International Protect Life Award recognizes Chile's achievements in reduction of maternal mortality and protection of the unborn

The prestigious International Protect Life award for 2011 was awarded to Chile for the excellent work it has done in reducing maternal mortality levels whilst at the same time ensuring the right to life of unborn babies is protected. The award was presented to the Chilean Ambassador at their UN mission in New York

Daniel Ziedler, the committee's coordinator, said that Ambassador Octavio Errazuriz was extremely pleased at the award. The ambassador repeated Chile's committment to the protection of both mothers and unborn children.

European Life Network ELN was among a group of over 30 NGO's active at the United Nations which praised Chile for having the lowest maternal mortality rate in all of Latin America.  In a communication to President Piñera announcing the group’s decision to designate its International Protect Life Award to the people of Chile, the leaders celebrated the fact that more Chilean women have safely delivered their babies than ever before.

Photograph shows some of the NGO representatives with the Chilean Ambassador to the UN in New York.

An example of how the right to life of the unborn is cherished in Chile is depicted in various video's such as can be seen on the following link Viva Chile

The committee announced the award on Friday Feb 25 at the UN during the meeting of the UN Commission on the Status of Women, and emphasized the importance the UN places on reducing maternal mortality within the UN Millennium Development Goals.

The leaders also referenced the ways Chile through its constitution and other programs provided for care and protection of the child before birth.  Specifically mentioned was that the “Chile Crece Contigo” (“Chile Grows with You”) program begun by former Chilean president Michelle Bachelet and meant to advocate for the well-being and protection of young children, has always included strong awareness that the unborn child is a member of the family. Also mentioned by the NGO leaders was the new “Comprometidos por la Vida” (“Committed to Life”) program announced by President Piñera to offer assistance to pregnant women in difficult circumstances in order to carry their babies to term.

“Improving women’s health and respecting human life are key elements for all countries who wish to achieve real development,” according to Julia Cardenal of El Salvador, one of the signers of the letter to President Piñera.

Ireland final list of pro life candidates

 This is the most recent list of pro-life candidates based on names published on various websites.
We are conscious that there are more pro-lifers in the main parties whose names have not been included and we therefore recommend that before voting you check out your candidates views on the issue

CHRISTIAN SOLIDARITY  Pro Life Pro Family
Cork North Central : Harry Rea
Meath West : Manus Mac Meanmain
Dublin Central : Paul O'Loughlin
Dublin South : Jane Murphy
Dun Laoghaire : Daire FitzGerald
Limerick City : Conor O'Donoghue
Dublin South-Central : Colm Callanan
Dublin North West : Micheal Larkin

INDEPENDENTS  PRO LIFE & PRO FAMILY
Waterford : Declan Waters
Mayo : Martin Daly
Kerry : Mary Fitzgibbons
Dublin North Central : Paul Clarke
Dublin South : Gerard P. Dolan
Dun Laoghaire : Mark Coleman
Wicklow : Charlie Keddy
Donegal South West : Stephen McCahill
Donegal South West : Ann Sweeney
Dublin Central : Thomas Hollywood

 Micheal Healy-Rae Independent, Kerry South
Richard Behal  Independent Kerry South
 John McGuirk, Independent, Cavan Monaghan
 Gabriel McSharry, Independent, Sligo/North Leitrim
 Gerard P. Dolan, Independent, Dublin South
Kevin 'Boxer 'Moran, Longford/Westmeath, Independent,
 Christy Burke, Independent, Dublin Central
James Breen, Independent - Clare
Dave McInerney, Independent, Cork South West,
 Billy Clancy, Independent, Tipperary North
 Michael O'Sullivan, Independent, Cork South West
Thomas Clare, Independent, Louth
 John Bracken, Independent, Laois Offaly
Ryan Stewart, Independent, Donegal North East
Michael Kilcoyne, Independent, Mayo,

SOME PARTY MEMBERS 
Peter Burke, FG, Longford/Westmeath
James Bannon, FG, Longford/Westmeath
Rose Conway Walsh, Sinn Féin, Mayo
Peter Mathews, FG, Dublin South
Dara Calleary, FF, Mayo
Simon Coveney, FG, Cork South Central in correspondence
Seán Barrett TD, Fine Gael, Dun Laoghaire
Pat O'Driscoll, Fine Gael, Cork East
Darragh O'Brien, Fianna Fail, Dublin North
Micheal Mulcahy, Fianna Fáil, Dublin South Central
Mary Fitzpatrick, Fianna Fáil, Dublin Central
Mary Hannafin Dun Laoghaire Rathdown
Thomas Byrne, Fianna Fail, Meath East
Peter Kelly, Fianna Fail, Longford Westmeath
Noel Harrington, FG, Cork South West in correspondence with constituent
Hildegarde Naughton, Fine Gael, Galway West
Lucinda Creighton, FG, Dublin South East in correspondance with constituent
Michael Kennedy, Fianna Fáil, Dublin North
 Seán Haughey, Fianna Fail, Dublin North Central
 Cáit Keane, Fine Gael, Dublin South West.
Kieran O'Donnell, Fine Gael, Limerick City.  
William (Bill) O Donnell Limerick
Tom McHugh, FG, Galway East.
Billy Timmins, FG, Wicklow.
JP Phelan, FG, Carlow/Kilkenny
Marcella Corcoran Kennedy, FG, Laois/Offaly
 Sean Fleming, FF, Laois/Offaly

The LABOUR position is quite clear in that it WILL LEGISLATE for abortion

"In relation to Abortion our position is that Labour in Government will legislate in accordance with the Supreme Court judgement in the X case, arising from the Irish peoples decisions in a number of Constitutional Referenda. We do not support the introduction of Abortion on demand. Legislating in accordance with the X Case is now an obligation on any incoming Government, no matter which parties make it up, as a consequence of the recent decision of the European Court of Human Rights. Labour will also legislate to regulate stem cell research, with regard to the recommendations of the Irish Council for Bioethics." Eamon Gilmore, Labour Party, Dun Laoghaire

Irish Bishops speak out on the Common Good

The Irish this week Bishops’ Council for Justice and Peace released a document, “From Crisis to Hope: Working to Achieve the Common Good.”

