This week on the Pro-Life World View we bring you a variety of stories from 2024 covering topics relating to marriage, family and the defence of human life from conception to natural death.
News From Around the World
The Predictable Consequences of Redefining Marriage
Dr Tony Rucinski – Coalition for Marriage
The predictable consequences of redefining marriage
Ten years ago, the Coalition for Marriage – a UK-based pro-family and pro-marriage organisation – correctly predicted many of the issues that are seen today following the redefinition of marriage. Their predictions include:
- Support for marriage would reduce [see unmarried, and births, and cohabitation].
- Legal changes to eradicate sex-based language [see here].
- Schools being forced to teach about same-sex marriage.
- Public sector chaplains fired if expressing belief in traditional (real) marriage [see here].
- Curtailing of traditional marriage supporters’ freedom of expression [see here].
Similar outcomes are clearly discernible in New Zealand and throughout many parts of the world.
FLI Comment:
It is worth noting that in New Zealand surrogacy is mainly an avenue for the procurement of children for homosexuals. The current push to change the surrogacy laws here will remove the need for these men to adopt the child they consider their own. Also, proponents are seeking to commodify the process here to a greater degree than presently.
Cardinal Müller slams rising ‘totalitarianism’ in NatCon interview: ‘We are not slaves of the state’
Matt Lamb – LifeSite
“We are not slaves of the state”
“We are not slaves of the state,” says Cardinal Gerhard Müller.
Speaking at a Conference in Brussels, the Cardinal warned against ideologies being pushed by political leaders, stating that ideologies not based on reason lead to sin and are very destructive. He reminds us that the state exists to serve man, not vice versa, and he urges us to use our free will and intellect, and refuse to allow ideological totalitarianism.
Cardinal Sarah Warns of Dangers of ‘Practical Atheism’ Even Within Church
Shannon Mullen – National Catholic Register
Cardinal Sarah is warning of ‘practical atheism’ even within the Church
‘Practical atheism’ is described by Robert Cardinal Sarah as being “not an outright rejection of God, but it pushes God to the side.” It treats God as not being relevant to modern life. In this succinct article, the Cardinal describes the influence of this thinking within the Church, evidenced by a lack of faith and a willingness to heed too readily heterodox views. “It is a grave danger to consider all voices legitimate,” he said. Given these influences and the state of the Church in Europe, the Cardinal is urging U.S. bishops to speak courageously in defence of the Faith and the centrality of Jesus and to be an example for the rest of the West. Read on to learn more about the problem of practical atheism and the Cardinal’s optimistic encouragement to the American Church.
Irish Bishops Decry Assisted Suicide Proposal as ‘a Failure of Hope’
Johan McKeown – National Catholic Register
Irish Bishops decry assisted suicide proposal as a ‘Failure of Hope’
Ireland is actively considering legalising assisted suicide and euthanasia, which is the recommendation in the Parliamentary Final Report of the Joint Committee on Assisted Dying. In response, Ireland’s Catholic Bishops have issued a Statement entitled “Freedom to Live Fully, Until Death Comes.” The bishops remind the faithful and the Irish people of the perennial teachings of the Church on life and death, including that:
“[T]he deliberate taking of human life, especially by those whose vocation is to care for it, undermines a fundamental principle of civilised society, namely that no person can lawfully take the life of another.”
Let us pray that Ireland does not add to the international catastrophe with yet another example of a deadly and immoral law.
UK high court upholds puberty blockers ban due to ‘substantial risks’ for minors
Kate Quiñones – Catholic News Agency
Cass independent review UK
Dr Hilary Cass – The Cass review
Puberty blockers may cause irreversible harm to young boys – Mayo Clinic Study
Kate Quinones – Catholic News Agency
UK high court upholds puberty blockers ban due to ‘substantial risks’ for minors
Following the release of the Cass Review, the UK Government moved to impose a ban on prescribing puberty blocker medications to minors. A transexual advocacy group unsuccessfully petitioned the High Court to overturn the ban. In handing down this welcome decision, the Court found that the puberty blockers carried; “very substantial risks and very narrow benefit.”
There are now several studies finding problems with puberty blockers, such as one at Mayo Clinic, which found that they may cause “irreversible damage” to young boys.
