News Aggregator from Padiham C of E Parish

Mon, 06 Sep 2010 20:34:52 GMT

August has largely been a month of staying put in Birmingham, preparing for my church visits which begin the first weekend of September. Whilst in Karagwe I did not sort my photos into titled folders on my computer so I had a huge task to face even before thinking about preparing a Power Point presentation! It did make me feel sad on occasions, and certainly homesick for Karagwe...

Mon, 06 Sep 2010 12:57:52 +0200

Dean and Paula Finnie - South Africa. September

The HOPE home based care team receiving further practical training. It was such a joy to have both HOPE team members, prospective carers and spouses of some of our patients together in the same room for the first time receiving training together...

Mon, 06 Sep 2010 12:46:21 +0200

Dan and Rosie Button - Uganda. September

It has been a while since our last prayer news, as we took a two month "mini-home leave" from mid-June to mid-August. We managed to visit four of our link churches and were glad to make contact with many of you on those occasions...

Mon, 06 Sep 2010 12:40:56 +0200

norm

The Christian Institute » News

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Mon, 06 Sep 2010 20:34:52 GMT

BBC attacked for biased mosque documentary

A national journalist has slammed the BBC for screening a pro-Islamic documentary about a controversial mosque which has previously been linked to Muslim supremacists. Andrew Gilligan, in a comment piece for The Daily Telegraph, accused the broadcaster of airing a “licence-fee-funded, half-hour advertorial” for the East London Mosque which has been linked to the Islamic [...]

Mon, 06 Sep 2010 16:13:35 +0000

Study claims lap-dancers find practice enjoyable

A controversial study has claimed that lap-dancers enjoy the practice, but an ex-lap-dancer has previously warned it is “degrading” and certainly more than just dancing. Dr Teela Sanders, who led the study, says the women spoken to in the research did not feel exploited. But Milly, an ex lap-dancer, in an interview with The Times [...]

Mon, 06 Sep 2010 13:55:22 +0000

Obama appeals against federal funds ban on embryo research

President Obama’s administration has formally challenged a court order which temporarily blocks federal funding of embryonic stem cell (ESC) research in the United States. Last week US District Court Judge Royce Lamberth ruled that all ESC research violated a federal law prohibiting federal tax money from being used for research involving the destruction of human [...]

Fri, 03 Sep 2010 15:07:16 +0000

norm

The Christian Institute » Religious liberty

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Mon, 06 Sep 2010 20:34:53 GMT

Govt taskforce aims to cut red tape in voluntary sector

Red tape and bureaucracy which “too often gets in the way” of charities and voluntary groups needs to be cut, the Government has said. Announcing a taskforce to tackle the issue Minister for Civil Society Nick Hurd said the burden of regulation needs to be eased so that charities can get on with their work. [...]

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 13:40:26 +0000

Under-fire EU Directive mired in disagreement

A controversial EU Directive, which Christians fear will undermine free speech and freedom of religion, is being held up in negotiations between European member states. The Directive seeks to outlaw discrimination on grounds including sexual orientation and religion in the provision of goods and services, and includes a harassment provision which threatens free speech. The [...]

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 13:11:16 +0000

US activists demand RC doctors carry out abortions

A campaign group in America is attempting to force medical professionals, including Roman Catholic doctors and nurses, to go against their consciences and perform abortions. But a US organisation which battles for religious liberty says it will fight such an idea, and sue the US Government if it allows any such action to go ahead. [...]

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 14:14:26 +0000

norm

The Christian Institute » Medical ethics

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Mon, 06 Sep 2010 20:34:54 GMT

Obama appeals against federal funds ban on embryo research

Fri, 03 Sep 2010 15:07:16 +0000

Two arrests over assisted suicide of disabled man

Two people have been arrested in connection with the death of a severely disabled man at the highly controversial Dignitas facility in Switzerland. Douglas Sinclair, who was suffering from a rare debilitating disorder, is believed to have travelled to the suicide facility in Zurich to end his life in July. And now Northumbria Police have [...]

Fri, 03 Sep 2010 14:45:31 +0000

Scots end-of-life Bill backed by humanists

A controversial attempt to legalise assisted suicide in Scotland is being supported by a humanist campaign group. The End of Life Assistance (Scotland) Bill, proposed by independent MSP Margo MacDonald, would allow terminally ill people and those who are “permanently physically incapacitated” to seek assistance in ending their lives. The Humanist Society of Scotland (HSS) [...]

Fri, 03 Sep 2010 12:38:13 +0000

Concern over teenage abortion rates in Wales

More than half of teenage pregnancies in Wales end in abortion, prompting a call for a change of Government policy on terminations. Almost 60 per cent of pregnant Welsh girls under the age of 16 have an abortion, according to news website Wales Online. Just under half of pregnant under-18s also had a termination. Pressure [...]

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 16:11:18 +0000

Dad recovers from ‘locked-in’ syndrome

A pensioner has overcome all the odds and amazed doctors by recovering from an illness which left him completely paralysed from head to toe. Graham Miles, who felt he had been “left to die” by medical staff, was suffering from ‘locked-in syndrome’ after having a massive stroke. But now the resilient 66-year-old is walking and [...]

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 15:04:03 +0000

Atheist doctors more likely to hasten patients’ deaths

Atheist doctors are almost twice as likely to make decisions which speed up the deaths of their patients than their religious colleagues, according to a new study. The research, published in the Journal of Medical Ethics, also revealed that doctors with a strong faith were less likely to discuss treatments that would speed up their [...]

