Heroic Malta firmly pro-life

I have long felt a strong admiration for the tiny Mediterranean island of Malta. I have hardly had much choice on the matter, with a Maltese colleague regaling me with stories of Malta's heroism, from standing firm against the mighty Suleiman's fleet in 1565 to surviving the Nazi air attacks and submarine blockade during the Second World War.

My affection for Malta only increased the other day, when I read that a new telephone survey of the Maltese people has found them to be overwhelmingly opposed to abortion across the political spectrum. Now we just have to remind the abortion lobby to respect democracy. That means you, Rebecca Gomperts with your abortion ship and your insulting, colonial attitude to people who believe in protecting life. That means you, Myria Vassiliadou, lamenting the 'terrible situation in Malta' whilst in the same meeting speaking of the need to focus on 'democracy.' If any of these people were worthy of their liberal credentials, they would stop trying to interfere with the laws of democratic nations and re-examine their own deplorable lack of respect for both human life and democracy.

On a more cautionary note, however, the survey does serve as a warning to pro-life groups of the need for education. The small minority who were in favour of abortion, cited either rape and incest or threat to the mother's life as reasons. As Malta's Gift of Life stated: "We believe that when people understand the facts about these two delicate issues, that many would change their minds even about abortion in these cases."

FPA DVD for schoolchildren is a glorified advertisement for abortion

Fiorella Nash has sent me the following review:

"The Family Planning Association (FPA) in the UK has produced a DVD entitled Why Abortion?, intended for schoolchildren as young as 14. In some respects it contains few surprises. The scenarios used in the DVD are intended to portray abortion as a sensible, altruistic decision, whilst the arguments against abortion are not mentioned at all. Pro-lifers are demonised as angry, sneering individuals who wave banners displaying the word 'Murderers', or who accuse their friends of being murderers when they announce that they have had an abortion. An accompanying leaflet claims that 'in countries where abortion is legal, some individuals and groups violently oppose abortion. 'In one scenario, a religious girl who has always been pro-life declares to her pro-life boyfriend: 'It’s not about beliefs and ideals any more, it’s about realities. I just don’t want this baby', whilst the group of teenage commentators argue that 'churches shouldn’t moralise or dictate', 'no matter what your religion you have to do what’s right for you' and 'you never know how you’re going to feel about something like this until it happens.'

"Pro-life doctors come off worst of all. Young people are asked: 'Some doctors and nurses are anti-choice. Is it okay for them to promote their personal, moral viewpoints?' Not one of the teenagers in the scripted discussion supports the pro-life position. The reasons why doctors refuse to be involved with abortion are not explained. Women are encouraged to check the views of doctors beforehand and 'vote with their feet.'

"Young people are warned about pro-life counselling services. The DVD is peppered with the usual arguments for abortion, backstreet abortion (see some counter-arguments here), a woman’s right to choose etc, with no attempt being made at all throughout the DVD to confront the real moral arguments surrounding abortion. Prenatal development is not mentioned once, and the potential risk of breast cancer and post-abortion trauma are dismissed as 'myths', as is the fact that so-called emergency contraception is abortifacient.

"Most insidiously, the DVD was developed in Northern Ireland, and the teenage commentators are clearly based in Northern Ireland to give the impression that the people of Northern Ireland want the Abortion Act extended there, when the reality is completely different. The lack of abortion on demand in Northern Ireland is portrayed as a crass injustice, rather than the will of the people to protect life.

"This so-called resource contains information on private abortion facilities such as BPAS, which constitutes little more than product placement in the classroom. In an all-too characteristic display of hypocrisy, this glorified advertising campaign for abortion is dressed up as 'balanced and accurate information' designed 'to contribute to a more open and less judgemental debate'. Parents must fight this DVD being shown at their children’s schools as a matter of urgency."

Exposing UNFPA

One of Barack Obama's many promises to the abortion lobby during his presidential campaign was that he will resume US Funding of the UNFPA.

The US government has refused to fund the UNFPA for seven years because of its abysmal human rights records, particularly in China where it has colluded with abuses against women including forced sterilisation and forced abortion.

Population Research Institute is urging people to watch their YouTube video on UNFPA and to circulate it as far as possible to raise awareness of UNFPA's disgraceful record.

Children as Commodities

An incredibly depressing article cited at Monstrous Regiment of Women on women who marry for money and status, then leave their husbands for other rich men as soon as they lose their jobs.

One case mentioned in the article which has not (I think) been picked up by other commentators, is the story of the couple who paid a fortune to have identical twin boys through IVF, joking that they would have sent them back if they had been girls. In our shallow, status-obsessed world, IVF has pushed the boundaries of materialism so far that even children become commodities who can be custom-made for the right price.

BPAS - stop insulting women!

St John Valdosta, a blog I had never come across before today, has more news on the tasteful and respectful manner in which the abortion lobby is abusing Christmas. BPAS has come up with the above poster, which tells you pretty much everything you need to know about BPAS's pretences at respecting women and taking them seriously.

As Anthony Ozimic of SPUC put it:

"It will encourage men to see females as sex objects, who can be exploited without responsibility for the consequences. The morning-after pill's promoters share in the abuse of women by misleading them about its potential effect, which, the manufacturers concede, may include causing an early abortion."