Plymouth school promotes amongst its pupils Britain's leading abortion provider

I was contacted this week by a parent supporters of SPUC, one of whose children attends a non-denominational school in Plymouth.

Our supporters follow the advice provided by SPUC’s Safe At School service to parents – and they check the personal planner and text books provided to pupils, including looking in their child’s school bag if necessary.

It's essential that parents act as parents and exercise their rights and responsibilities as parents when children are so endangered these days by both state and church authorities.

As you can see above the planner contains the details of British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS), Connexions, the Zone – the Youth Enquiry Service, and Junction/Junction Plus.

BPAS’s website proudly announces: “bpas is the leading provider of abortion services in the UK, with a national network of consultation centres and clinics”

Connexions, as I have pointed out in previous posts, is a government agency which provides careers advice to young people from 13 - 19 years old and which promotes access to abortion and abortifacient birth control amongst children under the age of consent without parental knowledge or consent, including in Catholic schools with the complicity of the Catholic authorities in England.

The Zone – the Youth Enquiry Service in Plymouth provides young people with confidential “sexual health” services which includes a range of abortifacient birth control services; and Junction/Junction Plus appears to be part of The Zone – the youth enquiry service.

SPUC’s Safe at School service aims to empower parents, teachers, school governors and others – giving them up-to-date information about the provision of sex education in schools and anti-life practices which take place either on the school premises (most notably school clinics which offer contraceptives and abortion referrals) or off the school premises, in services promoted within the school in various ways.

The Government and Members of Parliament may have the right to propose laws and policies which are then approved by Parliament; but Parliamentary democracy turns into tyranny when it approves laws and policies which rob parents of their fundamental rights and responsibilities with regard to their children or when it decrees that it's legal to kill unborn children.

Parents, teachers, school governors need to exercise their right and duty to resist government policy – which includes the provision of secret abortion to our children and grandchildren. SPUC’s Safe at School campaign exists to help you do just that. Telephone Safe at School at 020 7091 7091.

Blair Faith Foundation initiative has deep pro-abortion roots

I have discovered that the Tony Blair Faith Foundation’s Faith Act Fellowship initiative, on which I reported last week, has deep pro-abortion roots.

The Faiths Act Fellowship is an initiative of the Tony Blair Faith Foundation and is coordinated by Interfaith Youth Core.

Among Interfaith Youth Core's funders are:

• the Argosy Foundation , which has funded Medical Students for Choice , which “stands up in the face of opposition, working to destigmatize abortion provision among medical students and residents, and to persuade medical schools and residency programs to include abortion as a part of the reproductive health services curriculum”;
• Ashoka , which promoted, through its fellowship system, a right to abortion in Mexico;
• the Carnegie Corporation of New York , which includes abortion in its promotion of responsible parenthood;
• the George Family Foundation, which has given money to Planned Parenthood, one of the world’s leading promoters of abortion;
• the Hunt Alternatives Fund , whose grant-making includes the promotion of abortion under sexual and reproductive health, rights and services;
• the Nathan Cummings Foundation, which gave money to the Chicago Abortion Fund; and
• the Rockefeller Foundation, which is a funder of some of the world’s leading pro-abortion organisations.

In my blog last week, I pointed out that The Faiths Act Fellowship works with World Vision, which is calling for abortion on demand to be legalised in the world's poorest nations. For Tony Blair's government also, abortion on demand was central to the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

I’m concerned, therefore, to see that World Youth Alliance (WYA) advertises in their newsletter this month as follows:


“Opportunity: The Faiths Act Fellowship
On September 25, a partnership was launched between the Tony Blair Faith Foundation and Interfaith Youth Core, to engage exceptional young people whose leadership motivated by faith will result in real impact on the lives of others. For more information, contact Eboo Patel at info@tonyblairfaithfoundation.org.”

According to their website, the World Youth Alliance “is a global coalition of young people committed to promoting the dignity of the person and building solidarity among youth from developed and developing nations”. If that’s the case, they should be steering well clear of the Tony Blair Faith Foundation and its collaborator the Interfaith Youth Core. I am writing to them to express my concerns.

Stop Tony Blair's invitation to speak in Rome on "civilisation of love"

Tony Blair, the former British prime minister, has been invited to speak at a youth meeting in Rome (28 - 30 November) for "young people who want to find solutions" to the "problems of modernity" in the spirit of John Paul II's call to "build a civilisation of love". The meeting is being held at the European University of Rome. Participants include H.E. Mrs Hanna Suchocka, Polish ambassador to the Holy See, Dr Carl A. Anderson, Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus, Father Paolo Scarafoni, Rector of the European University of Rome, and Cardinal Stanislaw Rylko, President of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, who is celebrating Mass on the final day of the meeting. I have posted the invitation letter and the programme.

It will be a scandal if the invitation to Tony Blair remains in place, until or unless he publicly repudiates his anti-life and anti-family political record. He is, arguably, one of the worst possible role models to present to young people. As I say in a letter to the organizers (reproduced in full below):

"In his encyclical Evangelium Vitae (91) Pope John Paul wrote: 'On the eve of the Third Millennium, the challenge facing us is an arduous one: only the concerted efforts of all those who believe in the value of life can prevent a setback of unforeseeable consequences for civilization'. In view of Tony Blair’s unwavering pursuit of legislation and policies in Britain and overseas promoting abortion and other anti-life measures, it is clear that he has been a principal architect of the worldwide attack on the value of life to which the late Holy Father refers in Evangelium Vitae."

Perhaps you would like to join me in writing to the organizers of the meeting - who are possibly unaware of Tony Blair's anti-life, anti-family record.

Text of my letter to the organisers

Organizing Committee,
Youth Meeting in Rome,
Ul. Foksal 11,
00-372 Warsaw
Poland

16 October 2008

Dear Friends,

I am very concerned to note that Mr Tony Blair, the former British prime minister, has been invited to speak at the Youth Meeting at the European University of Rome, based on Pope John Paul II’s teachings, entitled “The Civilisation of Love”. You are possibly unaware of Tony Blair's anti-life and anti-family political record.

Since being received into the Catholic Church last year, Mr Blair has repeatedly refused to repudiate his strongly anti-life and anti-family political record.

On 11 January of this year, I wrote to ask Tony Blair if, in the light of his reception into the Catholic Church, he now repudiates:

• voting for abortion up to birth three times
• personally endorsing his government policy of supplying abortion and birth control drugs and devices to schoolgirls as young as 11 without parental knowledge or consent
• his government’s commitment to the promotion of abortion on demand as a universal fundamental human right
• personally championing destructive experiments on human embryos
• his government introducing legislation which has led to a law which allows, and in certain circumstances requires, doctors to starve and dehydrate to death vulnerable patients.

In reply, I received a letter on Tony Blair’s behalf, dated 9 April 2008, saying: “the [Tony Blair] Foundation will not be able to address the issue of pro-life, weighty though it is. Nor, I am afraid, will Mr Blair be able to enter into correspondence on his personal beliefs on this or indeed other issues”.

A week earlier (on 4 April 2008) at a talk at Westminster Cathedral, the primary Catholic cathedral in England and Wales, Mr Blair said: “There is nothing I look back on now and say that as a result of my religious journey I would have done things very differently but that is expressly not to say that I got everything right”.