Dublin Auxiliary Bishop Raymond Field, the Council’s chairman, said the document is “not simply a pre-election statement,” although it is relevant.

“A core aim of the publication is to set out some of the values that should inform the choices we make at this critical time,” he stated. 

Speaking at the launch of the document, the bishop stressed in particular the principle of human dignity. “As Christians,” he affirmed,

“our commitment to human rights stems from our belief in the dignity of each and every human being, made in the image and likeness of God, from the moment of conception until the natural end of their life.” 

Thus, the prelate outlined some implications of the Christian obligation to defend human dignity, including primarily the need to protect human life from conception until its natural end. The defence of human dignity, said the bishop, also implies “strengthening and protecting family life,” since “families are the cornerstone of strong communities".

What must voters reject

The Catholic Voice newspaper carries an excellent ‘Voter’s Guide for Serious Catholics’ in its current issue (No. 50, 20 February – 5 March 2011).  Part of the Guide consists of a list of ‘Five Non-Negotiables’ in relation to next Friday’s General Election.  
   

The five non-negotiables are: Abortion; Euthanasia; Embryonic Stem Cell Research; Human Cloning; Homosexual ‘Marriage’.

A Catholic may not vote for a candidate, or a party, that supports any of the above. 

The Guide tells us that Catholics have a moral obligation to promote the common good through the exercise of their voting privileges, but voting must not be arbitrary.  ‘A well-formed Christian conscience does not permit one to vote for a political program or an individual law that contradicts the fundamental contents of faith and morals.’

Ireland United for Life new press release

NEW & POSITIVE STATMENTS FROM FIANNA FAIL & FINE GAEL

Says Ireland United for Life group


On behalf of Ireland United for Life, Kathy Sinnott and Dana Rosemary Scallon have welcomed new and positive statements from both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael stating that they oppose abortion.

Following Ireland United for Life’s challenge, to all political party leaders, on Friday past, to give a binding “election pledge” to defend human life at all stages, from conception to natural death, Fianna Fáil gave a clear response that only the people would decide and stated yesterday:

“We will uphold the right of the Irish people, and the Irish people alone, to decide on Ireland’s abortion laws. We will oppose moves to legalise abortion in Ireland”. Furthermore Fianna Fail went on to say that they, “also confirm we are opposed to research on embryos and will not support moves to legalise this in Ireland”. (Fianna Fáil Headquarters)

Fine Gael also issued a pro-life statement saying;

 “Fine Gael is opposed to the legalisation of abortion” saying they  “will establish an all party Oireachtas Committee, with access to medical and legal expertise, to consider the implications to the recent ruling of the European Court of Human Rights and to make recommendations.”
Fine Gael goes on to state; “Fine Gael’s representatives will bring to the proposed all-party committee a clear commitment that women in pregnancy will receive whatever treatments are necessary to safeguard their lives, and that the duty of care to preserve the life of the baby will also be upheld.
Fine Gael is opposed to research conducted on human embryos, and favours alternative stem cell research that does not involve human embryos such as adult stem cell and umbilical cord research.”

 Many candidates around the country are individually signing up to the Ireland United for Life  “election pledge” and it is clear that this election is not only about economic issues. 

Voters need to understand that providing legitimate medical treatments for conditions arising during pregnancy is an entirely separate thing than allowing for induced abortion. The IFPA and the European Court want to force us to call these therapies "lawful abortions" when there is no such thing.
In the interest of clarity for the voters, Fine Gael should confirm that in the event of a coalition partner or their Committee initiative recommending the legalising abortion, then that recommendation would be rejected by Fine Gael and the matter would then be put to the people, so that the people alone can decide on Ireland’s abortion laws.

Irish General Election Candidates

Following the major intervention by pro-life organisations last week Fine Gael and Fianna Fail have both clarified their positions on the right to life of the unborn but some crucial questions still remain unanswered.  Whilst there are many pro-life candidates in the main parties clearly some are pro-abortion and it is therefore desirable that all candidates should be asked where they stand on this vital issue even if their leaders say the party will adopt a pro-life stance.

The Labour party has maintained its pro-abortion stance and has lost considerable support

Apart from the political parties there are a number of pro-life candidates in various constituencies mostly independents but there is also a group of 8 candidates standing for the Christian Solidarity Party

We asked readers recently to let us know which candidates in their area are pro life, we have set out a list below of those names we have received to date. We will carry out a final review of the list immediately prior to the election in case there are others who should be included

Cork South

Dave McInerney (IND)

Gerard P Dolan (IND)

Dublin North Central

Raymond Whitehead (IND)

Paul Clarke (IND)

Dublin South Central:

Gerry Kelly (IND)

Kerry/ North West

Michael Reidy (IND)

Kerry South

Richard Behal (IND)

Kerry

Mary Fitzgibbon (IND)

Limerick

Con Cremin (IND)

Mayo

Martin Daly (IND)

Waterford

Declan Waters Independent Pro-Life Christian Democrat

Wicklow

Jim Feely (IND)

Charlie Keddy  (IND)

The following are Christian Solidarity candidates

Dublin Central

Paul O’Loughlin

087 9130869

Dublin Northwest

Michael Larkin

Cork North Central

Harry Rea

Dublin South

Jane Murphy

Dublin South Central

Colm Callanan

Dún Laoghaire

Daire Fitzgerald

Limerick City

Conor O’Donoghue

087 2815267

Meath West

Manus Mac Meanmain

087 1605912

Lack of clarity in the position of some Irish political parties on protecting the right to life of the unborn

In a week that saw the publication of an opinion poll that recorded 68% support for the right to life of the unborn and the coming together of the various strands of the pro-life movement on an all Ireland basis the political parties were once again under pressure to clarify their positions on the right to life of the unborn.   