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 12:05:23 +0000

Donors could get up to £800 for their eggs

Women could be paid up to £800 for donating their eggs to fertility clinics under a controversial new proposal from the UK’s fertility regulator. The proposal is one of a number of options being considered by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) in an attempt to address a current shortage of egg and sperm [...]

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 13:00:15 +0000

US judge halts federal funding of embryo research

A judge has temporarily blocked the federal funding of embryonic stem cell (ESC) research in the United States, warning that it went against federal law. The ban represents a blow to Barack Obama who caused a storm of controversy last year when he issued guidance allowing the use of federal funds to be expanded for [...]

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 10:30:18 +0000

Video: study casts new light on organ donation

The practice of harvesting kidneys from bodies where the heart is still beating has been challenged by new research. Watch a BBC report on the story Researchers from the University of Cambridge have found that kidneys which were taken after the heart had stopped beating were just as good as those taken from patients with [...]

Fri, 20 Aug 2010 14:28:21 +0000

Sperm bank blasted for offering celeb look-a-likes

A US fertility clinic has launched a “Donor Look-A-Like” scheme which allows women to search for sperm donors who they claim resemble celebrities such as Tom Cruise and Will Smith. But the initiative has been criticised by pro-life groups who say it is “another step down the road to the illusion of designer children”. The [...]

Fri, 20 Aug 2010 13:01:01 +0000

Video: BBC’s Gosling charged with wasting police time

Ray Gosling, a BBC presenter who claimed on TV to have ended the life of his homosexual lover in a ‘mercy killing’, has been charged with wasting police time. Watch Ray Gosling’s ‘confession’ Mr Gosling had claimed that he had smothered his same-sex lover as the man lay seriously ill in hospital with AIDS. But [...]

Fri, 20 Aug 2010 12:57:12 +0000

Boots plans to sell morning-after pill over the internet

Britain’s largest chemist is planning to sell the morning-after pill over the internet, but critics have warned that the scheme is “grossly inappropriate”. Boots is planning to sell the controversial drug, usually sold under the brand name Levonelle, through a new website which enables people to buy certain medications without the need for a prescription. [...]

Mon, 16 Aug 2010 14:02:38 +0000

Govt to expand promotion of abortions abroad

The Government is planning to expand its promotion of abortion services in developing countries, according to the International Development Secretary. Andrew Mitchell launched a public consultation on the Government’s controversial plans to increase the availability of “family planning” last month. The consultation, which includes a proposal to promote so-called safe abortions, has faced fierce criticism [...]

Thu, 12 Aug 2010 14:32:55 +0000

Corrie’s Jack Duckworth to exit in assisted suicide plot

Coronation Street veteran Jack Duckworth will leave the show in a controversial assisted suicide plotline, it has been revealed. The storyline is likely to fuel fresh debates over the issue of assisted suicide, and critics are concerned that mainstream soaps are being actively lobbied to push a liberal agenda. Popular TV programmes like Coronation Street [...]

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 14:35:16 +0000

Doc who assisted in suicide deemed fit to practice again

A Scottish GP who prescribed sleeping pills to an elderly patient so that she could kill herself has controversially been declared fit to practice by a medical watchdog. The decision, which comes amid fresh calls for the police to re-open an investigation into the suspicious deaths of two patients in a separate case, is likely [...]

Tue, 10 Aug 2010 15:45:52 +0000

Abortion provider offers its staff free terminations

One of Britain’s leading abortion providers is offering its employees free abortions as part of a highly controversial benefits package. The free abortions, which are also available to employees’ partners and children, are part of the benefits package offered by Marie Stopes International (MSI). However, the inclusion of terminations as a perk of working for [...]

Mon, 09 Aug 2010 14:00:49 +0000

Trans criminal will not go to jail: it’s too ‘awkward’

A transsexual man who harassed his neighbours for five years will not be jailed because a judge has agreed that prison would be “awkward and dangerous” for him. Jan Krause, who lives as a woman, monitored his neighbours’ movements and even erected a roof-mounted device which emitted a high-pitched whine in the direction of his [...]

Fri, 06 Aug 2010 11:40:47 +0000

Former ‘locked-in’ patient speaks of her will to live

A mother of two has revealed how she never lost her will to live after an illness left her paralysed and unable to speak for 18 months. Kerry Pink was left suffering from a condition known as ‘locked-in syndrome’ by an undiagnosed neurological illness when she was just 35. Mrs Pink, writing in the Daily [...]

Thu, 05 Aug 2010 11:53:59 +0000

Video: TV soap launches 15-year-old transsexual story

Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks is gearing up for a transsexual storyline in which a 15-year-old girl decides she “wants to be a boy”. Watch actress Victoria Atkin talk about her Hollyoaks storyline The storyline comes in the wake of ITV’s Coronation Street which used a storyline that mimicked the aims and language of homosexual lobby [...]

Thu, 05 Aug 2010 10:56:19 +0000

Watchdog ruling upholds controversial abortion ad

Britain’s first televised advert for abortion services has been cleared by the advertising watchdog despite the ad generating over a thousand complaints. The commercial, by abortion provider Marie Stopes International (MSI), provoked a storm of controversy when it was aired on Channel 4 earlier this year. Critics warned that the 30-second ad was misleading and [...]