It will be a scandal if the invitation to Mr Blair to speak at a meeting of young people based on the teachings of Pope John Paul II on the civilization of love remains in place. In his encyclical Evangelium Vitae (91) Pope John Paul wrote: “On the eve of the Third Millennium, the challenge facing us is an arduous one: only the concerted efforts of all those who believe in the value of life can prevent a setback of unforeseeable consequences for civilization”. In view of Tony Blair’s unwavering pursuit of legislation and policies in Britain and overseas promoting abortion and other anti-life measures, it is clear that he is a principal architect of the worldwide attack on the value of life to which the late Holy Father refers in Evangelium Vitae.

Not only has he failed to repudiate his political record on these matters, the Tony Blair Faith Foundation is now working with a partnership of organizations , including World Vision which calls for abortion on demand to be legalized in the world’s poorest nations – which was also, for Tony Blair’s government, central to the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals, as can be seen in his government’s position paper on sexual and reproductive health and rights (July 2004).

I urge that the invitation to Mr Blair to speak at this conference be withdrawn, until or unless he publicly repudiates his anti-life and anti-family political record. Public figures, especially those who may continue to seek political office, cannot be allowed to protect themselves from public scrutiny by being received into the Catholic Church.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,

John Smeaton
SPUC national director

Cardinal says legislators who promote abortion laws are outside Catholic Church

After the news of the disastrous developments at the Catholic hospital of St John and St Elizabeth in London, it’s good to wake up to news of a cardinal in Mexico (pictured) who says that those who promote and approve laws in favor of abortion are outside the Catholic Church and should not receive Communion.

One can almost hear the pens of writers being sharpened at The Tablet (and similar so-called Catholic publications), which has recently carried advertising for an organization which promotes abortion, in order to describe the Archbishop of Guadalajara, Cardinal Juan Sandoval Iniguez, the Mexican cardinal concerned, as some kind of extremist.

In the event of such a development, which is pretty inevitable from past experience, we should point out that such publications would no doubt fully (and rightly) agree with the Cardinal if he were to say, for example: “those who promote and approve laws in favor of killing journalists are outside the Catholic Church and should not receive Communion”.

Those who should know better and who argue that different principles apply in the case of abortion, should have the courage to say openly that the unborn child is not a fellow human being and, therefore, not their neighbour.

In addition, where does the cardinal's statement leave Tony Blair, who refuses to repudiate his unwavering promotion of anti-life legislation and policies as an MP and Prime Minister even though he has been received into the Catholic Church?

Catholic hospital's ethical code, approved by Cardinal, fails to ban abortion referrals

Fr Finigan carries the disturbing news on his blog that Cardinal Murphy O'Connor has approved an ethics code (which you can find here) at St. John and St. Elizabeth's Hospital "which effectively accommodates referrals for abortion" – as Luke Gormally puts it, honorary fellow of the Linacre Centre for Healthcare Ethics.

In last weekend's edition of "The Universe", Alexander Desforges, spokesman for the Cardinal, disputed such an interpretation of the code, citing a letter from Lord Guthrie, the hospital chairman, which refers to “fidelity to the Hospital’s Roman Catholic foundation and character”.

Lord Guthrie's letter was sent to the hospital staff and consultants on 30th September 2008 together with a copy of the ethics code - or "new statement of ethics", as Lord Guthrie describes it. "HE the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster who is our patron, has given his endorsement of this statement ..." Lord Guthrie says in his letter.

Having read the new (2008) statement of ethics and compared it with the ethics code approved by the Hospital Board at the end of 2007, which you can find here, I am astonished to read that the Cardinal has endorsed the new statement of ethics - which clearly fails to prohibit referrals for abortions and other procedures, which were so firmly prohibited by the 2007 Code.

I am also astonished by Alexander Desforges's misleading statement to The Universe. Read the two codes yourself and form your own judgement.

Luke Gormally comments on Fr Finigan's blog: "How can the Church in this country effectively defend the sanctity of life when its Chief Shepherd is prepared to approve a code which effectively accommodates referrals for abortion?"

I have blogged before about the the complicity of the Catholic authorities in England and Wales with government policy in providing access to abortion to schoolchildren in Catholic schools below the age of consent and without the knowledge or consent of parents.

Catholic Church leaders in England must stop the evil complicity with abortion provision. Pope John Paul II called on all people of good will to oppose abortion "with the strength and courage of those prepared even to be imprisoned and put to the sword" Evangelium Vitae, 73, and that's the spirit needed in any new episcopal appointments in order to meet the challenge presented by today's culture of death.

Shame, hope and the HFE bill

In a sermon last Saturday Fr Marcus Holden, a young Catholic priest of Archdiocese of Southwark, predicted: "In the future times, I believe people in this land will hang their heads in shame at what we their ancestors have done in these times."

Fr Holden described the government's Human Fertilisation and Embryology bill as "one of the darkest pieces of social legislation ever to come out of this land", but urged his listeners not to despair in the face of such challenges.

Fr Holden preached (pictured) at the Rosary Crusade of Reparation, an annual Catholic procession in London from Westminster Cathedral to the Oratory in South Kensington. This year's crusade was offered especially for the defeat of the HFE bill.

I wish I had a vote in the US presidential election

Sarah Palin (pictured with Todd, her husband, and their baby Trig) makes me wish I was a US citizen and that I had a vote in the forthcoming presidential election.

As I was getting ready to fly home from Canada on Saturday, I watched Sarah Palin "live" delivering a speech in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, which included some timeless comments on Trig, her son who has Down's syndrome. In my opinion, hers was the most significant political speech of the 21st century.

She said: "I believe the truest measure of any society is how it treats those who are least able to defend and speak for themselves. And who is more vulnerable, or more innocent, than a child?

"When I learned that my son Trig would have special needs, I had to prepare my heart for the challenges to come. At first I was scared, and Todd and I had to ask for strength and understanding. But I can tell you a few things I’ve learned already.

"Yes, every innocent life matters. Everyone belongs in the circle of protection. Every child has something to contribute to the world, if we give them that chance. There are the world’s standards of perfection … and then there are God’s, and these are the final measure. Every child is beautiful before God, and dear to Him for their own sake.

"As for our beautiful baby boy, for Todd and me, he is only more precious because he is vulnerable."

Given that the most fundamental responsibility of political leaders is to protect the lives of citizens, Sarah Palin's speech is the most significant speech of the 21st century. What other major political figure in the world today is speaking up for people with Down's syndrome ? Not only does she stand up for the one of the most-discriminated-against groups of our time, she does so with total honesty with regard to her feelings towards Trig - from being scared about the challenges to come, to a sense of awe at Trig's beauty, and her powerful sense of maternal protectiveness towards him.

As Alison Davis, who leads No Less Human, a group within SPUC, has pointed out in her speech at Oxford University earlier this year, 92% of babies with down's syndrome are aborted each year in Britain and the percentage is about the same in the US.

You can read her full speech in LifeNews here.

Final Commons votes on abortion and embryo research Wed 22 Oct

It has just been confirmed that the report stage and third reading of the government's Human Fertilisation and Embryology (HFE) bill will be on Wed 22 Oct. Radical pro-abortion amendments have been tabled for debate and voting at the report stage. The bill as a whole is also scheduled for its Commons third reading later that same day. After that, the bill will return to the House of Lords – who will be asked to approve the Commons’ amendments.

I realise that many of you will have already taken action, such as writing to your MP or distributing leaflets. We are immensely grateful for these efforts. We need, however, a last push to reach people who have yet to take action.

