The Pope Condemns In Vitro Fertilization. Courtesy of catholiconline.com
Pope Condemns In Vitro Fertilization: "Barrier protecting human dignity has been broken"
Addressing a plenary session of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith this morning, Pope Benedict XVI asked the Congregation to focus on "the difficult and complex problems of bioethics". In his remarks he explained the Church's prohibition on artificial procreation. Artificial procreation, such as in vitro fertilization, he said, has given rise to "new problems," such as "the freezing of human embryos, embryonal reduction, pre-implantation diagnosis, stem cell research and attempts at human cloning". All these, he said, "clearly show how, with artificial insemination outside the body, the barrier protecting human dignity has been broken." The Pope added: "When human beings in the weakest and most defenceless stage of their existence are selected, abandoned, killed or used as pure 'biological matter', how can it be denied that they are no longer being treated as 'someone' but as 'something', thus placing the very concept of human dignity in doubt". Judie Brown, President of American Life League points out in her new book - Saving Those Damned Catholics - that while it is official Church teaching, most Catholics in North America have no clue that artificial procreation is immoral. Brown commented to LifeSiteNews.com on the Holy Father's statements, saying, "As elated as I am about Pope Benedict's comments this morning once again repeating the Church's condemnation of the practice of in vitro fertilization, I am saddened by the realization that the American Catholic bishops refuse to even take up an explanation of what the Church teaches let alone condemn the evil practice of in vitro fertilization." In his remarks the Pope stressed that the Church "cannot and should not intervene on every scientific innovation." However, he said, "it has the task of reiterating the great values at stake, and providing the faithful, and all men and women of good will, with ethical-moral principals and guidelines for these new and important questions." "The two fundamental criteria for moral discernment in this field", he said, "are: unconditional respect for the human being as a person, from conception to natural death; and respect for the origin of the transmission of human life through the acts of the spouses".
Part 1 of 2 Gianna Jessen, abortion survivor speaks at Queen's Hall, Parliament House, Victoria. Australia - on the eve of the debate to decriminalize abortion in Victoria. Gianna's visit was sponsored by the Ad Hoc Interfaith Committee.
Part 2 of 2 Gianna Jessen, abortion survivor speaks at Queen's Hall, Parliament House, Victoria. Australia - on the eve of the debate to decriminalize abortion in Victoria. Gianna's visit was sponsored by the Ad-Hoc Interfaith Committee.
RE: Barack Obama on the Issues of Importance to Catholics
1. Obama is undecided on whether life begins at conception - Saddleback Church Forum Aug 16th, 2008. Obama voted against born alive protections for abortion survivors four times, and voted against a ban on partial-birth abortion in the Illinois state senate
2. Obama has pledged to Planned Parenthood to sign The Freedom of Choice Act, a law which would cancel every state, federal, and local regulation of abortion, no matter how modest or reasonable. It would even abolish all state restrictions on government funding for abortions. Catholics that pay income tax will be paying an abortionist to perform an abortion. It would also abolish state laws that protect Catholic doctors and nurses from losing their jobs if they refuse to participate in abortions. It would abolish requirements for parental notification and informed consent for mothers who consider the procedure. - Obama speech to Planned Parenthood, July 17, 2007 He is endorsed by pro-Abortion industry leader Planned Parenthood and has a 100% NARAL voting record. -
3. Obama would repeal the Mexico City policy, which bars federal funding for international nongovernmental organizations involved in abortion-related services and would pit the US against the Vatican on the international fight against abortion.
9. Voted no on defining unborn child as eligible for SCHIP a program that gives funds to states in order to provide health insurance to families with children.
10. He opposed the federal marriage amendment in 2006 and also favors repealing the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, which gives a state the right not to recognize same-sex marriages performed in another state.
Sarah Palin: Barack Obama "Absolutely Atrocious" by Supporting Unlimited Abortion Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- With debate moderators not asking any questions of the candidates on abortion, pro-life advocates have been hoping John McCain and Sarah Palin would criticize Barack Obama's pro-abortion record. In a national radio interview on Thursday, Palin did just that and called Obama's record "atrocious." During an interview with nationally syndicated radio talk show host Laura Ingraham, Palin described Obama's view that abortions should be legal for any reason throughout pregnancy "absolutely atrocious." Palin heavily criticized Obama's votes in the Illinois legislature against the Born Alive Infant Protection Act, a bill that would require hospital staff to provide medical care for infants who survive failed abortions. "His position on this and on life has been his vote against legislation--three times voting against legislation that would provide medical care to a baby born having been a survivor of an abortion," the Alaska governor said. Palin went back to the issue of abortion later in the interview and continued criticizing Obama for the votes on the anti-infanticide bill and also tagged him for opposing a ban on partial-birth abortions. "It's appalling enough I think even for those who are pro-abortion to understand that Barack Obama opposes banning partial-birth abortion because that's quite extreme," Palin explained. Full story at LifeNews.com.
Catholic Bishops Warn Congress on Pro-Abortion "Freedom of Choice Act"
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The head of pro-life outreach for the nation's Catholic bishops has sent a letter to members of Congress warning them about a bill that could be the most extreme measure on abortion ever introduced. The so-called Freedom of Choice Act would make unlimited abortions throughout pregnancy the national law. But, the measure would go further and undo the abortion limits put in place in all 50 states since Roe v. Wade that have helped reduce abortions to record lows. It would invalidate laws ranging from bans on partial-birth abortions to implementing parental involvement for teenagers to prohibiting taxpayer funding of abortions. Though the measure has not received significant national attention -- taking a back seat to the debate over Barack Obama's votes against a bill to help newborns who survive abortions -- the presidential candidate said signing it would be the first action he would take if elected. Cardinal Justin Rigali sent the letter to Congress on Friday and warned against enactment of the proposed bill (S. 1173, H.R. 1964). "Despite its deceptive title," he wrote, "FOCA would deprive the American people in all 50 states of the freedom they now have to enact modest restraints and regulations on the abortion industry." He added: "FOCA would coerce all Americans into subsidizing and promoting abortion with their tax dollars. And FOCA would counteract any and all sincere efforts by government to reduce abortions in our country." Full story at LifeNews.com
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- With debate moderators not asking any questions of the candidates on abortion, pro-life advocates have been hoping John McCain and Sarah Palin would criticize Barack Obama's pro-abortion record. In a national radio interview on Thursday, Palin did just that and called Obama's record "atrocious." During an interview with nationally syndicated radio talk show host Laura Ingraham, Palin described Obama's view that abortions should be legal for any reason throughout pregnancy "absolutely atrocious." Palin heavily criticized Obama's votes in the Illinois legislature against the Born Alive Infant Protection Act, a bill that would require hospital staff to provide medical care for infants who survive failed abortions. "His position on this and on life has been his vote against legislation--three times voting against legislation that would provide medical care to a baby born having been a survivor of an abortion," the Alaska governor said. Palin went back to the issue of abortion later in the interview and continued criticizing Obama for the votes on the anti-infanticide bill and also tagged him for opposing a ban on partial-birth abortions. "It's appalling enough I think even for those who are pro-abortion to understand that Barack Obama opposes banning partial-birth abortion because that's quite extreme," Palin explained. 
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The head of pro-life outreach for the nation's Catholic bishops has sent a letter to members of Congress warning them about a bill that could be the most extreme measure on abortion ever introduced. The so-called Freedom of Choice Act would make unlimited abortions throughout pregnancy the national law. But, the measure would go further and undo the abortion limits put in place in all 50 states since Roe v. Wade that have helped reduce abortions 
