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In obstetrics, a fetus is an unborn child who is recognisably human and in whom all the major structures and organ systems are already present. An embryo is an unborn child from an earlier stage of development. An embryo becomes a fetus about eight weeks after fertilisation. The ‘abortion drug’ RU486 kills embryos. RU486 or Read more
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In 1985, Mary Anne Warren coined the term gendercide to refer to the ritual eradication of women and girls throughout the world. More recently, the heartbreaking film It’s a Girl documents the effects of this practice on the numbers of girls and women in China and India. It makes for difficult viewing, particularly when confronted with the Read more
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Several prominent bioethicists have come out in favour of infanticide in a leading medical journal. A special issue of the Journal of Medical Ethics contains 31 commentaries on infanticide from a range of ethicists, some arguing it can be a moral action; others maintaining that even suggesting it is a vile stain on academic integrity. Read more
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New research from the University of Otago, Christchurch, suggests abortion does not reduce the mental health risks of unwanted pregnancy. Currently, abortion can only be performed legally in New Zealand if there is a risk to the mother’s physical or mental health or if the baby would have a serious disability. About 98 per cent Read more
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As a United Nations commission debates violence against women, the Holy See has found itself lumped together with Iran and Russia as alleged opponents of efforts to reduce such violence. The reason is that these states oppose a strong drive to use the issue of violence against women as a means to establish abortion in Read more
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An international panel of doctors has told the United Nations Commission for the Status of Women that abortion is not necessary to promote women’s health and can actually harm women instead. The doctors challenged assumptions that the expansion of health care and women’s rights demands the expansion of abortion. They stressed that pregnancies — even Read more
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Germany’s Catholic bishops have decided that Catholic hospitals should provide the “morning-after” pill to rape victims “as long as this has a prophylactic and not an abortive effect”. But some Catholic doctors, who say the bishops relied on inaccurate medical information, question the assertion that this pill can function solely as a contraceptive. The bishops Read more
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A priest who was conceived in rape when his mother was only 13 years old is sharing the story of how he met, forgave and heard the confession of his father, who is now living a life of faith. “I could have ended up in a trash can, but I was allowed to live,” said Read more
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Catholic agencies in the United States are cautious about a new “accommodation” for religious institutions that object to covering contraception and abortion services in their employees’ insurance plans. The US Conference of Catholic Bishops declined to comment on the Obama administration’s latest modification to the Health and Human Services mandate that many Catholic employers are Read more
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Catholic and pro-life leaders have strongly criticised the Irish government for deciding to introduce legislation to legalise abortion in cases where the mother’s life is deemed to be at risk. The Fine Gael-run government’s action follows the death of Savita Halappanavar, an Indian woman who was admitted to a Galway hospital while miscarrying. She reportedly Read more