Please click here and take the requested action.

If you pray, please pray for the defeat of the abortion amendments and the whole bill.

Thank you again for your help. We know that MPs are receiving many letters, and we must reinforce this with phone calls too. Please do all you can.

Please act now before it's too late to protect unborn children.

"I will prohibit my cabinet from voting for pro-life laws" says Stephen Harper, Canada's Conservative leader

As the general election in Canada approaches, Mr Stephen Harper, Canadian prime minister and Conservative leader, has warned parliamentary candidates not to answer pro-life lobbyists' questionnaires on their position on abortion. Candidates may be breaking the criminal code by doing so, Harper claims!

Jim Hughes, president of the impressive Campaign Life Coalition in Canada, whose international conference I attended last weekend, told delegates: "This is an attempt to limit the pro-life movement's democratic rights, by intimidating candidates in this way. But the electorate, not the politicians, will decide what the election issues are".

Jim Hughes reminded delegates that none of Canada's party leaders was pro-life. Through an all-party agreement, a "gag" law was passed by the Canadian Parliament drastically limiting the amount to be spent by third parties at a general election. "Campaign Life Coalition was the primary focus of that law," Jim told me. "Pro-abortion politicians hate us with a passion."

Stephen Harper has gone as far as saying that he will prohibit any member of his cabinet from voting for pro-life legislation if he wins the election.

As a first-time visitor to Canada, taking part a well-attended pro-life conference, my impression is that Stephen Harper and his pro-abortion allies in other parties won't silence the pro-life movement for long. It's a large, vibrant, growing, well-informed, well-led movement with young people very much in evidence on the platform and amongst the delegates.

Tony Blair Foundation collaborates with worldwide attacks on the unborn

I have been in Toronto in recent days attending two international pro-life meetings addressing several immediate threats to unborn children:

• in the US
• in Britain
• in Northern Ireland
• in the Republic of Ireland through the pro-abortion lobby's action in the European Court of Human Rights
• in Kenya
• in the Philippines
• and through the Tony Blair Faith Foundation.

At Canada's Campaign Life Coalition's international conference, I met John-Henry Westen (pictured right) and his LifeSiteNews team. I explained how Tony Blair, recently received into the Catholic Church, and his Faith Foundation was undermining Catholic teaching on the dignity and inviolability of human life. In a disturbing development, the Tony Blair Faith Foundation has teamed up with the Faiths Act Fellowship to promote the Millennium Development Goals. The Faiths Act Fellowship works with World Vision which is calling for abortion on demand to be legalised in the world's poorest nations - which was also, for Tony Blair's government, central to the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals, as I have previously pointed out.

At the International Right to Life Federation board meeting, Mr Bill Saunders, senior fellow and director of the Family Research Council's Center for Human Life and Bioethics (pictured left), said that, if Senator Barack Obama is elected US president, it will be Armageddon. Mr Obama's first action, if elected, would be to sign the Freedom of Choice Act, which is more radical and far-reaching than the infamous Roe v. Wade supreme court decision which in 1973 legalised abortion throughout the nine months of pregnancy throughout the US. If Roe v. Wade were revoked, the Freedom of Choice Act would overturn every state law against abortion. All of Mr Obama's appointments at the UN would be pro-abortion. At least two supreme court justices will be appointed during the next presidential term. If Senator John McCain is elected, whoever he picks will be better than the incumbents. If Senator Obama is elected, his choices will be worse.

Bishop's letter yesterday on adoption by same-sex couples is an important development for the pro-life cause

Bishop Patrick O'Donoghue's letter yesterday to Catholic Caring Services, the social care agency of the diocese of Lancaster, regarding adoption by same-sex couples, is an important development for the pro-life cause in England and Wales.

His letter, which you can find here, states: "On grounds of conscience, formed by faith, we believe that same-sex partnerships do not provide the essential characteristics necessary for the well being and development of the child. I remain convinced that the best interests of children are served when they live with and are brought up by a married couple. Any dilution of this fundamental principle can harm children and undermine their paramount place in the whole question of adoption."

Quoting Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (now Pope Benedict XVI) in 2003, and after setting out what Catholic Caring Services must do to comply with the requirements of Catholic teaching, Bishop O'Donoghue says: "If however you are not willing to do this and if you insist on considering adoption applications from same-sex couples – an approach in direct conflict with the teaching of the Catholic Church – then with great sadness and regret I would have no alternative but to require Catholic Caring Services to take appropriate steps to remove its Catholic designation and confirm that it accepts that it will in future be acting independently of the Lancaster Diocese."

The reason why the bishop's stand on same-sex couple adoption is so important for the pro-life cause can be found in Pope John Paul II's Evangelium Vitae. In paragraph 97, Pope John Paul teaches that it is an illusion to think that we can build a true culture of human life if we do not offer adolescents and young adults an authentic education in sexuality, and in love, and the whole of life according to their true meaning and in their close interconnection.

Sadly, Bishop O'Donoghue contrasts sharply with the approach adopted by the Catholic bishops' conference of England and Wales on the separate but related issue of British government and EU law on the equal employment rights of male and female homosexuals, and bisexuals and transsexuals, which is to be enforced with the threat of severe legal sanctions.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales has produced Diversity and Equality Guidelines, a policy statement which (whilst it includes elements of Catholic doctrine) welcomes, seeks to implement and states that it will monitor this Government policy within the Church, including in Catholic schools.

The bishops’ document speaks about welcoming “the social and cultural changes which are required of us…”. It says “…it would be wrong to give some forms [of the six forms of discrimination listed by the Government] greater or lesser importance than others.” The document says that Catholics “must understand and comply with discrimination legislation”.

The bishops’ document calls on “those with authority at all levels of the church to be more aware of whether different groups are represented in the many facets of life of the Church e.g. schools…” and the bishops say: “…Organisations, institutions and diocese should consider appointing or entrusting someone with responsibility for diversity and equality”. Finally, the bishops warn: “We … intend to review progress … in two years”.

With the bishops of England and Wales now welcoming and guaranteeing the presence of homosexual, bisexual and transsexual teachers in Catholic schools in England and Wales, and in the light of Evangelium Vitae, paragraph 97 (above), is it not completely unrealistic to expect that Catholic sexual morality, including the sacredness of human life before birth, will be taught in these schools?

A pro-abortion document, prepared at the request of the EU Commission on the right to conscientious objection, links rights relating to sexual orientation to other supposed rights, including the “right” to abortion and the “right” to euthanasia and assisted suicide. The document quotes, in part, the Diversity and Equality Guidelines of the Catholic bishops of England and Wales in a generally approving way. The bishops’ guidelines and the EU experts’ document clearly agree that, subject to limited and narrow exceptions, Catholic organisations must ensure that no job applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment than another on the grounds of sexual orientation.

"Legalising abortion has no place in African Cultures and traditions" says Cardinal Njue, Archbishop of Nairobi

A letter of support and congratulations is being sent today to John Cardinal Njue by pro-life leaders gathered in Toronto, where I'm attending a meeting of the International Right to Life Federation of which I am joint vice-president.

In a powerfully-worded message to Kenyan Catholics and to "people of good will" he calls on them to"stand firm" against "a parliamentary bill" on abortion, on which I have blogged before. SPUC's analysis describes the eugenic and coercive nature of the bill which leaves virtually no legal protection whatsoever for the unborn child.