Given the rapidly growing body of evidence of serious issues with puberty blockers, it is time for New Zealand authorities to follow the UK’s lead and, at the very least, pause their use in pre-pubescent children.
I was so thankful for those who helped me save my child
Tabitha Goodling – Pregnancy Help News
“I was so thankful for those who helped me save my child” – APR mum
Here is a beautiful story of a successful APR intervention, showing that a woman who has taken the first abortion pill (mifepristone) can find help to potentially save the life of her baby if she regrets her decision.
The Abortion Pill Reversal protocol (APR) is how such a rescue can occur. The APR protocol utilises progesterone to negate the effects of mifepristone (the first pill in the chemical abortion process). APR is under attack from pro-abortion supporters, practitioners, and even government healthcare agencies in many parts of the world, including in New Zealand.
Michelle Kaufman, National Director for Family Life International NZ, has recently commented, “Pro-life physicians and others who support them believe that every woman ought to have an opportunity to choose to reverse a chemical abortion if they change their mind. The use of progesterone to reverse the effects of mifepristone has been shown to be safe and effective.”
Read more about the New Zealand Ministry of Health’s attack on APR here: MOH refuse mothers the chance to reverse chemical abortion.
As abortion is decriminalized in Jalisco Mexican Cardinal decries murder of innocents
Diego López Colín – CNA
As abortion is decriminalized in Jalisco, Mexican Cardinal tells legislators they will have to answer to God.
With fitting prophetic clarity, Mexican Cardinal Francisco Robles Ortega has reminded politicians in his State’s legislature that “One day they will stand before God and have to answer why they passed a law intended to destroy innocent lives, which is what abortion is.” Jalisco State joins ten others that have decriminalised abortions for babies up to 12 weeks of gestation. Decriminalising abortion “should be called for what it is,” the Cardinal said, “murdering the innocent.” In New Zealand, abortion is legal up to birth, with the only requirement being that after 20 weeks, the “health practitioner reasonably believes that the abortion is clinically appropriate in the circumstances.”
Mum felt pushed to abort baby with Downs syndrome
Kate Morgan – BBC Wales
Mums who felt pushed to abort their babies set up charity to welcome babies with Down syndrome
When Kat Booker’s baby was diagnosed as having Down syndrome, she “felt like I was being pushed towards termination [induced abortion] because it was the easier thing to do.” Fortunately, Kat decided to continue with the pregnancy and gave birth to her “dream” daughter, little Nancy. Kat and other mums with similar experiences have set up a charity gifting Welcome Boxes to babies with Down syndrome, which sends the message to mothers: “You are not alone; your baby will be alright.”
Dame Colleen Bayer DSG, Founder of Family Life International NZ, has commented: “People with Down syndrome live good lives and are loved and valued. The idea that they are a “disadvantage” and that we are “doing the most good” by not having them around is an extreme form of discrimination that reinforces negative stereotypes towards them. It exposes them to harmful attitudes, bigotry and prejudice.”
STATEMENT: Chilean Senate protects children, takes a stand against dangerous gender ideology
Press Release – Alliance for Defending Freedom International
Chilean Senate protects children, takes a stand against dangerous gender ideology
Following the publication of a Congressional investigative report, Chile’s Senate has voted to ban the Chilean government’s funding of so-called sex ‘changes’ involving surgical or hormonal interventions for children under the age of 18. The Chilean government’s policy of support for gender ‘reassignment’ (mutilation) for children includes prosecuting parents who oppose the transitioning of their children. Chile’s government is now seeking to challenge the new law in the Constitutional Court.
Michelle Kaufman, National Director of Family Life International NZ, welcomed the Chilean Senate’s legislative initiative: “This is part of a growing worldwide trend to objectively assess the dangers of puberty blockers and surgical interventions on children and young people. So-called gender-affirming care, whether supporting and facilitating social, chemical, or surgical transitioning, is harmful to individuals who cannot possibly have the ability to give informed consent to the interventions.”
More human embryos destroyed through IVF than abortion every year
Tyler Arnold – CNA Catholic News Agency
IVF kills more human embryos than direct abortions do
For every laboratory-conceived embryo that results in a born child, around 15 to 19 other embryos are either frozen, used for destructive embryo research, or simply discarded. IVF treats the conception of human babies like a manufacturing process, necessitating laboratory technicians to routinely destroy (i.e. kill) embryos who are living human beings. As this article from NCBC says, “IVF is the opposite of a loving response to infertility.”