The Labour party at the outset of this campaign made abortion an election issue and the response of the pro-life movement was strong and unequivocal forcing Fine Gael the party expected to lead the next government to further elaborate their position on abortion which they set out as follows

Fine Gael is opposed to the legalisation of abortion.

Fine Gael will establish an all-party Oireachtas Committee, with access to medical and legal expertise, to consider the implications to the recent ruling of the European Court of Human Rights and to make recommendations. Such a process would, we believe, be the best way of examining the issues in a way that respects the range of sincerely-held views on this matter.

Fine Gael’s representatives will bring to the proposed all-party committee a clear commitment that women in pregnancy will receive whatever treatments are necessary to safeguard their lives, and that the duty of care to preserve the life of the baby will also be upheld.

Fine Gael is opposed to research conducted on human embryos, and favours alternative stem cell research that does not involve human embryos such as adult stem cell and umbilical cord research.

Fine Gael Campaign 2011

 Picture shows Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny

The Fine Gael response has actually improved since their earlier statement however, some serious concerns still remain. There appears to be confusion in their statements between abortion and legitimate medical treatment. It is also easy to say that one is against legalisation of abortion  - that is not the same thing as a commitment that Fine Gael in Government will not legislate for abortion. In addition if Fine Gael is genuinely opposed to the introduction of abortion the question must be asked why do they need an all-party committee? Politicians choose their words very carefully and there is as yet no firm commitment that they will not legislate for the introduction of abortion should the proposed all party committee make such a recommendation.

Neither have Fine Gael said what their position will be in the event that they do not have an overall majority and enter into a coalition with the pro abortion Labour Party

We particularly welcome FG's opposition to embryonic stem cell research.

We must point out however that Fine Gael's record on the life issue is very mixed. Micheal Noonan introduced abortion referral. Several high-profile Fine Gael members have very publicly supported the legalisation of abortion in Ireland and Fine Gael MEPs have previously voted to use Irish taxpayers monies to fund embryonic stem cell research.

We urgently need honest unambiguous replies from Fine Gael and the other party leaders that in Government they will protect unborn life absolutely beginning from the moment of fertilization until natural death.

The most satisfactory way in which all party leaders could demonstrate their commitment to unborn vulnerable life would be to sign the ELECTION PLEDGE prepared by Ireland United for Life

Ireland United for Life seek Electoral Pledge from leaders of all main political parties

We reported on Friday (Feb 18th) on a press conference called by Ireland United for Life fronted by two former MEP's Dana rosemary Scallon and Kathy Sinnott which called for clear statements from all party leaders that in government they will protect unborn life. The new all Ireland umbrella group for the pro-life movement in Ireland is seeking an electoral pledge from the leaders of all the main parties in the upcoming election as follows

ELECTORAL PLEDGE

IRELAND UNITED FOR LIFE, an all–island alliance of over 30 cross community groups, calls on all Party Leaders and candidates, in the forthcoming General Election, to give an electoral pledge to defend human life at all stages, from conception until natural death and that if elected - :

Ø  They will not dismantle Ireland’s Constitution and will maintain the people’s sovereign and democratic right, in final appeal, to decide all questions of national policy according to the requirements of the common good. [1]

Ø  They will respect and uphold the Constitutional right of the Irish people to decide on Ireland’s unique pro-life status. [2]

Ø  They will not legislate for abortion and will absolutely oppose any attempt by unelected judges from the European Court of Human Rights, (ECHR) to usurp the Constitutional right of the Irish people to decide on abortion.[3]

---

[1] Constitutional of Ireland Article 6.1. 

[2] A recent Millward-Brown Lansdowne poll found that the majority of people are in favour of ‘constitutional protection for the unborn that prohibits abortion but allows the continuation of the existing practice of intervention to save a mother’s life in accordance with Irish medical ethics’. 

[3] Irish Attorney General Paul Gallagher, when addressing the ECHR regarding the ABC v Ireland case, asserted that Irish laws - which have forbidden abortion in almost every case for a century and a half - were based on "profound moral values deeply embedded in Irish society" and that anti-abortion legislation had been ‘endorsed in three separate referendums’.

IRELAND UNITED FOR LIFE urges all voters to vote only for candidates and parties who support this pledge.

Major Pro Life Initiative Challenges all of Ireland's Political Leaders

As a direct result of the grave new threats to unborn  babies in Ireland in the wake of the recent European Court decision on the A,B and C case, an all Ireland group over thirty pro-life organisations came together with former MEP's Kathy Sinnott and Dana Rosemary Scallon to proclaim and defend the absolute right to life of the unborn. The group challenged Eamonn Gilmore's and the Labour party support for abortion and demanded that all the main party leaders sign a pledge that they will in Government uphold the right to life from conception to natural death. They also demanded that the existing Irish Constitution be protected, despite the fact that Labour and some of the other parties wish to write a new constitution. The new umbrella group Ireland United for life issued the following press release.

pictured at the press reception (from left Patrick Buckley ELN, Bernie Smith Precious Life, Kathy Sinnott, Dana Rosemary Scallon, Liam Gibsonn SPUC Northern Ireland

