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This page carries links to the various news reports on what's happening here in Ireland, in other European countries and around the world regarding the Sanctity of Life Issues.

June 30th 2003

UK Schoolgirls "pressured" into Abortion to Meet Teen Birth Target

The UK health service was accused of putting pressure on schoolgirls to have abortions to help the Government to meet its target to reduce teenage pregnancies. Abortion rates among under-18s have risen steeply since 1998, when the Government introduced a target to cut teenage pregnancies. MPs and anti-abortion campaigners fear health advisers have been steering teenagers to terminate their pregnancies to help to reduce the number of teenage mothers. Ann Widdecombe, a former Conservative minister, said: "There is no doubt a school of thought that the answer to pregnancy is abortion and therefore the pressure on teenagers is immense because most are not ready for motherhood". Between 1998 and 2001, pregnancies among under-18s in England dropped by 6.5 per cent from 41,089 to 38,439 a year. At the same time, the number of abortions increased from 17,300 to 17,700, or from 42 per cent to 46 per cent. In under-16s, the number of pregnancies fell from 7,885 to 7,396 between 1998 and 2001 while the proportion having abortions rose from 53 per cent to 56 per cent. BBC. 

Department of Health Challenged over FPA¹s Children¹s Booklets

The Department of Health has come in for strong criticism for its funding of Irish Family Planning Association¹s ³sexually explicit² booklets, produced for the North East Health Board (NEHB). David Manly from Family & Life told the Irish Catholic that the booklets "were as graphically explicit as you get and it is appalling that they would be given to young people". He said the booklets "treat sexual behaviour as completely divorced from morals" and "encourage a culture of sexual experimentation, and promiscuity leading inevitably to teen pregnancy and an increase in STD¹s". He was shocked that parents and marriage did not get a mention in the booklets. He pointed out that ³it is scandalous that the Department of Health has used tax payers¹ money to fund this type of booklet². Irish Catholic. June 19.

Dutch Ship Checked for Abortion Drugs

Polish customs officials have boarded the Dutch abortion ship looking for abortion drugs that are illegal in Poland. However, a spokeswoman for state prosecutors, Malgorzata Wilkosz-Sliwa, said the Langenort's crew would not be in breach of Polish abortion laws so long as any pills remained on the ship. "If no-one tries to distribute [the pills], then there is no crime", she said. Crewmember Jeanette Kruseman admits RU-486 pills are on board, but under a seal that will not be broken while the ship remains in Poland. The boat plans to stay in and near Poland until July 5. Bert Dorenbos, leader of the Dutch organisation Schreeuw om Leven (Cry for Life), said his group helped pro-life Poles organise Sunday's protests. He called the ships exploits nothing more than a publicity stunt since no abortions are planned and the crew may not distribute dangerous abortion pills. Lifenews.com. BBC.

Pro-Lifers Help Special Olympics

Recently, Galway for Life presented a cheque to the organisers of the Special Olympics. The money was raised through a table quiz in Co. Galway. Among those present at the presentation were Sjef Schutte, Chairperson, Galway for Life, Roy Murphy, Gymnast, Special Olympics, Eilís Grealy, PRO, Galway for Life, and Robert Gill, Gymnast, Special Olympics. Irish Catholic. June 19.

Pro-Lifers Push Boston Globe to Change Policy on Abortion Stories

The Boston Globe, one of America¹s most influential newspapers, is operating under a new set of guidelines - favourable to the pro-life movement - on stories about partial birth abortion. Ombudsman Christine Chinlund recommended the guidelines, which are not the paper's official policy, after complaints from the National Right to Life Committee and like-minded pro-lifers. One of her suggestions is to use the term "partial birth abortion" - accepted by pro-life advocates, but strongly opposed by abortion supporters. The Boston Globe was not the only news organisation to face criticism. In the past several months, NRL has questioned the work of San Francisco Chronicle staff writer Bob Egelko, Gannett News Service reporter Pamela Brogan and Guardian correspondent Suzanne Goldenberg. NRL cited two other examples of misinformation, one in The Guardian, a British newspaper, and the other in a Miami Herald editorial. CNSNews.com.

Irish Birth Rate Falls

The age profile of Irish people is rising, they are more likely to live in urban areas, and more of them are opting not to have children than ever before, according to the latest analysis of the 2002 figures. Total population for the Republic however has increased by approximately 9% since 1996 and now stands at just below 4 million (N.Ireland stands at over 1.5m). The average family size has dropped from 2.2 children to 1.6 (below replacement level), while the number of couples living together, whether married or unmarried, who do not have children has jumped by 40% from 1996 to 2002, the census found. Irish Family. June 27.

US State Ends Planned Parenthood Abortion Funding

Pro-life taxpayers in the US state of Ohio have reason to celebrate this week. The Ohio legislature has approved a budget bill that will change the way the state funds women¹s health programmes. Under the compromise bill, the state "family planning" programme is being replaced with a "women¹s health services" programme starting January 1, 2004. The new programme will give priority to services provided by local health departments rather than by Planned Parenthood, which currently receives most of the $1.7 million in Ohio family planning funding. "This is a victory not only for pro-life taxpayers, but for low-income women", Mark Lally, legislative counsel for Ohio Right to Life. LifeNews.com.

Motion to Reverse Roe Will Press Ahead

The campaign to overturn Roe v. Wade will press ahead, despite a judge's decision to dismiss a motion asking the US Supreme Court to revisit the 1973 decision legalising abortion. Attorneys for Norma McCorvey the former "Roe" of the U.S. Supreme Court case legalising abortion say that they will ask a judge to reconsider his decision to dismiss McCorvey¹s request for another look at her case. On June 17, McCorvey had filed a "motion for relief from judgement" asking the court to look at new evidence that abortion harms women and reconsider their ruling that legalized abortion. As a party to the original litigation, McCorvey had the right task the court to look at new evidence and changes in the law that make the ruling ³no longer just², said Alan Parker of the Texas- based Justice Foundation, which is handling her case. Elliot Institute News.
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