Wed, 04 Aug 2010 12:47:43 +0000

First ‘embryonic’ stem cell treatment to go ahead in US

Stem cells derived from human embryos are set to be used on people for the first time in a series of clinical trials on those suffering from spinal cord injuries. The move has been approved by the Obama administration, but will be fiercely resisted by those opposed to the harvesting of stem cells from embryos, [...]

Tue, 03 Aug 2010 10:32:27 +0000

One of UK’s earliest babies celebrates her 21st birthday

A woman who was born days before the upper abortion limit has just celebrated her 21st birthday, and voiced her support for a reduction in the termination limit. Jessica Phelan was born 23 weeks and four days into her mother’s pregnancy, and her comments add to calls for changes to the abortion law. Miss Phelan [...]

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 14:15:47 +0000

Hope for future of ‘locked-in’ patients

People who are almost completely paralysed could soon be able to drive an electric wheelchair, type messages to their loved ones and surf the web, thanks to new research by Israeli scientists. The research is likely to bring fresh hope to those affected by ‘locked-in syndrome’, a condition which locks an intact mind into a [...]

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 13:15:34 +0000

Scots IVF clinic makes move towards designer babies

A Scottish fertility clinic could soon allow women to genetically screen their unborn children and discard those with defects. However, the controversial scheme has drawn criticism as a further step towards the creation of designer babies. Doctors at the Glasgow Centre for Reproductive Medicine (GCRM) claim that the genetic screening of IVF embryos would lessen [...]

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 14:00:42 +0000

Pro-lifers cautious over new NI abortion consultation

Pro-lifers have expressed a guarded welcome to a new consultation on abortion laws in Northern Ireland (NI). The consultation has been released by the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety and is the latest in a long-running legal battle over the issue. And while SPUC, the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children, [...]

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:41:52 +0000

‘Mercy killing’ mum to appeal murder conviction

A mother who was given a life sentence for the ‘mercy killing’ of her brain damaged son is appealing against her conviction for murder. Frances Inglis killed her son Thomas by injecting him with a lethal dose of heroin in November 2008 after a previous attempt to kill him failed. Last week Mrs Inglis appeared [...]

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:14:20 +0000

Controversial embryo watchdog to be axed

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) is set to be scrapped by the Government as part of moves to slim down public spending. The HFEA came under fire in 2008 for sanctioning animal-human embryo research before Parliament had legislated for it. And earlier this year the HFEA faced criticism over publishing a list of [...]

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 15:49:54 +0000

Paralysed woman: Don’t give up hope for the future

A severely disabled woman has urged other disabled people who may feel like ending their lives not to abandon hope for the future. Marini McNeilly, who suffers from a condition known as ‘locked-in syndrome’, is paralysed and can only move her face, head and, very slightly, her fingers. In an interview with The Times newspaper [...]

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 15:29:44 +0000

Top doc resists attempt to legalise euthanasia

Legalising euthanasia would give a green light to “hopelessness” and signal that terminally ill people would be better off dead, according to a leading end-of-life care expert. Baroness Finlay of Llandaff, who is a Professor of Palliative Medicine at the University of Cardiff and a Peer, made the warning in wake of a campaign to [...]

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 16:30:47 +0000

UK’s earliest twin born under abortion limit

A baby girl born just after 23 weeks of pregnancy has become the youngest twin to be born prematurely and survive in Britain, according to the Daily Mail. Amelia Hope Burden, who weighed just 1lb 2oz, was born days before the legal abortion limit when her mother was 23 weeks and 2 days into her [...]

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 13:56:15 +0000

Paralysed man asks High Court for right to be killed

A severely paralysed man has launched a legal action in the High Court which could allow his wife to kill him and escape being prosecuted for murder. Critics say that any weakening of the law would endanger the lives of some of the nation’s most vulnerable members. Earlier this year the Crown Prosecution Service released [...]

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 14:58:31 +0000

Husband jailed over attempted ‘mercy killing’

An Edinburgh pensioner who tried to kill his disabled wife by smothering her with a pillow has been jailed for attempted murder. Watch a STV report of this incident After failing to kill his wife John Millar, 67, tried to claim it would have been a mercy killing, saying: “I thought it would be a [...]

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 13:56:23 +0000

Welsh Govt wants ‘presumed consent’ for organ donations

The Welsh Assembly Government wants to allow doctors to harvest organs from the dead without their consent. Supporters say it will result in more life-saving organ transplants, but critics say it treats human bodies like state property and may encourage a slippery definition of death. The Government in Cardiff wants what it calls a ‘soft’ [...]

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 15:12:14 +0000

Row over federal funds for abortion in US state

US taxpayers could be set to pay for abortions as part of a $160 million federally funded health care plan for Pennsylvania, pro-lifers claim. The move would spark a fierce quarrel in America – where abortion is a hotly contested issue – and break a White House promise that no federal funds will be used [...]

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 14:37:18 +0000

Girlfriend speaks of hope after coma boyfriend lives

The girlfriend of a comatose man who narrowly averted having his life support cut off by moving his eyes has spoken of her hope for the future. Richard Rudd was left completely paralysed and unable to communicate with those around him after a serious motorcycling accident. But earlier this week a BBC documentary revealed how [...]