The Cardinal's call to the Kenyan people is direct and totally clear: "Stand firm against this evil of abortion". He says: "For Almighty God there is no such thing as an 'unwanted baby' ... and he reminds Catholics of the Church's penalty for procruing an abortion: "'A person who procures an abortion, where the effect follows, incurs an automatic excommunication' (Canon 1398). This includes any human person who knowingly has the abortion and anyone who assists willingly and directly, such as the doctor, the nurse or others. Let it be understood that in the final analysis excommunication is the choice of the individual; it is not the choice of the Church."

Since I cannot find the pastoral letter on the internet I publish it below in full. Please write to the Cardinal to encourage him and his fellow bishops to continue in their prophetic and courageous witness.

"My dear Priests, Religious, Christians and people of good will in the Archdiocese of Nairobi, and Catholic Diocese of Murang’a, grace and peace of the Lord be with you.

"With this letter I want to thank you for all the work and activities of evangelisation and human development that you are undertaking in this our beloved nation Kenya. Your voice and life of witness gives us courage to move ahead preaching the risen Lord with confidence.

"As you may recall, we have all gone through tough moments when our country turned into a battleground and in weeks was torn apart by violence. Thanks to God and our spirit of reconciliation, sanity is slowly returning.

"The Disturbing Issue

"Another disturbing issue is slowly arising in our midst, and that is the parliamentary bill on legalising abortion. You already know the stand of the Catholic Church on this issue. Now, I call upon you to stand firm and defend the life of the unborn babies. Say and shout it aloud that: Abortion is the deliberate termination of a pregnancy by killing the unborn and defenceless child. Such direct action, willed, either as an end or a means, is gravely contrary to the moral law and to Christian teaching. Abortion is killing an innocent person and God says, “You shall not kill” (Exodus 20:13). The womb of any mother is supposed to be the safest place where the child, even just conceived, should feel most secure and loved. There is no way we shall support a society that destroys the unborn who have been created as a gratuitous gift from God to the community.

"The Evil of Abortion

"Stand firm against this evil of abortion. Abortion is not merely the removal of some tissue from a woman’s body. Abortion is not the removal of a living “thing” that would become human if it were allowed to remain inside the woman’s body. Abortion is the destruction of an unborn baby. Pregnancy is the period for this new human life to mature, not just to “become human”. It, already is human. This is why the Church considers abortion the killing of a human being, and why the Second Vatican Council called it an “unspeakable crime.” I remind you all to maintain the utmost respect for human life, from the time of conception. Even under threat, never use your knowledge to do what is contrary to the laws of humanity.

"There Is No Such Thing

"For Almighty God there is no such thing as an 'unwanted baby.' Every one is made in His image and likeness and is uniquely part of the divine plan. If there is a woman anywhere who does not 'want' her baby, I plead with her to nevertheless let that baby live. A great number of people want that baby as does the Church. We love that baby from the moment it is conceived.

"You formed my inmost being;you knit me in my mother’s womb.I praise you, so wonderfully you made me;wonderful are your works! My very self you knew.
(Psalm 139:13-14)

"Penalty for Abortion

"Current Church law states: 'A person who procures an abortion, where the effect follows, incurs an automatic excommunication' (Canon 1398). This includes any human person who knowingly has the abortion and anyone who assists willingly and directly, such as the doctor, the nurse or others. Let it be understood that in the final analysis excommunication is the choice of the individual; it is not the choice of the Church.

"Persons in Political Life

"The Church has called politics a “difficult but noble art.” I am aware of the enormous pressures on those who serve the people in the midst of constantly shifting political winds, and the demands of diverse constituencies which can at times be completely irreconcilable. However, all political office holders and candidates for public office should make clear their commitment to work against legislation supporting abortion and even to accept political defeat, should such be the result, rather than sacrifice human life.

"Catholics Holding Public Office

"Those of you who are Catholics and are holding positions of public responsibility should be distinguished by your sense of integrity. Your actions should be consistent with your faith and the moral principles taught by the Church in which you claim membership. In fulfilment of your public responsibilities, you must uphold public morality and promote public order and peace. You must work for laws and public policies that sustain human life and promote the common good. You must work hard to assure prenatal care for all women. You must work to correct injustices and all situations of evil that threaten human dignity and human rights. You must have a special concern for the disadvantaged and disenfranchised. In this you should be sensitive to the opportunities you have of enlightening and persuading others as to the proper moral response to the many problems of our day.

"Persons of Good Will

"This is the opportune time for you Catholics to constructively enter into the public debate. For that matter you must be informed, argue rationally, and show respect for those who have differing opinions, while at the same time evidencing the unwavering conviction that every unborn child has the right to life. One voice, one person reaching out, can literally make the difference between life and death. Work in your parishes, homes, offices, fields and on streets to create an atmosphere that tells the world you are followers of Christ, committed, as He was committed, to the sacredness of all human life.

“'The laity...exercise their apostolate...in the world as in the Church, in the temporal order as well as in the spiritual...The layman, at one and at the same time a believer and a citizen of the world, has only a single conscience; it is by this that he must be guided continually in both domains' (Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity, No.5).

"True Love Is the Way

"The ultimate answer to abortion lies in an understanding of love. There is probably no term we use more loosely than love. Love doesn’t come and go with the wind. Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, (love) is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails (1 Cor 13:4-8). When we live in love, we outgrow our selfishness and we are always ready to give. Our Lord Jesus tells us that there is no greater love than to lay down our lives for our friends.

"Obviously, love of God requires that we keep His commandments. These Commandments still mean today in the Third Millennium what they always meant: sexual intimacies outside marriage and for pleasure are wrong. If we love young people we will not hesitate to teach them this. We must never underestimate them. Far more young people are prepared to be good than some adults realise. But adults must set the standards. Adults must be very clear in their own minds that lust is not love, and that, with the help of the sacraments, purity is possible.

"Finally, if we teach a true love of life, the life of the unborn, the aged, the disabled, the blind, and deaf, and retarded, if we teach that God loves every life He creates, we would go a long way toward ending abortion. The God of love has given to human beings the incredible capacity to share in His creation. We call that sharing “procreation.” The God of love never intended that human beings would kill human beings. Love is always creative, never destructive. That’s why love makes the world go round.

"Submit a Million Signatures for the Baby

This is the opportune moment to call upon you all to join in our preliminary steps to resist illegal legislations. Legalising abortion has no place in African Cultures and traditions. I request all Parishes, Chaplaincies, Religious Communities, Christians and people of good will to start submitting signatures so that after gathering them in their millions we move to petition the competent authorities to stop this campaign of discussing how to kill the unborn babies.

"This is our non-stop baby defending crusade for the next couple of months. Radio Waumini, Church announcements, posters and the National Mirror will keep you informed about our way forward.

"Let’s join hands to heal our nation Kenya. This is the time to reconstruct what was damaged, and not to spend time planning to annihilate the innocent unborn babies. May we embrace this struggle with courage and look at our future with hope.

"I impart on you my apostolic blessings.

"Your Shepherd
†John Cardinal Njue
Archbishop of Nairobi
and the Apostolic Administrator of Murang’a
28th September 2008"

Memorial to aborted children in church's graveyard

A week ago, Fr Morty O'Shea, SOLT, parish priest, unveiled a memorial to all aborted children in the graveyard of St Mary's Catholic church, Carmarthen, Dyfed. The preacher at a Mass beforehand was Fr Jeremy Davies of the Archdiocese of Westminster. The memorial includes the following quotation from the 10th chapter of St Mark's Gospel: "Let the little children come to me."

