Christians upset over UK's first TV abortion advert
The head of the Christian Legal Centre has condemned the first ever TV advertisement for abortion services. Marie Stopes made TV history when it advertised its abortion services on Channel 4 on Monday. The ad asked ‘Are you late?’ referring to women who may have missed a period. It will run throughout June. It is being broadcast as part of a wider campaign by the registered charity to ‘confront the taboo of abortion.’ The plans have upset pro-life and Christian groups, who are considering legal action to halt the broadcast of the advert. While commercial abortion clinics are prohibited from advertising on TV by the Broadcast Committee of Advertising Practice, the ban does not cover not-for-profit abortion providers like Marie Stopes.
Pray: for a balanced approach to counselling rather than a direct route to abortion as seems to be promoted in the advert. (Rev.4:11b
More: http://www.christianpost.com/article/20100520/christians-upset-over-uks-first-tv-abortion-ad/index.html
Portuguese bishops: gay 'marriage' law a step backward
Portuguese bishops, joined by the country's Pro-Life Federation, denounced their president's decision to legalize same-sex ‘marriage’ on Monday, calling the move a ‘step backward’ and an attack on the traditional family.’ A bill aimed at legalizing same-sex ‘marriages’ was passed by the Portuguese parliament in February with the support of the left-wing parties, which are in the majority. President Anibal Cavaco Silva had until May 17 to decide whether to sign the bill into law or exercise his veto power. The president, who is a self-identified Catholic, said on Monday that he was putting aside his ‘personal convictions’ and approving the legislation, making Portugal the sixth country in Europe to allow same-sex unions. Pope Benedict XVI recently visited to Portugal, where he stressed the importance of ‘protecting the essential and primary values of life’ which include the ‘indissoluble marriage between a man and a woman.’
Pray: against this trend across Europe and the World to go against God’s marriage principles. (Heb.13:4)
Portuguese bishops: gay 'marriage' law a step backward
Portuguese bishops, joined by the country's Pro-Life Federation, denounced their president's decision to legalize same-sex ‘marriage’ on Monday, calling the move a ‘step backward’ and an attack on the traditional family.’ A bill aimed at legalizing same-sex ‘marriages’ was passed by the Portuguese parliament in February with the support of the left-wing parties, which are in the majority. President Anibal Cavaco Silva had until May 17 to decide whether to sign the bill into law or exercise his veto power. The president, who is a self-identified Catholic, said on Monday that he was putting aside his ‘personal convictions’ and approving the legislation, making Portugal the sixth country in Europe to allow same-sex unions. Pope Benedict XVI recently visited to Portugal, where he stressed the importance of ‘protecting the essential and primary values of life’ which include the ‘indissoluble marriage between a man and a woman.’
Pray: against this trend across Europe and the World to go against God’s marriage principles. (Heb.13:4)
EU parliament backs new rules on organ donations
As MEPs approve plans to help tackle the illegal trafficking of human organs, Miroslav Mikolášik has criticised Europol's "passive approach" to the issue. European parliament deputies voted by 643 votes to 16 in support of the draft directive on quality and safety standards for human organs used for transplants in Strasbourg on Wednesday. The plans aim to reduce waiting times for the 60,000 people in need of a transplant across the EU, introduce common safety standards and combat the commercialisation of organ donation and trafficking. Slovakian EPP deputy Mikolášik, parliament's rapporteur on the directive, told the Parliament Magazine that figures from Europol, the European law enforcement organisation, suggested the problem of organ trafficking does not exist. ‘Everyone knows that this is a massive problem. But Europol does not actively search for cases, they only wait for announcements to be made and this is not good enough.’
Pray: that these new regulations will see a significant reduction in illegal organ trafficking. (Hos.14:9)