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 14:25:47 +0000

UK has the best end-of-life care

The UK offers those who are dying the best end-of-life care in the world, according to a new study. The results are likely to be welcomed by pro-lifers who have long warned that any relaxation of the UK’s assisted suicide laws would negatively affect end-of-life care. The study, entitled The Quality of Death: Ranking End-of-Life [...]

Thu, 15 Jul 2010 15:16:01 +0000

Man’s life is saved in blink of an eye

A paralysed father-of-two was about to have his life support machine turned off when he signalled to doctors that he wanted to live by using eye movements. Watch the programme on BBC iPlayer (available until 21 July 2010) The family of motorcycle enthusiast, Richard Rudd, decided to switch off the machine based on comments he [...]

Thu, 15 Jul 2010 13:39:27 +0000

Sex swap paedophile spared ‘appalling experience’ of jail

A transsexual who downloaded pornographic images of children has been spared jail because the judge said prison would be an “appalling experience” for him. The 20-year-old man, who was formerly known as Luke but now goes by the name Laura Voyce, has not yet completed his sex swap treatment. He is biologically a man but [...]

Thu, 15 Jul 2010 12:00:27 +0000

Northern Ireland: Pro-life group in guidance success

Pro-lifers have won a significant victory in Northern Ireland with the withdrawal of controversial abortion guidelines. SPUC, the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children, was set to have a judicial review on the issue in September but now the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety has removed its interim guidance completely. Liam [...]

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 11:30:06 +0000

Top Doc warns of danger posed by end-of-life Bill

A leading doctor has warned that a Bill which would legalise assisted suicide would betray “Scottish values” for the benefit of a vocal few. The End of Life Assistance (Scotland) Bill, proposed by Margo MacDonald MSP, would allow the terminally ill and people who are “permanently physically incapacitated” to seek assistance in ending their lives. [...]

Wed, 07 Jul 2010 14:02:38 +0000

Assisted suicide rejected following public debate

Opposition to legalising assisted suicide remains strong, according to the results of a public debate hosted by the Royal Society of Medicine (RSM). The debate, which was open to doctors and the general public, was the culmination of a day long conference, and it revealed that 60 per cent of those in attendance were opposed [...]

Tue, 06 Jul 2010 15:14:58 +0000

Cells from aborted babies to be used to treat Parkinson’s

Cells from aborted babies could controversially be used to treat Parkinson’s disease following new scientific research into the condition. The contentious idea involves harvesting cells from aborted babies, and transplanting these into the brains of patients who are suffering from the disease. However, the macabre treatment is likely to meet fierce opposition from pro-life campaigners. [...]

Tue, 06 Jul 2010 09:48:27 +0000

Abortion is killing but women’s rights rule

Abortion is the killing of a human being but this is less important than a woman’s right to control her own life, according to a national newspaper commentator. In a shocking comment piece for The Times newspaper Antonia Senior explains how, despite her belief that life begins at conception, she is still a firm believer [...]

Fri, 02 Jul 2010 10:25:07 +0000

Top Prof warns of danger posed by assisted suicide

Legalising assisted suicide will lead to vulnerable people being killed without their consent, a leading bioethicist has warned. Professor David Jones’ warning adds to concerns that any move to legalise assisted suicide in the UK could expose vulnerable people to danger. Prof Jones, Director of bioethics at St Mary’s University College in Twickenham, said: “My [...]

Fri, 02 Jul 2010 09:34:20 +0000

Critics blast Scottish ‘home abortion’ plan

Doctors in Scotland are giving women abortion-inducing drugs in hospital before sending them home to have the abortion in a scheme critics have described as “grotesque”. Before now, women having so-called early medical abortions have been given the drugs and kept in hospital until they are well enough to return home, usually about six hours [...]

Wed, 30 Jun 2010 16:12:31 +0000

Thousands protest over Scottish end-of-life Bill

Over 14,000 people have signed a petition against a Bill which would legalise assisted suicide in Scotland. The End of Life Assistance (Scotland) Bill, proposed by independent MSP Margo MacDonald, would allow the terminally ill and people who are “permanently physically incapacitated” to seek assistance in ending their lives. The petition was organized by campaign [...]

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 15:26:28 +0000

Cameron remains defiant over upper abortion limit

David Cameron continues to support lowering the abortion time limit from 24 weeks of pregnancy. The declaration follows a report last week by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) which concluded that unborn babies up to 24 weeks old can’t feel pain. The RCOG claimed their report, which contradicted previous research, negated the [...]

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 14:00:33 +0000

Doc escapes trial over assisted suicide death

A retired GP who helped a cancer stricken man kill himself will not face trial, despite there being enough evidence to “provide a realistic” prospect of conviction. Earlier this year Dr Michael Irwin wrote to Keir Starmer QC, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), and admitted helping terminally ill Raymond Cutkelvin commit suicide at the [...]

Mon, 28 Jun 2010 14:25:42 +0000

Cameron protects budget for international abortions

Millions of pounds of British taxpayers’ money will continue to fund abortions in developing countries, after David Cameron ordered that the Department for International Development’s (DFID’s) budget be protected from any cuts. Critics have attacked such a use of public money, and questioned why money intended for abortions should receive special protection at a time [...]

Fri, 25 Jun 2010 14:30:03 +0000

Docs claim that abortions don’t hurt unborn babies

Women should be able to continue to abort their unborn babies up to 24 weeks because the baby can’t feel pain, according to a controversial review of the scientific evidence. Earlier this year David Cameron said that an upper limit of “20 or 22″ weeks for abortions would be sensible, in the light of recent [...]