Fr O'Shea writes: "[T]he cemetery memorial witnesses to the reality that human life is sacred and that seven million lives taken by surgical abortion alone is something that we cannot ignore. It is time for all people of good will to get involved. If we were to compare the abortion holocaust with the Jewish holocaust, we can see that there is a similarity in terms of the number of human beings who have lost their lives. Similar also is the fact that they all died with ‘legal’ death warrants. But there is one big distinction: the Jews who died in the holocaust will always be remembered. They will have family who will remember them. There will be holocaust memorials and there will be an annual date to commemorate what has happened for a long time to come. The fact that they were born, that they lived and that they died in such circumstances will always be remembered.

"On the other hand, when we look at the aborted babies, the mere fact that these babies ever existed is denied! There is no such thing as a birth certificate, there is no death certificate, there is no funeral service, there is no coffin, there is no grave, there is no headstone, there is no commemoration in the future. The world treats them as nothing more than medical waste. It is as if these infants never lived, never died. This is the ultimate ignominy to inflict on anybody but it is the necessary price to justify the world’s indifference. The memorial in St Mary’s cemetery is thus a solitary and prophetic witness to the abortion holocaust that continues in our midst."

Fr O'Shea adds: "[T]here is no reason why such a memorial could not be erected outside the front of any church."

Department of health in Northern Ireland seeks to promote abortion access in defiance of the law

In July, Northern Ireland's Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety issued a consultation paper on abortion. It begins with: "Within the scope of this Guidance and the law in Northern Ireland, each Health & Social Services Trust must ensure that its patients have access to termination of pregnancy services." At first glance, this seems depressingly par for the course until you reflect on the actual legal situation in the province. You then realise that the text is deeply misleading.

Misinformation from the department of health seeking to promote abortion in Northern Ireland is matched by misinformation from the pro-abortion lobby in the House of Commons who are seeking to extend the Abortion Act to Northern Ireland this month.

Professor John Keown, Rose F Kennedy professor in Christian ethics at Georgetown University, Washington, DC, has lighted on this and he is quoted in the Catholic Lawyers Blog. He writes: "The starting point of the Guidance should have been a clear statement of the illegality of abortion in Northern Ireland: that it is a crime punishable by a maximum of life imprisonment to use any means with intent to procure miscarriage, and an offence to supply means knowing that they are to be used with that intent. The Guidance should then have recalled the central if not sole purpose of this prohibition: the protection of the unborn child, a purpose which has informed the law against abortion for over 700 years."

Professor Keown asks rhetorically: "Would one begin Guidance on the law of theft, which recognises that in exceptional circumstances [person] A may lawfully appropriate [person] B’s property, by saying that 'within the scope of law of theft, the government should ensure that everyone has access to everyone else’s property'?"

Catholic Lawyers Blog is produced by Mrs Johanna Higgins, a barrister, of the Association of Catholic Lawyers in Ireland. The association has produced a briefing paper on the guidance and SPUC has made a submission on it.

SPUC intervening in assisted suicide case

A case in the high court in London today is a threat to vulnerable people and could undermine the law against assisted suicide. Mrs Debbie Purdy, who has multiple sclerosis, wants to know whether her husband would be prosecuted if he took her abroad to commit suicide.

SPUC is intervening in the case and one of our supporters who has multiple sclerosis points out that people with that disease are more prone to depression and suicidal thoughts. Mrs Purdy is backed by Dignity in Dying, the pro-euthanasia group, and is considering going to Dignitas in Zurich, Switzerland, to kill herself if her condition worsens.

Let's hope Canadian bishops' strong endorsement of Humanae Vitae marks turning of tide

A few weeks after the promulgation of Humanae Vitae, Pope Paul VI's 1968 encyclical on birth regulation, the Canadian Catholic bishops expressed their dissent from it. The same body has now contradicted the position of the so-called Winnipeg statement with a pastoral letter which calls the encyclical prophetic and laments the modern contraceptive mentality which it warned about. The Rosarium group wants the Winnipeg statement formally retracted but concedes that Liberating Potential, the recent letter, effectively does so.

The pastoral letter urges Catholics to study the encyclical and expresses concern at the state of marriage and family. Humanae Vitae is: "a major reflection on God's design for human love," the bishops say. They also praise Pope John Paul II's theology of the body. They write: "it is urgent to remember the importance of the connection that exists between conjugal love, sexuality and fruitfulness." Humanae Vitae and the theology of the body are challenges to the world, the bishops say. The married vocation is "great and difficult", and the Canadian bishops offer couples their support.

Pope John Paul II warned of the close connection between contraception and abortion. In part 13 of his 1995 Evangelium Vitae, he laments the liberal supply of abortifacient birth control through the same channels as contraceptives. In February, I blogged about how pupils in a Catholic school as young as 13 were given information on how to get abortions and abortifacient birth control.

It is sad when a doom-laden prophecy is proved to be true. "I told you so," sounds as if the person rejoices when things go wrong for others – what German-speakers call Schadenfreude. However, Humanae Vitae is being proved right before our very eyes, and we take no pleasure in observing this. Sexuality is cheapened, families collapse, innocent human life is deliberately destroyed, and "measures regarded as lawful by married people in the solution of a particular family difficulty" are imposed on entire countries (even with the co-operation of Catholic authorities [in England]) as Humanae Vitae, 17, predicted.

While the Canadian bishops' de facto retraction of their misguided 1968 statement is long overdue, let us hope it is a turning of the tide. Once the Catholic church again speaks with one voice on the prophetic truth of Humanae Vitae there will be a sound foundation laid, both within the Catholic community and amongst those who agree with its teaching on this matter, for building a culture of life.

Pro-life groups issue joint leaflet against abortion amendments

A number of pro-life groups have joined with SPUC to issue a joint version (pictured) of SPUC's "Under pressure" leaflet against the proposed extreme pro-abortion amendments to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology bill. The groups are:

• Association of Priests for the Gospel of Life
• Catholic Bishops Conference of England & Wales
• Choose Life
• Christian Concern for Our Nation
• Christian Medical Fellowship
• Family Life International
• Society for the Protection of Unborn Children
• World Federation of Doctors who Respect Human Life

If you would like to order a supply of the leaflet to distribute, you can do so via SPUC (email lizfoody@spuc.org.uk , tel. 020 7820 3122) or via any of the groups listed above. It's important that we all work together in seeking to meet and to overcome the shocking threats we are facing.

Catholic Education Service steers Catholic schoolchildren in England to “neutral” sexual values and abortion clinics

Witness to Love has recently published two important posts: “Lifetracks, ‘values clarification’ and how not to teach morality” and “Lifetracks: Inaccurate, misleading and ill-informed”. The author of Witness to Love teaches English in a Catholic High School in the UK and has been an English teacher for over twenty years. Lifetracks is an educational/personal development programme used in the author’s school.

The first of the posts above perceptively analyses the relativistic educational approach of the Lifetracks’ personal development programme, for school key stages 3 and 4. “Most worrying of all”, it says, “are statements for year 11 students (15-16 year olds) under the heading ‘Sexual Responsibility, Attitudes & Lifestyles’ that relativise all types of sexual behaviour, as if they were morally equivalent. For example, ‘different people have different preferences where sex is concerned … The important thing to remember is that every human being is a unique individual who deserves to feel good about themselves, regardless of their sexual preferences’.”