 Ireland United for Life, an alliance of over thirty cross community groups together with Dana Rosemary Scallon and Kathy Sinnott,  is calling on the political parties to clarify their respective positions on legislation for abortion arising from the recent judgment of the European Court of Human Rights. The Constitutional right of the Irish people to decide on Ireland’s unique pro-life status must not be usurped by the opinion of unelected judges from the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), who neither respect nor represent the consistently-stated views of the Irish people with regard to abortion.[1]

No Irish political party has the right to legislate for abortion.[2]

Eamon Gilmore T.D. has made abortion a vital election issue, by stating that the Labour Party, if it forms part of the next government, will push for legislation to introduce abortion.[3]

Fine Gael does not want to make this subject an election issue and is evading the question but has stated that they will, “establish an all party committee to consider the implications of the ECHR ruling, to make recommendations respecting the range of sincerely held  views on the matter”. The electorate needs to know whether Fine Gael will move to introduce legislation for abortion, or concede to a coalition partner that is pushing for legislation facilitating it.

To date, Fianna Fáil, the Green Party and Sinn Féin have said little on the issue. The people have a right to know whether a political party intends to legislate for abortion. No party leader should hide behind consensus or all-party committees.

The majority of voters in Ireland are pro-life and in light of the urgent need for clarification on this crucial election issue, Ireland United for Life would like to state the following:

·       Ireland without abortion is one of the safest countries in the world for pregnant women. ^[4]

·       Ireland already makes provisions for medical interventions to save the life of a mother that sometimes, unfortunately, can result in the death of a preborn child.

·       Although we support medical intervention to save the life of the mother, the direct and intentional killing of the unborn is never medically or morally justified.

·       Every human life is worthy of protection, that protection starting at fertilization[5] and ending in natural death. We oppose all attacks on innocent human life, whether through abortion, euthanasia or on the pre-implanted embryo.

·       The imposition of legislation on abortion would exclude the Constitutional right of the Irish people to have their rightful say, undoubtedly would undermine the integrity of our Irish democratic process and would reduce further public confidence in our political system.

·       The leaders of the four main parties in Northern Ireland (Sinn Féin, UUP, SDLP, DUP) signed a document opposing the imposition of legislation on abortion in the North. [6]  Following this example, we call on the leaders of all political parties contesting the upcoming General Election in the Republic of Ireland to publicly pledge that they will not legislate for abortion and will support laws that protect the human embryo.

To conclude, we can and will only vote for parties and individual candidates who publicly pledge commitment to defend human life at all stages and we urge all concerned voters to do likewise.

---

[1] Irish Attorney General Paul Gallagher, when addressing the ECHR regarding the ABC v Ireland case, asserted that Irish laws - which have forbidden abortion in almost every case for a century and a half - were based on "profound moral values deeply embedded in Irish society" and that anti-abortion legislation had been ‘endorsed in three separate referendums’. 

[2] Sixty-eight percent of Irish people support Constitutional protection for the unborn child: Millward Brown Lansdowne Poll.

[3] Irish Times reference to RTE, 4^th January 2011.

[4] Maternal Mortality Report: WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA and the World Bank (2007, 2010).

[5] Also referred to as conception or fusion.

[6] Letter to all members of the House of Commons, May 2008.  Signed by Gerry Adams MP MLA, Sinn Féin; Sir Reg Empey MLA, Ulster Unionist Party; Mark Durkin MP MLA; SDLP; Rt Hon Dr. Ian Paisley MP MLA, Democratic Unionist Party

Abortionists Targeting Black Community in the US

Christian Newswire report that the US National Black Pro-Life Coalition have issued the following statement.

The recent indictment and arrest of Pennsylvania abortionist Kermit Gosnell shocked many in the black community. In a raid of his facilities police found jars containing the remains of pre-born babies dating back 30 years along with squalid and unsafe conditions. The National Black Prolife Coalition is outraged as more and more abortionists are being exposed for similar unsafe and abusive practices.

Charges against abortionists such as Nicola Riley, Andrew Rutland and James Pendergraft include frightening women into agreeing to unnecessary hysterectomies, botching surgeries, lying to patients, falsifying medical records, over-prescribing painkillers and having sex with patients. One of these abortionists perforated the uterus and pulled out part of a woman's intestine. Another heads a secret "Fetal Lethal Injection Center" in the Washington, D. C. metro area where late-term abortions are partially completed.

All of these abortionists set up shop in urban areas where blacks reside targeting black women. Stephen Broden of The Fair Park Bible Fellowship in Dallas Texas calls for new measures of accountability from black leaders. "Leaders such as Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, the NAACP, Urban League, and The Congressional Black Caucus have capitulated to the abortion industry for their personal gain. By their silence or outright support of abortion they encourage these butchers in their targeting of our women and babies for profit."

"If silence is indeed consent the Congressional Black Caucus and the NAACP have not only consented to Planned Parenthood and the abortion industry's murder of black babies, but are complicit in the horrific reality of genocide of their own people," said Walter Hoye of Issues4Life Foundation.

Will Ford of Ex Ministries agreed. "The Congressional Black Caucus has a 100% voting record in favor of taxpayer funding of Planned Parenthood. This is a travesty in light of Planned Parenthood's targeting of the black community since its inception as a means of population control."

"These national black organizations are in partnership with Planned Parenthood, an organization that is not genuinely concerned about the betterment of the black community," said Arnold Culbreath of Protecting Black Life. "The atrocities uncovered in the Kermit Gosnell case, as detailed in District Attorney R. Seth Williams' report, highlight very dark abortion-related realities in the black community. It is time for national outrage and dialog about abortion, the leading cause of death in the African American community."