Fri, 25 Jun 2010 13:21:24 +0000

Retired GP admits to helping patients die

A retired GP who hastened the deaths of at least 18 of his patients remains defiant over his actions, despite the prospect of a police investigation. Watch an interview with Dr Martin Last week the General Medical Council (GMC) ruled that Dr Howard Martin hastened the deaths of 18 of his patients by giving them [...]

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 16:30:22 +0000

Fresh blow to Scottish assisted suicide Bill

Scotland remains steadfastly opposed to a controversial Bill which would legalise assisted suicide in the nation, according to the responses of a Holyrood consultation. The End of Life Assistance (Scotland) Bill, proposed by independent MSP Margo MacDonald, would allow the terminally ill and people who are “permanently physically incapacitated” to seek assistance in ending their [...]

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 15:30:20 +0000

Euthanasia deaths increase in Holland

The number of euthanasia cases in Holland has increased by 13 per cent in one year, prompting the Dutch Government to launch an official inquiry. Last year 2,636 Dutch people were killed by euthanasia, with 80 per cent of the victims dying at home after being administered with lethal drugs, whereas in 2008 this figure [...]

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 12:56:23 +0000

Florida Governor vetoes pro-life ultrasound bill

A pro-life bill requiring pregnant women to undergo an ultrasound scan before having an abortion has been controversially vetoed by the Governor of Florida. The Bill, which would also have banned taxpayer funding for abortions in the State, would have required women seeking an abortion during their first three months to have had an ultrasound [...]

Mon, 14 Jun 2010 15:37:59 +0000

Belgian patients are being killed without their consent

Terminally ill patients in Belgium are being subjected to euthanasia without their consent, according to a shocking study. The findings are likely to inflame concern that any move to legalise assisted suicide or euthanasia in the UK would leave vulnerable people dangerously exposed. The study, published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ), suggests that [...]

Thu, 10 Jun 2010 15:40:05 +0000

Surge of complaints after controversial abortion ad

Hundreds of outraged viewers have complained after the nation’s first ever televised abortion ad aired last month. The 30-second abortion ad, which was shown on Channel 4, focuses on the question ‘Are you late?’ to grab the attention of women who may have missed their period. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has now received 370 [...]

Thu, 10 Jun 2010 13:55:13 +0000

Pro-lifers’ fury over assisted suicide committee adviser

An assisted suicide advocate has been appointed as the sole adviser to the Holyrood committee responsible for examining a bill that would legalise assisted suicide in Scotland. The End of Life Assistance (Scotland) Bill, proposed by Margo MacDonald MSP, would allow the terminally ill and people who are “permanently physically incapacitated” to seek assistance in [...]

Wed, 09 Jun 2010 15:45:47 +0000

Opera singer glad mum chose not to abort him

World renowned opera star Andrea Bocelli has praised his mother for rejecting the advice of doctors to abort him on the grounds that he would be disabled. Watch the video During a performance the blind Italian tenor, who has sold more than 70 million records worldwide, paid tribute to his mother Edi for preserving his [...]

Wed, 09 Jun 2010 15:04:14 +0000

Women aborting babies conceived through IVF

Dozens of women are aborting their children after having IVF to conceive them, statistics show. One obstetrics Professor expressed shock at the news, saying each abortion was a “tragedy”. The figures, released after a Freedom of Information request, come from the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) and show around 80 abortions a year are [...]

Mon, 07 Jun 2010 15:45:27 +0000

MPs criticise Marie Stopes over abortion commercial

A group of MPs has criticised the nation’s first ever abortion advert which aired on national television last month. The 30-second commercial by abortion provider Marie Stopes International (MSI) outraged pro-lifers who warned that the ad “trivialises human life”. But now a group of MPs has called on the Government to find out if any [...]

Mon, 07 Jun 2010 14:46:24 +0000

Disabled Peer urges ‘don’t legalise assisted suicide’

A leading advocate for disability rights is spearheading a campaign urging MPs not to relax laws on assisted suicide. Baroness Campbell of Surbiton, who was born with the wasting disease spinal muscular atrophy, is calling on politicians to sign a charter declaring that disabled and terminally ill people should receive the same legal protection and [...]

Fri, 04 Jun 2010 11:00:33 +0000

Marie Stopes opening abortion clinics in China

Abortion provider Marie Stopes International (MSI) is facing criticism for using UK taxpayers’ money to fund the opening of abortion clinics in China. Last month MSI was behind the UK’s first television abortion advert and was widely cricitised for attempting to normalise terminations. The organisation carries out 65,000 abortions a year in Britain, most of [...]

Fri, 04 Jun 2010 09:01:07 +0000

Italian authorities step in to help mums avoid abortions

Expectant mothers facing financial hardship in Italy are being offered €4,500 (£3,700) to help them raise their baby. Mothers who are considering an abortion will instead be given €250 a month for 18 months to help them bring up their children, in a move welcomed by pro-lifers. The President of the wealthy Lombardy region, of [...]

Fri, 04 Jun 2010 07:00:51 +0000

Dignitas probed for helping mentally ill man kill himself

The Dignitas suicide clinic is being investigated by the Swiss authorities after it was revealed that the controversial organisation had helped a mentally ill man commit suicide. Swiss law requires that every patient at the facility must be able to understand the consequences of their actions, and that they are of sound mind. But now [...]