The second post above, on which I have previously blogged, shows how Lifetracks grooms young people “for participation in a culture that has lost sight of the truth about the human person and about human sexuality … Parental authority over children is … deliberately undermined in the Lifetracks material by quoting and endorsing the Gillick (1986) ruling about prescribing contraception to under-16 year olds without parental consent (Lifetracks Year 9, p. 131) … Although 'adoption' is suggested as one way of dealing with an 'unwanted pregnancy', and there are two links to groups that offer this support, this is given along with material (Hints & Tips) that also lists the main abortion providers such as Marie Stopes.”

Lifetracks is promoted by Connexions, a government agency which provides careers advice to young people from 13 - 19 years old and which promotes access to abortion and abortifacient birth control amongst children under the age of consent without parental knowledge or consent, on which I have been publishing a series of posts.

The Connexions service, is welcomed into Catholic schools in England by the Catholic Education Service, as my previous posts show. Given that Lifetracks is supported by Connexions and is a programme known to be used in at least one Catholic school, the Catholic Education Service is effectively steering Catholic schoolchildren, under the age of consent, to “neutral” sexual values and to abortion clinics.

Citizens whose children attend non-faith schools must resist the wicked government policy which robs our children of their innocence and which kills our grandchildren. Catholic citizens must also fight against the wicked policy of the Catholic authorities in England which co-operates with government policy in this area. Please write to me, especially if you are a parent or a teacher, if you want help in developing your personal resistance to this government policy: at johnsmeaton@spuc.org.uk

Recycled "Medical News Today" story reports on using left-over tiny persons in fertility clinics

Medical News Today reports this week on “using left-over embryos” in the US, in much the same way as we talk about recycling rubbish these days. Indeed, that’s how an “unwanted” or “surplus” embryo of the human species in many parts of the world, not least in the UK, is now regarded – rubbish to be recycled for the benefit of the adult human community and their (born) children.

Without the kind permission of Medical News Today, I am recycling their story so that every time the word “embryo” appears, I change it to read “tiny person”. When you’ve been through the scientific evidence with them about the beginning of human life, try giving this blog to friends who are unsure about, or who accept, IVF practices to see if it helps them to stop and think:

Using Leftover Tiny Persons in Fertility Clinics

The majority of infertility patients are in favour of using left-over tiny persons for stem cell research and would also support selling left-over tiny persons to other couples, according to a recent survey.

The survey is published in two related studies in the September issue of the journal Fertility and Sterility.

The researchers surveyed 1,350 women who presented for infertility at a large, university hospital-based fertility center in Illinois. The survey included 24 questions on patient demographics, obstetric and infertility history, and opinions about using extra tiny persons for stem cell research and selling extra tiny persons to other couples.

Assisted reproductive technology has resulted in the creation and cryopreservation of extra tiny persons at fertility centers across the country. It was estimated in 2002 that 396,526 tiny persons were in storage at U.S. fertility clinics, according to previously published research.

These tiny persons may be used for future pregnancy attempts, donated to other couples or agencies, given to researchers, or discarded.

Because infertility patients are the gatekeepers of these leftover tiny persons, it is important to understand their opinions, according to Dr. Tarun Jain, University of Illinois at Chicago assistant professor of reproductive endocrinology and infertility, clinical IVF director, and lead author of the study.

When asked if using leftover tiny persons for stem cell research should be allowed, 73 percent of the 636 respondents who stated a definitive opinion answered yes.

"Infertility patients, in general, are altruistic, and it makes sense that they would try to advance medicine and help others," said Jain.

African Americans and Hispanics were less likely to approve of using leftover tiny persons for stem cell research, compared with Caucasians. Patients younger than 30, Protestant, less wealthy and single were also less likely to support using leftover tiny persons for stem cell research.

The researchers also asked infertility patients if they would be willing to sell their extra tiny persons to other couples, a practice that is considered ethically unacceptable by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

There is an emerging demand from infertility patients who cannot conceive using their own oocytes, or eggs, to purchase left-over, pre-existing tiny persons because it is a more cost-effective option than using an egg donor, according to the authors.

When asked if selling leftover tiny persons to other couples should be allowed, 56 percent of the 588 respondents who stated a definitive opinion answered yes.

Hispanics were less likely to approve of selling extra tiny persons when compared with Caucasians, but all East Indian respondents approved of the practice. Women who had never been pregnant were also less likely to approve, according to the study.

The authors say this is the first survey to examine the opinions of a general infertility population related to the use of leftover tiny persons and to analyze the results based on the patients' sociodemographic and reproductive backgrounds.

"Given the potential for a significant increase in the commoditizing of spare tiny persons, medical societies and policy makers may need to pay close attention to this controversial area," conclude Jain and co-author Stacey Missmer from Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School.

The majority of our fellow-citizens, including fellow church-goers, let’s face it, speak about IVF as though it’s a great benefit for humanity. As I’ve mentioned before, 2,137,924 human embryos were created by specialists while assisting couples in the UK to have babies between 1991 and 2005, according to BioNews. During this period, the HFEA informs us that the total of live babies born through IVF procedures was 109,469. What happened to the other 2,028,455 human embryos? Again, according to BioNews:

“Unused embryos in clinics under UK law may by consent be discarded, frozen, donated to research or donated to other infertile couples…” and, of course, many embryos are transferred to the womb only to miscarry or to be selectively aborted. If the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill, now before Parliament, becomes law – it will be lawful to create human embryos for training purposes, for embryologists to practise on them in destructive experiments.

The greatest challenge facing the pro-life movement remains what it’s always been: to convince our fellow-citizens of the dignity and inviolability of the human person from conception. However, through lifestyles which include the use of abortifacient “contraceptive” drugs and devices and the acceptance of IVF procedures for infertile couples and for other purposes, such respect appears to be vanishing fast. This is an issue of huge significance for the future of the pro-life campaign worldwide and pro-life groups worldwide must address it head-on as a matter of urgency.

Schools and parishes must "protect our young people from cultures of death": Read and act on Bishop O'Donoghue's clarion call

"I encourage all our schools and parishes to continue to take steps to protect our young people from cultures of death, that seek to corrupt and exploit them" said Bishop Patrick O'Donoghue in "Fit for Mission? Church".

His clarion call to Catholics in his diocese is hugely significant for the future of pro-life work in the UK. I strongly urge readers to obtain copies of the new, expanded edition of this document from the Catholic Truth Society at £8.95.

The bishop's "Fit for Mission? Schools" can also be obtained from the CTS: check here. (£6.95)

They are must-reads for anyone who cares about the sanctity of human life and the primary rights and duties of parents to protect and to educate their children.

It's time stand up to the government, it's time for parents to assert their parental rights, and to to stand up to all authorities who seek to usurp those rights - whether it's the government, school authorities, or the Catholic Education Service. SPUC's Safe at School campaign is designed to enable parents to do just that.

European Court of Human Rights and the international campaign to legalize abortion in Ireland

Earlier this month I referred to the European Court of Human Rights’ (ECHR) ruling in the case of Tysiac v Poland and the danger of a human right to abortion being created. Next year the ECHR is expected to hear a case of aimed at overturning Ireland’s constitutional ban on abortion. Lawyers for three women known only as A,B and C, claim that the Irish prohibition on abortion is a violation of human rights. The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC), along with a number of other international pro-life groups, has been given leave to intervene in the proceedings. We believe the case is inadmissible, unfounded and we will be calling on the court to throw it out.