More on so called morning after Pill

In my blog for 11 October 2010 I brought to your attention a very good article written by Dr. Ruairi Hanley in the Irish Medical Times.    It’s worth re-reading that article, particularly in the light of a more recent article written by Dr. Hanley in the same journal.   What a pity that in the meantime the good doctor appears to have lost his way somewhat!   This time, writing about the decision of Boots, the chemists, to sell the ‘morning-after’ pill over the counter – in other words, freely and without a doctor’s prescription – Dr. Hanley says:

‘The news that Boots is now dispensing the “morning-after” pill (MAP) without prescription has not gone down well with those in authority in our profession.  The IMO [Irish Medical Organisation] and the ICGP [Irish College of General Practitioners] wasted little time in dispatching various spokespeople to criticise the move on national radio.

‘As always, it would appear that I find myself on a different side of the argument to our leaders.  The MAP is a highly effective medication that prevents unplanned pregnancy.  In my opinion, it does not require a medical degree to prescribe it to an anxious patient.

‘Unlike paracetamol, which can be purchased in petrol stations, emergency contraception cannot possibly be used to commit suicide by overdose.

‘That, I believe, somewhat undermines the “patient safety” argument so beloved of opponents of this reform.

‘Other doctors tend to argue that Boots employees are unqualified to offer counselling on possible STIs when dispensing the pill.  This completely ignores the fact that the pharmacist will highlight this issue at the time of handing over the MAP and will advise the patient to follow up with their GP, should they have any concerns in this regard.  The same principle also applies to future contraceptive needs.

‘The truth is that this is exactly what most doctors do when prescribing emergency contraception in an out-of-hours service.  The patient is given the MAP, a consent form to sign and is told to follow up with their GP re STI risk and to discuss longer-term contraception with them. …

‘The MAP has been dispensed for 10 years in UK pharmacies without prescription and there has not been an associated dramatic rise in STI infection or other problems for women. …’

He also suggests that the reason for the criticism of Boots on the part of the IMC and the ICGP is the fact that their members could suffer financially if the MAP were to be made more freely ‘available’ in pharmacies.   He refers, too, to ‘that significant minority of their members who, for personal ethical reasons, refuse to prescribe the morning-after pill.’   He also acknowledges ‘the right of doctors to practise medicine according to their conscience …’

However, would someone please tell Dr. Hanley that the ‘morning-after’ pill can act as an abortifacient – killing the newly conceived human being by preventing him or her from implanting in their mother’s womb?   ‘Patient safety’ concerns two patients – not just one patient.   The second patient is likely to be exterminated by the so-called ‘morning-after’ pill.

Ireland's Universal Periodic Review

The Universal Periodic Review, or UPR, is another United Nations quango that must be obeyed.   It is a ‘human rights monitoring system’ that obliges every UN member state to submit a periodic review on the situation with regard to human rights in its particular country.    Each national government must conduct a ‘national consultation exercise’ around the UPR    In other words, the government must give the impression that all the people are being informed about the process, and the people are then asked to submit their views, recommendations, etc.   In practice, the government usually has its own report drawn up, with the able assistance of powerful lobby groups and NGOs (non-governmental organisations).   ‘The result of the UPR examination will be a list of recommendations made by other countries on how to improve the human rights situation in Ireland.’  Really?

A series of advertisements is being broadcast on Irish Radio at the moment, with the intention of drawing attention to the existence of the UPR.    One of these advertisements consists of a woman telling us that she is a Traveller (formerly known as tinkers), and that she is conscious that her human rights as such should be recognised.   Another one portrays a person with a disability – wishing to have the human rights of people with disabilities recognised; while in a third advertisement we hear about how the human rights of a person of no faith should be catered for – the person complains that as the majority of schools in Ireland are ‘faith-based’ no provision is made for children whose parents have no faith - the impression being given is that their human rights are thus being violated.

So, there you have it!

The Irish Council for Civil Liberties (no friend of the unborn child) ‘is working with other civil society organisations in a cross-sectional steering group to ensure that the collective voice of civil society is heard during Ireland’s UPR.’    Some of the ‘civil society organisations’ include Amnesty (pro-abortion), Children’s Rights Alliance (no friend of children), the Union of Students in Ireland (well known for their pro-abortion stance), Transgender Equality, etc., etc.

Now is the time for you to send in your submission – before 21 March 2011 – on what you think needs to be done in the area of human rights in Ireland.   For instance, reverse legislation that undermines the family, attacks on human life – including unborn life – etc.  

Contact the Irish Human Rights Commission, Fourth Floor, Jervis House, Jervis Street, Dublin 1, for further information.      Or email upr@ihrc.ie.    The website is: www.ihrc.ie.      Don’t be fobbed off to the Irish Council for Civil Liberties.

Victory in so called "bedroom abortions" case

The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children have issued the following statement on today's High Court judgement in the so called "bedroom abortion" case

Pro-lifers have hailed today's high court judgment on bedroom abortions as a victory for women. The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC) intervened in the case, and evidence submitted by SPUC played a prominent part in Mr Justice Supperstone's judgment.

 The British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS), one of the UK's largest abortion providers and promoters, had asked the court to reinterpret the Abortion Act 1967 to allow women to take misoprostol, used in conjunction with the chemical abortion drug RU486, at home rather than in hospital.

Commenting on the verdict, Katherine Hampton, an SPUC spokeswoman, said: “Today's judgment is a victory for women. If BPAS had won this case, it would send out the false signal that there is a ‘safe’ route to abortion. That could lead to more abortions, and more dead babies and more suffering for women. It would also have led to further restrictions on conscientious objection to abortion by doctors and nurses.

"The significance of this case is important internationally too, as chemical abortions are widely promoted in poorer countries, and any move to widen the practice here may adversely affect unborn babies and women around the world.

"We will continue to fight any similar moves to trivialise abortion", concluded Mrs Hampton.

Some facts about RU486 and misoprostol:

- The woman is directly involved in the abortion by having to take the pills herself.