Thu, 03 Jun 2010 06:59:13 +0000

Judge gives go-ahead in NI abortion guidance row

Pro-lifers have won permission for a legal action against Northern Ireland health chiefs in the latest round of a battle against controversial abortion guidance. The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC) claims the Department of Health has breached a court order for complete withdrawal of the guidance. Last year, the High Court ruled [...]

Fri, 28 May 2010 15:00:21 +0000

Thousands of British women are having repeat abortions

Tens of thousands of British women are having multiple abortions, according to shocking new abortion statistics released by the NHS. The figures, which also reveal that alarming numbers of teenagers are having terminations, are likely to reignite concern that abortion is being treated as a form of contraception. During 2009 a staggering 195,743 abortions were [...]

Thu, 27 May 2010 15:15:49 +0000

NHS hiring ‘hair removal expert’ for transsexuals

The NHS in Glasgow has been lambasted for offering almost £22k a year for a hair removal specialist for transsexuals. Health officials in Strathclyde placed an advert for a full-time “Hair Removal Specialist – Transgender Services”, despite criticism that there may only be a handful of transsexuals in the area. Daily Mail columnist, Richard Littlejohn, [...]

Thu, 27 May 2010 14:42:29 +0000

No prosecution for man who assisted his wife’s suicide

A man who helped his wife suffocate herself will not be prosecuted for assisting her suicide, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has revealed. However, the decision has increased concern among pro-life groups who fear that assisted suicide is being legalised by the back door. Michael Bateman helped his wife, who suffered from chronic pain due [...]

Tue, 25 May 2010 14:30:33 +0000

Let girls keep morning-after pill at home, says Govt body

Teenage girls and young women should stockpile the morning-after pill at home, according to new draft guidance by the Government’s health body. The morning-after pill can cause an early stage abortion, and critics say the proposal fails to consider the emotional baggage caused by underage sex. The draft guidance, issued by the National Institute for [...]

Tue, 25 May 2010 14:00:34 +0000

Judge says no to trans man who wanted bigger breasts

A transsexual from Reading who wanted the NHS to pay for him to have larger breasts has lost his High Court case. The man, known only as C for legal reasons, wanted West Berkshire Primary Care Trust (PCT) to pay £2,300 for the surgery. But today Mr Justice Bean dismissed the case. Claim Justice Bean [...]

Tue, 25 May 2010 13:24:35 +0000

Scientists: Synthetic cell is not a new form of life

The US biologist who created the world’s first synthetic cell has not created life, according to scientists. Listen to a radio report on the synthetic cell Last week Dr Craig Venter, a multi-millionaire maverick scientist, announced that he had manufactured a synthetic cell using man-made DNA. Dr Venter, who runs the J Craig Venter Institute, [...]

Mon, 24 May 2010 16:31:06 +0000

Outrage over nation’s first televised abortion advert

Pro-lifers have blasted plans to allow an abortion advert to be screened on national television, warning that it “trivialises human life”. Abortion provider Marie Stopes International (MSI) is due to run an advert promoting abortion services on Channel 4 next Monday. MSI claims the campaign will help women make informed choices about unwanted pregnancies, but [...]

Thu, 20 May 2010 16:24:05 +0000

Right-to-die guidance is a sign of a ‘culture of death’

Terminally ill patients should be allowed to commit suicide by turning down food and fluids, according to controversial new medical guidance. The General Medical Council’s (GMC’s) guidelines, released today, have alarmed critics who see them as part of a creeping “culture of death”. The guidance requires doctors to obey patients’ wishes even if this means [...]

Thu, 20 May 2010 15:37:47 +0000

First ever abortion ad to air on national TV

One of the UK’s largest abortion providers has announced that the country’s first ever abortion advert is to be screened on national television later this month. But pro-lifers have slammed the ad, and warned that it is a cynical attempt to normalise abortions. The advert by leading abortion provider Marie Stopes International (MSI) is due [...]

Wed, 19 May 2010 15:49:20 +0000

Aborted babies thrown out with clinical waste

The Scottish Government has launched a review of the way human remains are treated, after a Glasgow hospital came under fire for burning aborted babies alongside clinical waste. A member of staff at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said they saw aborted babies being placed in disposal bags and sent for incineration along with used [...]

Wed, 19 May 2010 14:39:57 +0000

Trans man takes NHS to court for breast op

A transsexual man has taken an NHS Primary Care Trust (PCT) to court because it refused to pay for him to have bigger breasts. The man, known only as C, claims the Trust’s refusal is a breach of his human rights, and is a case of sex discrimination. But West Berkshire PCT denies there is [...]

Tue, 18 May 2010 10:50:44 +0000

British Asians aborting girls under pressure from family

British Indian women are going abroad to abort their baby girls because of pressure on them to have boys, a journalist has warned. Kishwar Desai pointed to statistics from the University of Oxford which estimate almost 100 baby girls are “disappearing” from British Indian families every year. Lady Desai, who was born in Ambala, Northern [...]

Thu, 13 May 2010 16:00:42 +0000

Dignitas Nurse: ashes of 50 Brits dumped in lake

The human ashes of up to 50 Britons who died at a Swiss assisted suicide facility were dumped in nearby Lake Zurich, a former employee claims. Last month divers accidentally discovered the grim secret and recovered dozens of urns from the bottom of the lake. Now former Dignitas nurse, Soraya Wernli, claims there could be [...]

