators to discuss the memo. At a news conference Wednesday, supporters of the ban said Sanford Health officials think the new law would be consistent with the practices and values of their physicians.
http://www.argusleader.com/article/20081023/NEWS/810230301/1001/rss01
British Parliament Backs Animal-Human Embryo Research
Britain's lower house of parliament approved legislation Wednesday allowing scientists to create animal-human embryos for medical research, in the biggest shake-up of embryology laws in two decades. Despite opposition from religious and pro-life groups, MPs in the House of Commons backed the human embryology and fertilisation bill by 355 votes to 129. It will now go to a vote in the House of Lords, and could be law by November. The wide-ranging bill, which has been debated for months, would also allow "saviour siblings" -- children created as a close genetic match for a sick brother or sister so their genetic material can help treat them.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20081022/hl_afp/britainpoliticssciencereligion_081022221422