- The nature of the drug means that the woman must live with her abortion over the course of a number of days. The president of Roussel Uclaf, the original makers of RU486, said “The woman must live with this for a full week. This is an appalling psychological ordeal”. (Edouard Sakiz, chairman, Roussel-Uclaf, August 1990)

- The woman may abort at home and suffer the distress of seeing the expelled embryo/foetus, which she is required to keep and return to the hospital or clinic to help determine if the abortion is complete. If BPAS's challenge had been successful, women taking misoprostol would go into labour at home.  This can be very distressing as labour, usually associated with child-birth, now becomes associated with the delivery of a dead child.

- Use of RU486/misoprostol may cause any of the following: haemorrhage requiring blood transfusion, severe pain requiring strong pain killers, incomplete abortion, rupture of the uterus, vaginal bleeding, abdominal cramping, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, headache, muscle weakness, dizziness, flushing, chills, backache, difficulty in breathing, chest pain, palpitations, rise in temperature and fall in blood pressure. The number and diverse nature of the side effects of RU486/misoprostol point to the fact that these are powerful chemicals.

For whom can we vote?

An interesting piece by David Quinn appeared in the Irish Independent newspaper recently.   Quinn writes that as he was on his way in to Mass he saw the local Fine Gael and Labour candidates, as is their wont, canvassing outside the church.  He continues:

‘The presence of the Labour candidate struck me as odd, to put it mildly.  Labour party policy is pro-abortion.  Therefore, on a very important issue Labour is utterly at variance with the beliefs of the vast majority of serious-minded practising Catholics….

‘I’ve been amazed in the last few weeks at the number of practising Catholics I’ve come across who are considering voting for Labour.  Given that Labour is pro-abortion, how do they justify this? …

‘It turns out a lot of them haven’t the first clue about Labour’s position on abortion.  Amazing, but true.  They don’t know, for example that Labour wants to legislate for the X case ruling of 1992.

‘That ruling allows for abortion, and furthermore, it permits abortion simply on the say-so of a medical practitioner – it doesn’t have to be a doctor or psychiatrist – who is willing to say that his or her patient is suicidal.

‘In addition, Eamon Gilmore favours abortion where the “health” of the mother is in danger.  In practice, this would replicate in Ireland the British abortion law.  In Britain, abortion is permitted where a woman’s life or health is at risk.  Health includes mental health.  In practice, this translates into abortion-on-demand.

‘Gilmore favours this policy despite the fact that Ireland is the safest place in the world for a woman to have a baby, according to World Health Organisation figures.

‘And from a Catholic and Christian point of view, it is not only Labour’s stance on abortion that is problematic.  It favours same-sex marriage and same-sex adoption. …

‘Some Catholics I’ve come across seem to think Labour doesn’t really mean it.  Sorry, it does.  If it gets a chance – and that will be up to FG – we will have abortion in this country. …

‘At a minimum, neither Fine Gael nor Fianna Fail is setting out to do harm to the poor and the sick, whereas Labour’s policy on abortion would do very deliberate harm to the unborn.  That is not a prudential judgement.  That is a fact.’

A Catholic may not, in conscience, vote for an anti-life or an anti-family candidate, so David Quinn’s warning is a timely one. 

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if our Bishops were to speak out in a similar manner – there is very little time left for them to do so.   However, if a number of people were to contact them, Cardinal Brady in particular, there might be a public statement to the effect that no Catholic may vote for a Labour Party candidate, nor for a Green Party candidate either.  With regard to Fine Gael – a public commitment to oppose any proposals for the legalising of abortion, or same-sex ‘marriage’, would help.   The leader of Fianna Fáil, as Minister for Health, has a history of promoting and facilitating the destruction of human embryos.

For whom, then, can you vote?     The Christian Solidarity Party (CSP) is running candidates in eight constituencies and there are a number of other pro-life/ pro-family candidates some members of other parties and some are independents. we are currently preparing a list and will publish it shortly

Chinese blind activist lawyer Chen Guangcheng still under persecution

According to a report from China Aid, Chen Guangcheng the blind activist Lawyer jailed after revealing human rights abuses under China's one-child policy, freed last year after a four-year prison term is under house arrest and still suffering ongoing persecution.

We reported in February 2009 and Sept 2010 on the case of Chen who had been imprisoned on spurious grounds for exposing thousands of atrocities which included forced abortions and sterilizations in the Shandong province under the infamous Chinese One Child Policy.

At the time of our 2009 report, Chen had been denied early release on medical grounds and in addition had been denied visits from his wife. It was also reported that he had been subjected to severe beatings whilst in gaol. Chen at that time had been ill for a number of months but pleas for early release so that he could access appropriate medical treatment were ignored by the authorities.

ChinaAid have released an exclusive video showing the persecution Chen and his family are suffering at the hands of the Chinese government, which has put him under illegal house arrest since his release from prison. 

The hour-long video shows that "Mr. Chen is living in miserable conditions, cut off from all outside contact, and detained illegally in his home," Fu said. In the video, Chen describes being monitored daily by three shifts of agents with each shift consisting of 22 people.

The video was taken recently at Chen's farm home in coastal Shandong province and was provided to ChinaAid by a reliable government source who is sympathetic to Chen's cause and outraged by the treatment of Chen. He has requested anonymity for his protection. 

In the video, Chen and his wife Yuan Weijing, as well as their son Chen Kesi, appeal to the Chinese people and the international community to work together for a more equal China where there is justice and the rule of law. They also vow to continue their fight despite the extreme hardship and continuous brutal treatment by the Chinese regime even after Chen's release from unjust imprisonment.
 