Mon, 10 May 2010 14:57:54 +0000

‘Real fighter’ born at 24 weeks now doing well

Born at just 24 weeks, Erin John showed she was a “real fighter” when she squeezed her mum’s finger in hospital and now, less than two years later, she’s at home and doing well. Steven and Kylee John faced heartache when pregnant Mrs John was diagnosed with a potentially life-threatening disease. Then doctors decided to [...]

Mon, 10 May 2010 13:58:27 +0000

Oklahoma abortion law faces new hurdle

An Oklahoma judge has suspended the American state’s new abortion law that requires women to undergo a detailed ultrasound scan an hour before having an abortion. The 45 day suspension follows a legal challenge by a pro-abortion group who claim that the law is unconstitutional and “detrimental to women in the state”. Pro-lifers had welcomed [...]

Thu, 06 May 2010 14:54:28 +0000

Oklahoma women to have ultrasound before abortion

Pregnant women in the US state of Oklahoma will be given an ultrasound and receive detailed information about their unborn baby before going through with an abortion, under new laws. Pro-lifers say the new measures, passed by the state’s legislature, are an attempt to save the lives of unborn children and prevent psychological trauma to [...]

Fri, 30 Apr 2010 14:10:57 +0000

Scottish end-of-life bill blasted by medics

A leading group of Scottish healthcare professionals has attacked a Bill that would legalise assisted suicide and euthanasia in Scotland. The End of Life Assistance (Scotland) Bill, proposed by Margo MacDonald MSP, would allow the terminally ill and people who are “permanently physically incapacitated” to seek assistance in ending their lives. But in an open [...]

Fri, 30 Apr 2010 13:53:08 +0000

Baby boy survives for two days after botched abortion

A baby boy who survived a botched abortion at 22 weeks was wrapped in a sheet and left to die by staff at the Rossano Calabro hospital in Italy. But the remarkable youngster fought to live for almost two days, and in Britain his fight for life is likely to fuel calls for a reduction [...]

Thu, 29 Apr 2010 14:50:45 +0000

‘Up to 300’ urns dumped in lake close to Dignitas

The controversial suicide clinic Dignitas is facing fresh scrutiny after dozens of urns containing human remains were found dumped in a nearby lake. One estimate has suggested that there could be more than 300 of the urns on the bed of Lake Zurich. The sickening discovery was made by police divers, and police spokesman Stefan [...]

Wed, 28 Apr 2010 13:52:36 +0000

Doc invites prosecution over assisted suicide

A retired British doctor has invited England’s top prosecutor to charge him for assisting a suicide, but critics fear the case is part of a wider campaign to change the law. In a brazen move Dr Michael Irwin wrote to Keir Starmer QC, the Director of Public Prosecutions, admitting helping terminally ill Raymond Cutkelvin commit [...]

Tue, 27 Apr 2010 13:52:19 +0000

Sex change ops triple since 2000

The number of sex change operations being performed annually by the NHS has almost tripled since 2000, according to figures revealed by The Daily Telegraph. The NHS performed 54 sex change operations in 2000, and last year this figure had risen to 143. And since 2000 a total of 853 men have undergone sex change [...]

Fri, 23 Apr 2010 13:03:56 +0000

More babies born early fuel calls to lower abortion limit

The number of babies born weighing just 2lbs has more than doubled in the last two years, causing pro-lifers to reinforce the demand to lower the abortion limit from 24 weeks. Statistics do not disclose at what stage the babies were born but reports suggest that a child weighing under 2lbs 3oz is likely to [...]

Tue, 20 Apr 2010 16:30:04 +0000

Ethics group consults on paying public for organs

Paying donors for their organs and covering the cost of their funeral expenses are two ideas on organ donation being put forward by an ethics research group. But critics are concerned that offering a financial incentive for organ donation will pressure vulnerable people into giving. In recent years there have been cases of patients who [...]

Tue, 20 Apr 2010 14:49:55 +0000

Sharp rise in GP surgeries offering early abortions

The number of NHS trusts planning to or already offering early term abortions in GP surgeries has tripled in the past year, and pro-lifers fear this will fuel a surge in abortions. A publication for doctors, GP magazine, has revealed that 17 health trusts are either offering or are planning to offer abortions for women [...]

Mon, 19 Apr 2010 16:26:36 +0000

Concern over creation of three-parent embryos

Pro-lifers have expressed alarm after scientists created dozens of human embryos with three genetic parents. Researchers at Newcastle University used embryos originally donated for IVF to create the new embryos, but these were destroyed within a matter of days to comply with fertility laws. The experiments are designed to help women suffering genetic problems affecting [...]

Fri, 16 Apr 2010 11:14:21 +0000

Gordon Brown defends his stance on assisted suicide

The Prime Minister has been forced to defend his opposition to legalising assisted suicide after he was challenged by an assisted suicide campaigner. During a pre-election question and answer session in Leeds, Debbie Purdy who suffers from the neurological condition MS, urged Gordon Brown to change the law on assisted suicide. But Mr Brown defended [...]

Fri, 16 Apr 2010 11:12:49 +0000

Police probe Dignitas death after son raises questions

Police are investigating the case of a woman who did not have a terminal illness but committed suicide at Swiss ‘clinic’ Dignitas. The son of Kathleen Dobson says he was not told she was about to commit suicide, and if he had known he would have intervened. Mrs Dobson, who lived in Guernsey, suffered from [...]