The decision to allow the UK's SPUC, the US's Family Research Council and the European Centre for Law and Justice, based in Strasbourg, to intervene after the deadline for interventions had passed, is thought to reflect the importance the ECHR attaches to this case. Ireland’s Pro-life Campaign had previously been given permission make a submission and abortion advocates the Irish Family Planning Association and the New York-based Centre for Reproductive Rights (CRR) are supporting the complainants.

This case has emerged at a time of mounting pressure on Ireland to legalise abortion. It's merely part of a much wider international campaign to force the Irish people to accept abortion on demand. While pro-abortion extremists in the House of Commons are determined to impose the Abortion Act on Northern Ireland against the will of the devolved Assembly, the ABC case is intended to undermine the Republic’s legal protection for unborn children. The fact that abortion advocates must resort to the courts further underlines their lack of support among the Irish people.

Liam Gibson, SPUC's Northern Ireland development officer, has been working with the Society's lawyers on the case and has sent me the following observations:

"This is not the first time the abortion lobby has tried to use the human rights court in Strasbourg to attack Ireland’s abortion ban. Two years ago, in a similar case, a woman claimed she had been subjected to inhuman and degrading treatment because she was unable to have an abortion in Ireland. However since she hadn’t take her case to the Irish courts before bringing it to ECHR , it was considered inadmissible. There is a good chance that this case will be dismissed for the same reason.

"Until the recent Tysiac case the ECHR had been reluctant to get involved in abortion law, insisting that it was a matter for individual states to decide. Last year, however, the court ruled that Polish law, which only allows abortions on strictly medical grounds, violated the European Convention on Human Rights on the pretext that it lacked a procedure for resolving disputes over when an abortion might be permitted. The court said ‘Once the legislature decides to allow abortion, it must not structure its legal framework in a way which would limit real possibilities to obtain it.’ (Tysiac v Poland, Application no 5410/03 para 116)

"Bringing Ireland before an international court is an attempt to intimidate the Irish people and put pressure on their government to legislate for abortion, even in very limited circumstances. This will provide the opening the international abortion lobby wants. The CRR argued in the Tysiac case that wherever abortion is legalised it must be made accessible. Legalising abortion, even in extreme cases, could result in demands for the Irish health service to put in place arrangements and procedures to facilitate abortion. Hospitals would be required to employ doctors trained and willing to perform abortions. Anyone refused abortion would have a right to appeal that decision and there would be a continual legal battle to widen the scope of the law. Doctors unwilling to approve abortions would be required to refer women to doctors who would. This is part of the strategy to use human rights agencies to create a human right to abortion.

"At present Ireland has a much better defence against the arguments of the CRR than Poland had. Ireland’s law leaves no room for doubt or disputes. Both women and unborn children have an equal right to life, abortion is only lawful when it is necessary to save the life of the mother. The lives of the three women in the ABC case were never at risk nor were they denied appropriate medical treatment. In fact according to World Health Organisation statistics Ireland has the lowest maternal death rate is in world. The death rate in the Britain, which has the most liberal abortion laws in Europe, is over three times higher.

"Even if the court ignores its own criteria for admissibility it is still unlikely that it will uphold the claims of the abortion lobby but it is important that the Irish people are not intimidated.

"In 2004 the ECHR considered the case of Vo -v- France (Application no. 53924/00 para 84). Dealing with the rights of the unborn child rather than directly with abortion it concluded that ‘the embryo/foetus belongs to the human race.’ In the belief that belonging to the human race is the basis of human rights, the people of Ireland have established within their laws and constitution legal protection for the child in the womb. The Convention on the Rights of the Child also recognises that a child needs appropriate legal protection before, as well as after birth. If the ECHR is no longer determined to avoid questions about abortion law then it must accept that everyone who belongs to the human race shares the same fundamental human right to life."

Attacking the sacred in the name of abortion and sexual “freedom”

Today I am going to take a look at deliberate acts of sacrilege committed in the name of abortion. This will make for disturbing reading but it is important to expose the depths to which the abortion lobby is prepared to sink in order to forward the culture of death. It says a great deal for the nature of their business that the pro-abortion lobby feels the need to attack everyone, including God, in the course of their work.

A runner-up this week is the self-publicist Danish artist who built sculptures of pregnant teenagers nailed to crosses in a parody of the crucifixion entitled "In the Name of God". It is being used as part of a crusade (the press release’s word not mine) against “the extreme Bible fundamentalists – with Bush and the Pope at the head” – in other words against an understanding of human sexuality to which the artist is opposed. The artist claims that the stunt “is not a global accusation against Christianity” and says he likes “progressive Christians” whom he says he speaks for. The artist claims furthermore that the stunt is an analogy not a caricature, with the teenager being a symbol of innocence subjected to "the ultimate punishment" like Jesus the lamb, but this is simply nonsense. The artist’s theological musings don’t disguise the reality that he has degraded a symbol sacred to Christianity and is causing maximum hurt and offence to Christians in order to make a statement. He apparently intends to parade his creations in various Catholic countries as well as Vatican city. The artist says his sculptures should not be seen as “a comment on the issue of abortion”; but, the fact is that the sculpture has been used in Nicaragua as part of the campaign to legalise abortion in that country. Mockery of Christ’s sacrifice for the whole of humanity and attacks on the sanctity of human life are, for Christians like myself, inseperably linked.

Moving across the globe to Argentina comes another contender for the Orwell Prize - the members of a pro-abortion rally who attacked a group of young people stationed outside a cathedral to protect it from desecration. According to European Life Network, which ran the story:

“The video clearly shows the pro-abortion protesters screaming insults and spitting in their faces, whilst the young people calmly pray and refuse to retaliate. This is the sort of despicable action the abortion lobby seems to revel in - an unprovoked attack on innocent people at prayer- and then place blame on the pro-lifers.”

Also featured in the video are men mocking the actions of priests and, according to Spanish speakers, members of the crowd screaming comments about Mary being a whore.

But in first place this week is a man who had himself filmed taking a consecrated host "hostage" during a Catholic Mass. It was then filmed next to a condom (the whole stunt was apparently supposed to be a protest against the Church’s teaching on sexuality). After that, it was sent to a Dr P. Z. Myers at the University of Minnesota, who filmed himself mistreating the host, piercing it with a rusty nail and throwing it into the dustbin.

“Political language ... is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind." George Orwell

Tony Blair is undermining the faith of the church into which he has been received

The Tony Blair Faith Foundation is holding an “exciting event” in Los Angeles tomorrow to mark the midway point for the achievement of the Millenium Development Goals in 2015 – a panel discussion including Tony Blair and significant Islamic figures.

The blurb says: “Recorded live, this will be a great chance for you, and countless others around the world, to discuss your thoughts and ideas on issues of faith and combating poverty - as well as encouraging understanding of and between faiths.”

The Mission Statement of Tony Blair’s Faith Foundation is at pains to emphasize: “ … the Foundation will use its profile and resources to encourage people of faith to work together more closely to tackle global poverty and conflict … ”

The trouble is that Tony Blair has refused to repudiate the position his government promoted in words and action during his premiership – the promotion of abortion on demand in developing countries as central to the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals. This was also emphasized by Baroness Amos, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office in Blair’s government, in answers to questions in January 2003.