Debate on abortion laws in Ireland to take place at University College Galway

The Law Society of National University of Ireland, Galway (NUIG) has arranged a debate on the recent decision of European Court of Human Rights on the A,B and C case. The focus of the debate, which will take place on February 16^th at 8pm, is the current Irish anti-abortion laws

The debate organizers say they are adamant that every side to this issue must be represented and are interested in discussing the implications of the ruling on Irish legislation.

The motion up for debate is "Abortion: Is it time Ireland followed Europe into the 21st Century?"

The aim of the Law Society according to the organisers is to promote the discussion of topics of legal, political and general interest. Previous speakers at NUIG include US Supreme Court Justices Antonin Scalia and Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Nobel Peace Prize winner Elie Wiesel and the Attorney General of Ireland, Mr. Paul Gallagher.

Important Conference on Restorative Reproductive Medicine

The International Institute of Restorative Reproductive Medicine (IIRRM) has announced that it will host the first European based conference of, in Dublin Ireland on Saturday 26th March.

The meeting will be held in the Health Sciences Building in University College Dublin from 9am until 5.30pm.

IIRRM have arranged a host of international experts presenting at the meeting, from the USA, Poland, France and Spain as well as Ireland.

Of particular interest, Professor Joe Stanford will present the concept of "Restorative Reproduction" and outline the scientific reasons why this approach is better suited to tackling the problem of infertility.

Professor Farr Curlin from the University of Chicago will deliver a lecture on the topical issue of "Doctor conscience and patient care - Does society need doctors to say no?" Professor Curlin gave compelling logical arguments in favour of protecting a doctor’s conscience to the Presidents Council on Bioethics in the USA in Sept 2008. He is happy to share is insights and thoughts with us on this complex issue.

The conference will end with a presentation by Dr. Tadeusz Wasilewski who is a fertility expert with 14 years of experience in IVF prior to changing to a restorative approach to infertility using NaProTechnology in Jan 2009.

There are a variety of other interesting presentations - 12 talks in agenda, which also includes time for questions and social interaction

The conference will be followed by a conference Dinner in the Burlington hotel that evening from 8pm.

Conference costs vary depending on membership or non-membership of the IIRRM. Attendance by the members of the public is 75 Euro if booked before March 12^th otherwise it will be 85 Euro.

The cost of the Conference dinner is an additional 45 Euro

For full details and early online registration use the following link. www.fertilitycare2011.com

Pro-Life Demonstration against Irish Labour party threat to introduce abortion

Following the ‘ABC’ case, brought before the European Court of Human Rights recently (please see my blogs for 11 January 2011, and 29, 17 and 16 December 2010) the Labour Party in Ireland, as previously reported, announced that if they succeed in being part of the next government here they will introduce laws to allow for abortions to be carried out in Ireland.

In response to this declaration on the part of the Labour Party, Youth Defence arranged a huge demonstration and protest at the local Labour Party constituency offices at Booterstown, on the outskirts of Dublin city, on Saturday last.     Young people, and not so young people, children, babies in prams and buggies, came from many parts of Ireland – north, south, east and west – to give their support to the ‘call to arms’ on behalf of unborn children.   Placards and posters carrying different messages, such as ‘Gilmore: No abortion here’ (Eamon Gilmore is the Leader of the Labour Party), and others warning that Party not to interfere with Ireland’s pro-life laws, etc., were prominently displayed by those present, who lined the footpaths on both sides of the road and also a large traffic island in the middle of the road.  A long banner was held aloft by five or six young people, and this declared the message that abortion must not be introduced into Ireland against the will of the people –

‘NOT IN MY NAME’ is what motorists and bus passengers saw in large lettering as they passed by.   

There was an extremely busy two-way flow of traffic at the meeting point – which also has an intersection, resulting in traffic being constantly delayed by traffic lights, thus giving everyone a great opportunity to see the pro-life messages.   

Although the rain was falling fairly continuously it did not deter the pro-life people – it never does!

Adverse outcomes and unacceptable practices in the IVF industry

The Telegraph reported Jan 28th, citing a recent British Medical Journal study by Susan Bewley et al, that seven women died as a direct result of IVF between 2003 and 2005.

According to the report four of the IVF deaths were caused by ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, brought on by fertility-boosting drugs, while three were due to multiple pregnancies.

The IVF deaths are compared in the study with deaths from abortion and concluded that more deaths were related to ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome than to abortion despite many fewer procedures.

According to the study two  women died as a result of having abortions in 2007 despite there being only a quarter the number of IVF cycles as abortions

The authors claim that IVF deaths are "rare but relevant", particularly with growing numbers of older women resorting to the method, and concluded that "More stringent attention to stimulation regimens, pre-conceptual care, and pregnancy management is needed so that maternal death and severe morbidity do not worsen further,"

Medical science is forever trying to find new methods to overcome the problem of infertility but many of these methods, particularly those in the area of IVF, can and do cause more problems than that of infertility itself. Stress, physical dangers, cost – all of these, and more, are associated with IVF. The child – born, and yet to be born – cannot but suffer from these procedures, and even apart from the moral and ethical implications involved through the use of IVF, this whole approach to bringing a new human being into the world is unacceptable

 

One of the appalling aspects of the IVF industry payment for so called quality eggs is revealed in a documentary “Eggsploitation”  which exposes the deceptive advertising, large monetary incentives and appeals to so called altruism that are used by the infertility industry to entice college women to engage in human egg donation, a practice that exploits them and puts them at considerable health risk. Women are told that the procedure is safe, when the reality is decidedly unsafe. No young woman should be used in procedures that jeopardize her own fertility -- indeed her own life -- in order to line the pockets of those who promote the infertility industry's human egg trade."

