Dear Friends for Life,
Vietnam - A Two-Child Policy? A two child limit on couples similar to the coercive forced abortion program in China has been proposed for Vietnam. Abortions there are already at an all time high and this will certainly increase that number. Current family planning laws are already draconian, as government officials who have a third child are denied raises and promotions. This new law will include sanctions for a third child or later. Critics, noting the traditional cultural preference for boys, predict that this will be exacerbated under the new measure. Vietnam already has a 112 - 100 male/female ratio to birth.
Philippines - Pro-Abortion bill dies. The Philippine House of Representatives, after a full year of wrestling with proposed changes in laws governing reproduction, has allowed its controversial abortion bill to die of inaction. National elections are scheduled for May.
God Bless,
Jerry Novotny, OMI
(Quote) "Government's first duty is to protect the people, not run their lives." - President Ronald Reagan
****************************** **********
Lifeissues.net NEWSLETTER #469
April 11, 2010
****************************** **********
(TABLE OF CONTENTS):
1. US fertility rate drops below replacement level
2. Windpipe transplant success in UK child
3. Canada turns a blind eye to egg 'donor' grey market
4. 'Transplant tourism' causing international concern: experts
5. More surprises in Dutch euthanasia of infants
6. Is it right for parents to choose whether baby is a boy or girl?
7. Post-Abortion Suffering
8. Are Persons in the Vegetative State Dying? Is Feeding them by Tubes Morally Repugnant?
9. When is euthanasia justified?
10. Down Syndrome: On Holy Ground
11. Adolescent sexual behaviour and public health: the religion
versus science dichotomy
12. Unhealthy and Unhappy
****************************** *************************
(FOCUS ON ASIA): "Japan, U.N. share blind spot on 'migrants'" - I wish to speak about the treatment of those of "foreign" origin and appearance in Japan, such as white and non-Asian people. Simply put, we are not officially registered - or even counted sometimes - as genuine residents. http://www.worldpress.org/link.cfm?http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/japantimes/~3/zJH6qyU60Qw/fl20100406ad.html
****************************** *************************
ITEM #1. US fertility rate drops below replacement level
The birthrate in the United States fell 2% in 2008 and is now below the population replacement level of 2.1 children per woman, according to a report released April 6 by the National Center for Health Statistics. "The 2008 preliminary estimate of the total fertility rate (TFR) was 2,085.5 births per 1,000 women, 2 percent lower than the rate in 2007 (2,122.5)," according to the report.
View full article at Catholic Culture:
http://www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=5942
------------------------------ -----------
ITEM #2. Windpipe transplant success in UK child
A 10-year-old British boy has become the first child to undergo a windpipe transplant with an organ crafted from his own stem cells.
View full article at BBC News:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8576493.stm
------------------------------ -----------
ITEM #3. Canada turns a blind eye to egg 'donor' grey market
The Canadian ban against women selling their eggs as a source of eggs for fertility treatments is reported to be systemically flawed in practice, according to an expose article published in the April 2010 edition of the Canadian magazine The Walrus. Journalist Alison Motluk interviewed egg 'donors' and recipients, fertility experts and regulators, revealing that the Canadian ban is as farcical as its loose interpretation of the word 'donor'.
View full article at Bio News:
http://www.bionews.org.uk/page.asp?obj_id=56702
------------------------------ -----------
ITEM #4. 'Transplant tourism' causing international concern: experts
Moves to combat "transplant tourism", in which patients from rich countries pay large sums to have organ transplants in poor ones, are gaining pace, experts told an international conference. The World Health Organisation and the European Union have led the way in tackling the problem, the Madrid conference on organ donations and transplants heard.
View full article at AFP:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jOK6myvX-Y1FmMIW2Q0tvaiG1oIQ
------------------------------ -----------
ITEM #5. More surprises in Dutch euthanasia of infants
For people outside the Netherlands, the most surprising thing about legally tolerated non-voluntary euthanasia of infants is that it happens at all.
View full article at Bio Edge:
http://www.bioedge.org/index.php/bioethics/bioethics_article/8930/
------------------------------ -----------
ITEM #6. Is it right for parents to choose whether baby is a boy or girl?
This issue has obvious social and ethical implications and is a good example of how advances in scientific knowledge and technology constantly challenge society to find acceptable outlets for their application. Gender selection is legal in most of the world, but not in Europe. Obviously it is only a matter of time, and probably a short time, before this matter comes knocking on our door.
View full article at The Irish Times:
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sciencetoday/2010/0401/1224267465205.html
------------------------------ -----------
ITEM #7. Post-Abortion Suffering
Only in vacant policy debates and politically sanitized clinical studies do abortion's effects on women seem minor and unworthy of recognition. The real voices of many women tell far different stories - stories of life-altering experiences marked by a profound sense of loss and the need for spiritual and emotional repair. Maria put it this way, "The day that my baby died I realized that I had died, too." She is not alone. Maria and many others like her deserve our acknowledgement, our help and our love.