As I’ve said before, Tony Blair has reportedly got his eye on becoming president of the EU Council and he is using his “Faith Foundation” to promote his influence worldwide.

While there’s a possibility of him running for public office in any part of the world, citizens have a right and a duty to challenge him on his political record on pro-life matters. As a Catholic myself, I do not believe that politicians should be protected from public scrutiny simply by being received into the Catholic church.

I have no wish for Tony Blair to don sackcloth and ashes. I’ll do that for my own sins before I judge anyone else.However, Tony Blair’s position on abortion, abortifacient birth control, IVF and euthanasia by neglect is a matter of public record. As prime minister he was in the forefront of championing the culture of death not only in Britain but also, on abortion, around the world through the UK’s foreign policy. As long as he fails to repudiate his appalling legacy, Tony Blair is undermining the faith of the church into which he has been received.

Conflicting sex education policies in Catholic schools

The Vatican has just warmly endorsed two documents by an English diocese which support Catholic church teaching on life issues. Archbishop Mauro Piacenza, secretary to the Holy See's Congregation for the Clergy has written supportively to Rt Rev Patrick O'Donoghue, Bishop of Lancaster, about his Fit For Mission? Church and Fit for Mission? Schools.

The congregation expresses surprise at the reaction to the document on schools, which it says was simply an instance of Bishop O'Donoghue doing his duty as a bishop to proclaim Catholic faith.

The schools document says that abortion and similar subjects should not be taught about as if the church were neutral on them. It says that sex education is a basic right of parents, and must be carried out under their close supervision and states: "Parents, schools and colleges must reject secularized and anti-life sex education, which puts God at the margin of life and regards the birth of a child as a threat."

The document on the church refers to the state-sponsored culture of death. The bishop suggests that legalised abortion in Britain may have led to widespread violence. He writes: "I encourage all our schools and parishes to continue to take steps to protect our young people from cultures of death, that seek to corrupt and exploit them."

Archbishop Piacenza says to Bishop O'Donoghue that the Holy See's Congregation for the Clergy: "… again lauds you for your courageous action."

Such a ringing endorsement stands in stark contrast to my post of yesterday on Lifetracks, a so-called personal development programme used in at least one Catholic school. This scheme includes references to a website which could help girls obtain abortions and fails to make clear the abortifacient nature of some birth control drugs and devices. Connexions, a government advice service for young people, is supporting and promoting the programme, according to Witness to Love, a teacher at the school. The Catholic Education Service says of Connexions in Catholic schools: "It is a service to be welcomed."

While Bishop O'Donoghue's policy has been approved by the church's highest authorities, the church's education body for England and Wales is encouraging the involvement of an organisation whose policies conflict with Catholic teaching and throws Catholic schoolchildren to the wolves, as I blogged recently. Something's got to give.

Delivering them into evil

I strongly urge my visitors to read Witness to Love's superb analysis of "Lifetracks", a personal development programme supported and promoted by Connexions in schools.

As you may know from my previous posts, Connexions is a government agency which provides careers advice to young people from 13 - 19 years old and which promotes access to abortion and abortifacient birth control amongst children under the age of consent without parental knowledge or consent.

Our Witness to Love is a Catholic English teacher working in Catholic High School. His PhD thesis, completed at the University of Nottingham, was on children's reading and the moral imagination - and he has a background in Psychology, English and Education. He and Martha, his wife, have six children. As an academic, a teacher and a father, he is uniquely well-qualified to comment on "Lifetracks" as his analysis shows.

"Lifetracks", despite Witness to Love's objections, has been used for several years in his Catholic school. He describes how the programmes marginalizes the family, and how its misleading and factually inaccurate "information" strips authentic Catholic teachers and parents of their authority, promotes the idea that there are no solid norms regarding human life, human love and lifestyles, and prepares children from 13 years old for sexual activity.

Witness to Love tells us that "Worksheets for children in years 9 and 11 contain 'information' about contraceptives which fail to mention the medical risks to women of taking the pill, nor the abortifacient properties of the 'morning after pill' or certain IUDs." He tells us that the programme contains "plenty of suggestions of where to obtain an abortion through the Connexions website".

Witness to Love suspects the "Lifetracks" programme is used in many schools, including Catholic schools in the UK. Please will you check if it's being used in schools attended by your children, grandchildren, or the children of your friends, neighbours or fellow-parishioners? Please let me know - at johnsmeaton@spuc.org.uk

I have said it before and I will say it again. The government's providing access to children with abortion and abortifacient birth control and preparing them for sexual activity is the worst development in Britain since the passing of the Abortion Act. And as a Catholic, I say that Catholic authorities delivering our children into evil is the worst betrayal of their sacred trust that I can imagine. We cannot rest until the Catholic Education Service has been instructed by its chairman, Archbishop Vincent Nichols, and by the Catholic bishops of England and Wales, to reverse its wicked policy of welcoming Connexions' advisers into Catholic schools in England.

Bedford's pro-life fighter

At an SPUC meeting on Wednesday in Bedford, I had the pleasure of meeting Mr Dudley Orman, aged 87, who has lived much of his life in the town. He has a track-record of more than 40 years in campaigning for the pro-life cause.

When abortion looked likely to be legalised in the 1960s, Mr Orman put pro-life placards on his bicycle and motorcycle. He recalls an SPUC rally in Hyde Park, London, which was attended by 100,000 people, including himself and his sister. The meeting was addressed by members of parliament and, afterwards, he was among those carrying a banner in a march. Mr Orman later became a member of the committee of the Bedford branch of Life.

Mr Orman has been secretary of the Bedfordshire group of Amnesty International, and raised the matter of abortion and human rights at a major meeting of the organisation some 30 years ago. He says that half of the audience supported his pro-life position while half disagreed. He regrets recent moves to change Amnesty's neutral policy on abortion to one which supports it, saying that abortion is a human rights issue just as much as false imprisonment.

Mr Orman says his pro-life views are motivated by his religious beliefs. He converted aged 17, initially attending the Catholic church and Jehovah's Witnesses, and currently going to Seventh Day Adventist and Pentecostal services.

He is a keen and frequently published correspondent with the county's local newspapers and says it is important to keep the abortion issue in the public eye. He has also often written Mr Patrick Hall, his town's MP. Sadly, Mr Hall does not agree with the pro-life position. "He won't budge," says Mr Orman, "but I'll keep trying to persuade him."

Mr Orman has taken part in most of the Pro-Life Chains held in Bedford over the past 12 years. SPUC supporters stand alongside a main road holding placards which remind passers-by of the tragedy of abortion and publicise a helpline for people affected by abortion.

After last year's demonstration, he put his placard in an upstairs window. It says: "Abortion hurts women and kills children." Sadly, someone threw a stone at the window and broke it, though no-one was hurt. Mr Orman says: "I feel sorry for the person who threw that stone. I'm not bitter. I just hope they come one day to see that abortion is wrong."

Although the local press did not take a picture of the damage, the house, with Mr Orman's placard, featured on an auctioneer's website and was thus visible worldwide. He recalled the words of William Cowper's hymn: "God moves in a mysterious way/His wonders to perform."

Mr Orman says he intends to carry on fighting the pro-life fight for as long as he is able, hopefully attending next year's Pro-Life Chain and keeping the issue otherwise in the public eye. It is on such dedication that SPUC was founded and it is thanks to campaigners like Mr Dudley Orman of Bedford that we shall be able to continue our work.