The Eggsploitation documentary spotlights three women who went through the egg donation process -- including high doses of fertility drugs and egg retrieval surgery. The young women's stories, according to CBCN, are a "wake-up call" for those who are unaware of the complications that can result from the "highly unregulated, multi-billion-dollar" infertility industry. All three of the women in the documentary nearly died from the "complications associated with their egg donation." One suffered a stroke that left her brain damaged; another developed breast cancer, and the other developed a health problem associated with ovarian hyper-stimulation.

 

I have previously reported on the safe and moral alternative which does not exploit women “NaPro Technology" which, rather than trying to bypass the causes of infertility, aims to identify and treat such causes. NaPro is non-invasive, and it does not impinge on any moral or ethical considerations. Apart from all of this, too, NaPro has been seen to be extraordinarily successful in helping to achieve pregnancy.

Loneliness a factor in suicide increase

A sad reflection on the so-called ‘advances’ in social life is the fact that the number of suicides among older people is steadily increasing, particularly in rural Ireland.   This alarming situation was highlighted by a coroner in Co. Kerry recently.   The coroner is quoted as saying that while the common perception is that young people are the most likely to take their own lives – mainly because of stress and peer pressure – his experience over the past few years is that older people are now becoming a significant statistic in the suicide figures.   There are many, and complex, reasons behind this worrying trend (although a suicide at any age is a tragedy – not alone for the person involved, but even more-so for his or her family and friends).   The factors present in the suicide figures for older people, however, appear to be related to loneliness and isolation.   Traditional meeting places such as the local pub, or the creamery, are not frequented to the extent that was normal in times gone by – the creameries have largely ceased to exist, and the number of pubs – particularly in rural areas – has been drastically reduced as a result of the introduction of more stringent drink/driving laws and the consequent lack of transport to and from the pub.  (I’m not for a moment suggesting that drink/driving laws are not good, and necessary – but has sufficient thinking gone into their enforcement?)   Another meeting place was the post-office – many of which have now been closed in the interests of ‘efficiency’ and ‘cost-cutting’, but thereby causing increased isolation.  And the new practice of leaving post at a collection point instead of the postman trudging his way up to an off-the-road house means that the interaction of the postman and the house resident is no longer possible.

So much for ‘progress’!    What of the deteriorating quality of life for those affected by all of these changes?

Planned Parenthood's cover up of child sex trafficking exposed

Live Action have released a new undercover video and an accompanying report which shows that a Planned Parenthood manager in New Jersey coached a man and a woman posing as sex traffickers how to secure secret abortions, STD testing, and contraception for their female underage sex slaves, and make their whole operation “look as legit as possible”.

Clinic manager Amy Woodruff, LPN, of Planned Parenthood Central New Jersey’s Perth Amboy center, warns the pimp and his prostitute to have their trafficked underage girls lie about their age to avoid mandatory reporting laws, promising, “even if they lie, just say, ‘Oh he's the same age as me, 15,’…it's just that mainly 14 and under we have to, doesn't matter if their partner's the same age, younger, whatever, 14 and under we have to report.” She says, “For the most part, we want as little information as possible.”

Woodruff also recommends how the pimp can get his prostitutes cheaper contraception by claiming they are “students”: “If they're minors, put down that they're students. Yeah, just kind of play along that they’re students--we want to make it look as legit as possible.”

If one of the young trafficked girls needs an abortion, Woodruff refers the pimp and prostitute to the Metropolitan Medical Association, where “their protocols aren’t as strict as ours and they don’t get audited the same way that we do.” The prostitute in the video asks how long after the abortion until the girls can have sex again, and when Woodruff says “minimum of 2 weeks,” she asks what sex acts the girls could still do to make money. Woodruff advises, “Waist up, or just be that extra action walking by” to advertise sex to potential clients.

Sex trafficking is punishable under federal law and carries a potential life sentence. The new video is released by Live Action, a pro-life new media organization led by 22-year-old Lila Rose. The video airs just days after Planned Parenthood’s leadership suspected the sting operation and sought an FBI probe of Live Action in order to deter the release of the exposé. Live Action is sending full footage to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, NJ Attorney General Paula Dow, officials at the Federal Bureau of Investigations, and other law enforcement officials, requesting federal and state investigations into Planned Parenthood’s sexual abuse and sex trafficking cover up.



Link to video and report

Could this be India's Terry Schiavo Case?

The London Independent newspaper (27 January 2011) carried an extraordinary story about a nurse who has been lying in bed for thirty-eight years in an Indian hospital.   In 1973, the nurse, Aruna Shanbang, was subjected to an horrendous attack that left her brain-damaged, and she has since then been fed on a liquid diet.   Prior to her having been attacked she had worked at the hospital, and she is looked on with great affection by the hospital authorities.   However, the author of a book written about her case seeks to have the Supreme Court order that Aruna continue to be fed by hospital staff quashed, because her condition ‘means she does not have the standard of life guaranteed by the Indian constitution.’

In her petition to the court, the author of the book requests that instructions be issued ‘to forthwith ensure that no food is fed’ to Aruna.    The petition continues: ‘This vegetative existence devoid of any human dignity is not life at all and putting mashed food in her mouth only amounts to violation of human dignity.’ 

 It appears that none of Aruna’s family or friends is willing to come forward to defend her.

To their credit, however, the officials at the hospital where she is being cared for have denounced the claims of the writer, insisting that their patient is not in ‘as dire condition as the writer suggests.  …  She means a lot to KEM [the hospital in question].  She is on a liquid diet, and loves listening to music.  We have never subjected her to intravenous food or fed her via a tube.  When those looking after her do not have a problem, I don’t understand why a party who has nothing to do with her needs to worry.  We have no moral right to terminate her life.  I am against euthanasia for Shanbang.’  

Pray that the hospital authorities will succeed in their efforts to care for Aruna.