Article is located at LifeIssues.net:
http://www.lifeissues.net/writers/shu/shu_12effectsabortion.html
------------------------------ -----------
ITEM #8. Are Persons in the Vegetative State Dying? Is Feeding them by Tubes Morally Repugnant?
John Paul sought to end this debate with his "Address to Participants in the International Congress on 'Life-Sustaining Treatments and the Vegetative State: Scientific Advance and Ethical Dilemmas.'" His address was shaped by the scientific papers given at that Congress which showed that persons alleged to be vegetative were frequently misdiagnosed and that some gave incontrovertible evidence that they were conscious and aware. John Paul held that feeding and hydrating them tubally is morally required unless one can show that doing so is futile and unduly burdensome. His address was defended vigorously in a 2007 document of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith which included a remarkable commentary. Although some theologians repudiate his teaching, scientific studies and sound moral reasoning support it.
Article can be found at LifeIssues.net:
http://www.lifeissues.net/writers/may/may_14vegetativestatedying.html
------------------------------ -----------
ITEM #9. When is euthanasia justified?
For millennia, euthanasia (a word I use to include assisted suicide) has been considered morally and legally unjustifiable. People who oppose euthanasia still believe it's inherently wrong - it can't be morally justified and even compassionate motives don't make it ethically acceptable.
But what are the attitudes of pro-euthanasia advocates regarding whether its use needs to be justified, were it to be legalized? And, if justifications are required, what are they?
View entire two files at CERC:
http://www.catholiceducation.org/articles/euthanasia/eu0061.htm
------------------------------ -----------
ITEM #10. Down Syndrome: On Holy Ground
As a Holy Cross Priest at Notre Dame reminded us last week, those of us who care for individuals with cognitive handicaps stand on holy ground.
View entire text at CERC:
http://www.catholiceducation.org/articles/catholic_stories/cs0440.htm
------------------------------ -----------
ITEM #11. Adolescent sexual behaviour and public health: the religion
versus science dichotomy
Despite more than two decades of relentless condomania, rates of HIV/ AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) have skyrocketed. In the UK and Canada, for example, rates of some STIs have doubled or tripled over the last 20 years despite ubiquitous safe-sex education. Numerous large studies have demonstrated that concerted efforts to promote condom use have consistently failed to control rates of STIs, even in countries with advanced sex education programmes such as Switzerland and Sweden - nations sometimes considered paragons in progressive sexuality instruction.
View entire text at Acta Paediatrica:
http://www.catholiceducation.org/articles/sexuality/print/Genuis.pdf
------------------------------ -----------
ITEM #12. Unhealthy and Unhappy
Next time you buy a box of Girl Scout cookies to feed your sweet tooth, think about what the Girl Scouts leadership is feeding to young girls.
View entire text at CERC
http://www.catholiceducation.org/articles/sexuality/se0199.htm
****************************** ************************** ********************************************************
YOU CAN CHANGE SOCIETY:
1. BE INFORMED: "My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge." Hosea 4:6. Visit Lifeissues.net Website for insights into current Life Issues www.lifeissues.net. All prior email Newsletters Archives are located online at http://lifeissues.net/newsletters/mojo.cgi?flavor=archive&list=lifenews&start=0
3. PRAY DAILY: for the courage to be God's presence in society and to strongly support those who are deemed "unworthy of life". "If My people who are called by My Name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14
4. BECOME INVOLVED: Several years ago Fr. Jerry created a project entitled, "Journey for Life into the Heart of Asia". The project appeals for donations to help finance plane travel for lectures and seminars to developing countries in Asia. Strong focus centers on reaching Asian Catholic Major Seminaries, Universities, Parishes, Hospitals and Family/Pro Life related groups. The lectures place emphasis on "The Asian Family at Crossroads: Life Issues, Trends and Challenges".
For information about no-cost Pro Life Talks to your group in Asia: contact Fr. Jerry at jerry@shirt.ocn.ne.jp.
To become a supportive Missionary participant for this Asian project, kindly send your donations to:
** Fr. Jerry Novotny, OMI
** LifeIssues.net, Editor
** Akebono-cho 1-15-9
** Kochi City, Japan, 780-8072
(or transfer donation directly to ProLife bank account: Jerome Novotny, Shikoku Bank, Asakura Branch, No. 102-1-0080824)
------------------------------
Get a weekly dose of clear thinking: subscribe to our free Lifeissues newsletter! Sign up at www.LifeIssues.net. Pass this free service to your friends and various groups.
------------------------------
Contact EDITOR:
Jerry Novotny, OMI
Akebono-cho 1-15-9
Kochi City, Japan, 780-8072
[tel/fax: 088-843-0406]
[email: jerry@lifeissues.net (or) jerry@shirt.ocn.ne.jp]
------------------------------
Websites by Editor:
English LifeIssues Site: http://www.lifeissues.net,
Japanese LifeIssues Site: http://www.japan-lifeissues.net,
OMI Site: http://www.omijapankorea.net/index.html
------------------------------