Wed, 14 Apr 2010 08:00:27 +0000

Cameron: lower abortion limit, resist euthanasia

David Cameron has called for a lower abortion limit and no weakening on assisted suicide, in an interview with The Catholic Herald. The current law allows for an abortion up to 24 weeks of pregnancy. But Mr Cameron said an upper limit of “20 or 22″ weeks would be sensible, in the light of modern [...]

Thu, 08 Apr 2010 16:10:50 +0000

Docs use boy’s stem cells to rebuild his windpipe

A ten-year-old boy has had his windpipe rebuilt using his own stem cells in a pioneering operation. The boy, whose identity has been kept a secret, was born with a windpipe that measured just one millimetre across, rendering him unable to breathe. But now doctors have given the youngster a new lease of life and [...]

Fri, 26 Mar 2010 09:04:10 +0000

Conductor’s son will not be charged for assisting suicide

The son of a renowned conductor who helped his parents commit suicide will not be prosecuted under new legal guidelines on assisted suicide. Keir Starmer QC, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), has revealed that Caractacus Downes will not be prosecuted despite there being sufficient evidence. Mr Starmer, who claimed a prosecution wouldn’t be in [...]

Wed, 24 Mar 2010 16:41:39 +0000

Mum is glad she couldn’t end it all, says Baroness

My cancer-stricken mum longed to die, but she went on to enjoy another four years surrounded by her loving family, says Baroness Finlay of Llandaff. Lady Finlay, writing in the Daily Mail, has revealed how her mum longed to escape her suffering caused by breast cancer, but the law against assisted suicide protected her when [...]

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 14:35:38 +0000

Scots fertility clinic in row over foreign eggs

A Scottish fertility clinic has been branded “irresponsible” and “exploitative” for allowing Scottish women to buy human eggs abroad. British law currently bans the selling of human eggs, and requires all donors to be traceable by any future children. But now an IVF clinic based in Glasgow is set to bypass these laws by teaming [...]

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 12:30:33 +0000

Human egg set to be ‘raffled’ as IVF prize

A British IVF centre is today raffling a human egg in a move labelled as “deplorable” by a pro-life expert. Listen to the issue being debated on BBC Radio 4′s Today programme The Bridge Centre in London is promoting a new service which allows recipients to choose an IVF egg based on the egg donor’s [...]

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 16:23:24 +0000

Feminists tell Poles to fly to Britain for free abortion

Polish women are being told to fly to the UK for a free abortion on the NHS. A feminist group is promoting adverts which, using the famous MasterCard slogan, proclaim the “relief” at having an NHS abortion is “priceless”. Ann Widdecombe MP said the advert shows Britain has turned into the abortion capital of Europe. [...]

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 14:06:30 +0000

Dr Death arrives in UK for suicide ‘workshops’

An assisted suicide advocate known as Dr Death is holding a suicide ‘workshop’ in London today. Watch a Sky News report

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 17:11:37 +0000

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The Christian Institute » Marriage & family

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Mon, 06 Sep 2010 20:34:54 GMT

BBC attacked for biased mosque documentary

Mon, 06 Sep 2010 16:13:35 +0000

BBC boss: left wing political bias is less prevalent now

The BBC’s content is less politically biased than it previously was, the Director General of the corporation has claimed. Mark Thompson also asserted, despite previous accusations that the corporation has been pushing for the legalisation of assisted suicide, that the BBC doesn’t campaign on political issues. Speaking to the New Statesman Mr Thompson admitted that [...]

Fri, 03 Sep 2010 08:53:33 +0000

Tatchell repeats call for lower age of consent

‘Homosexual rights’ campaigner Peter Tatchell has repeated his call for the age of consent to be lowered to just 14. His position has been strongly rebuffed in the past, with one commentator saying that sex is for people who can cope with the consequences, “In a word, adults.” Mr Tatchell’s latest comments echo those made [...]

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 14:58:12 +0000

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Preach The Word - Audio Sermons

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Mon, 06 Sep 2010 20:34:54 GMT

Preach The Word - 10th Anniversary - 2000-2010

September 1st 2010 marks the 10th Anniversary of the ministry of Preach The Word. Over the next 10 days we'll be featuring a sermon from each of our 10 years of ministry. Visit the site today to see the first featured sermon from the year 2000, and then take a stroll down memory lane to see what our site looked like at launch, in 2003, 2004 and 2006. Thank you to all our visitors for your encouragement and support throughout the last decade. We look forward, in the will of God, to another 10 years of preaching the Word online and sharing the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 00:10:50 GMT

NEW SERIES - Life In The Spirit Pt1: Religion Or Relationship?

Join us for the first of our series of studies entitled 'Life In The Spirit'. David Legge takes us through the Apostle Paul's letter to the Galatians, seeking to bring us helpful guidelines for living the Christian life. In this first study, we are asked whether our Christian life is a life of 'Religion Or Relationship?'. Many believers, particularly those who deeply desire to obey God, live their lives in a legalistic manner. Is your Christian experience one of a performance-based set of religious rules, which rob you of your joy? Or do you have a vibrant relationship with God? This sermon is available now in MP3, WMA, video and text formats...

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 00:10:02 GMT