This week on the Pro-Life World View, we bring you news stories about excellent leadership from Bishops, a demand from the US College of Pediatricians to end child gender transitions, and the media acknowledging the humanity of an unborn baby tragically killed in a car crash.
Couple Banned From Adopting Because They’re Conservative Christians Win First Battle in Court
Steven Ertelt – Life News
Catholic couple banned from adopting or fostering because of beliefs
A Catholic couple decided to offer themselves as foster parents, were qualified and trained, but then were denied the opportunity to foster or adopt because of their religious beliefs:
“The Department… ultimately determined that their Catholic beliefs would prevent them from being “affirming” toward LGBT children, so they could not be trusted to foster.”
The good news in this case is that a judge disagreed that the civil authority involved had the right to deny them based on their beliefs. Nevertheless, active discrimination by civil authorities against Christian beliefs is becoming more widespread. More expensive legal challenges like this one will probably be required to expose the injustices.
American coalition demanding ‘immediate’ end to child gender transitions
Calvin Freiburger – LifeSite News
US College of Pediatricians demanding ‘immediate’ end to child gender transitions
They lead a coalition of medical professionals who have issued the Doctors Protecting Children Declaration. It calls on all medical professionals to “immediately stop the promotion of social affirmation, puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones and surgeries for children and adolescents.”
The article summarises succinctly their case. Perhaps the turning against such pharmaceutical and surgical interventions is gaining momentum. Let us pray so!
How does the Declaration on Human Dignity apply in Aotearoa New Zealand?Bishop Emeritus Peter Cullinane – CathNews New Zealand
New Zealand bishop writes about Dignitas Infinita
Bishop Emeritus Peter Cullinane has written a thoughtful and helpful article exploring aspects of the recently published Declaration on Human Dignity, Dignitas Infinita. There are some real gems in his article. For example, he points out the challenge faced in discussing issues of human dignity within the prevailing culture:
“Are we at risk of unnoticeably buying into deceitful catch phrases and euphemisms that are used to make the violation of human rights acceptable and ‘normal’?
Abortion is described as ‘interruption of pregnancy,’ and the meaning of ‘person’ is arbitrarily defined to exclude the child in the womb – regardless of what the sciences tell us.
The idea of ‘dignity’ is used to justify the direct killing of another person, and the lethal injection has been called ‘medical aid.’”
He leaves much room for deeper reflection with many thought-provoking questions.
French euthanasia bill faces strong Catholic opposition
CathNews New Zealand
French bishops strongly oppose euthanasia bill
This bill, introduced on 27 May, is even more permissive (dangerous) than the Canadian and Belgian legislation! Senior French Bishops representing the Catholic Bishops Conference have condemned the bill, saying: “The dignity of a human society consists in accompanying life until death, not in facilitating death.”
Unfortunately, public opinion in increasingly secular France seems to support the bill. France just recently amended its Constitution to enshrine induced abortion as a fundamental ‘right’. Are we about to see more evidence of the rotten fruit of the Revolution?
Pray that the Bishops will garner widespread support for their stand.
Digital technology: creating anxious children – Mercator (mercatornet.com)
Margaret Hickey – Mercator
Digital technology: creating anxious children
This straightforward article reviews Jonathan Haidt’s new book, The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness. The book explores child development needs, including the need for real-world experiences. It then describes various negative impacts of the digital interactive world and suggests specific strategies to help combat the challenges.
A West Point for Bishops
David Carlin – The Catholic Thing
A West Point for Bishops
The author of this article proposes the establishment of an academy somewhat similar to West Point, the purpose of which is to prepare bishops for leading the way in the culture wars facing the Church and society. Recognising that there is a secular war against the Church, there is also a need to better equip and train those Priests who are identified as potential members of the Episcopate so they may utilise the best strategies and tactics.
Economic Elites Pour Millions into Abortion Advocacy
Kelsey Hazzard – Secular Pro-Life
Economic Elites Pour Millions into Abortion Advocacy
At the risk of repetition, here is another short article on Melinda French Gates’ largesse recently. This one is from Secular Pro-Life, a non-religious advocacy group. They pull no punches when they rubbish Gates’s statement, “For too long, a lack of money has forced organizations fighting for women’s rights into a defensive posture while the enemies of progress play offensive.” As Secular Pro-Life notes, the abortion industry is not short of money!
Archbishop warns of religious freedom erosion in Australia, calls for ‘saints for our time’
AC Wimmer – Catholic News Agency
Archbishop Fisher warns of “lawfare” eroding religious liberty
Bishop of the Sydney Archdiocese, Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP, is a forthright Dominican. He warns the faithful about creeping incursions into religious freedom on multiple fronts. He speaks eloquently of “lawfare” – legislative and bureaucratic actions that “can shred the very fabric of religious liberty.” The essence of his call is for Catholics “to be serious about being saints for our time.” This is a great read!
How I’m preparing my children for World War III
Rebekah Bills – Mercator
How I’m preparing my children for War
This is a story about a mother’s plans for her children’s participation in war. The author’s five-fold plan is relevant to the cultural wars we are already immersed in, quite apart from the real possibility of a global physical war. By definition, a world war has truly international reach and is unavoidable should it break out. Since we are already fighting for our eternal lives and the souls of our family members and anyone else we can encourage and pray for; this short article is worth reading and thinking about.
Support for homosexual ‘marriage’ declining in the US as more Americans wake up to LGBT agenda
Jonathon Van Maren – LifeSite News
Support for homosexual ‘marriage’ is declining
It appears people are waking up, with a US poll showing just 51% support homosexual “marriage.” It is a decline from a high of 59% just three years ago. One pollster tries to blame so-called Christian nationalism for the change. However, it is more likely a reaction to the vigorous promotion of the LGBTQ+ agenda, resulting in many people saying, “Enough!”
Woman loses unborn child after Far North crash with stolen ute driven by 12-year-old
Avneesh Vincent – The Northern Advocate
Mother loses unborn child after crash and the media acknowledge their humanity
“Tragically, one of the people taken to the hospital with critical injuries was pregnant, and that baby has now died,” reported the Northern Advocate this past week.
Every now and then, a tragedy like this reveals that the mainstream media understands the heartbreak of losing an unborn child. This horrific crash and subsequent loss of life is a tragedy, and so it is when any baby in the womb is killed.
FLI’s National Director Michelle Kaufman highlighted the media’s inconsistency in recognising the humanity of children still unborn. “The media recognise the humanity of the unborn child when it suits,” she said, “but as soon as abortion and a woman’s self-determined “right to choose,” is the subject matter, then all humanity is stripped from these tiny, vulnerable human beings, and their demise is no longer deemed to be a horrific tragedy.”
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