Death by organ donation: Euthanizing patients for their organs gains frightening traction
E. Wesley Ely, MD, MPH – PublicMed Central
Death by organ donation: Euthanizing patients for their organs gains frightening traction
The article featured is by an Intensive Care specialist with extensive organ transplant experience, and he raises significant concerns. The practice of harvesting organs from people who have died by natural means (e.g. illness, accident, etc) is far from new. Further, following the legalisation of euthanasia in many parts of the world, donation after death is also a reality – whereby organs are taken from donors who have just been voluntarily euthanised.
The logical next step is recovering organs from an apparently voluntary donor while they are still alive. The act of harvesting the organs itself becomes the instrument of euthanasia (it kills the donor). Obviously homicide, this horrifying prospect is being discussed and seems disturbingly imminent.
Even removing organs from people who have died of natural causes can be problematic. A dead donor rule is used to protect against the possibility of death by donation. The rule depends on an accurate assessment of brain-death to establish moral certainty of death before the harvest of organs from a body. Provided moral certainty of brain death can be determined, agreeing to donate one’s organs is considered an act of charity to others.
New Zealand News
Assisted dying in NZ: Reviewers say oversight is so limited that wrongful deaths could go undetected
Isaac Davison – NZ Herald
Ministry of Health blocks review committee from investigating concerning cases of assisted death
Two of a three-member committee responsible for reviewing euthanasia and assisted suicide deaths under the End of Life Choice Act were blocked by the Ministry of Health from receiving vital information regarding cases that aroused their concerns. These concerns included the patient’s diagnosis, their prognosis, the assessment of their capacity or evidence of suspected coercion. One committee member resigned when they were told to “assume nothing was wrong” on receiving assisted death reports with blank sections.
Michelle Kaufman, Family Life International’s National Director, said:
“It is alarming that essential information about deaths have been withheld from people charged with ensuring the End of Life Choice Act is implemented in the way it is intended, even if the entire law is immoral. Members of Parliament need to be fearless in getting to the bottom of these apparent abuses of process by the Ministry of Health.”
Clinicians urged to exercise caution prescribing puberty blockers to young people suffering gender incongruence
Michelle Kaufman – Family Life International
NZ clinicians urged to “exercise caution” when prescribing puberty blockers & consultation underway
The Ministry of Health is urging clinicians to “exercise caution” in prescribing puberty blockers to young people experiencing gender incongruence and dysphoria, citing a “lack of good quality evidence” to justify their use.
The governmental department states, “We do not have good evidence to say that the medicines used improve the longer-term outcomes for young people with gender-related health needs – nor that the potential longer-term risks are low.”
A public consultation is underway, and submissions may be made until Monday, 20 January 2025, at 5:00pm.
For links, FLI commentary and the full story, please read the article.
Let’s talk about it: Review of relationships and sexuality education – Summary
Education Review Office (ERO)
Sex education curriculum to be reviewed after critical report
RNZ News
School sex education plans derailed by misinformation, bigotry and threats of violence – report
RNZ News
Gender, sexuality, and relationship-based guidelines out by the end of term 1 next year, but a rewrite is planned.
The Minister of Education, Erica Stanford, has announced that the gender, sexuality and relationship-based education guidelines will be removed before the end of the first term in 2025, while a rewrite of the entire Relationships and Sexuality curriculum is on the cards. The move fulfils a coalition promise between National and NZ First and comes on the back of a report from the Education Review Office (ERO). The report “Let’s Talk about It: Review of Relationships and Sexuality Education – Summary” accuses parents involved in the consultation process of “abuse and intimidation” and cites one school leader saying, “Why do we consult? We don’t ask what we should teach in maths.” Ruth Shinoda, the deputy chief executive of ERO, said: “Relationships and sexuality education are too important to leave to chance, and we need to make it easier for schools so they can focus on teaching.”
A key recommendation in the ERO report is that there be a “requirement” for parents and caregivers to be informed “about what they [educators] plan to teach and how they plan to teach it before they teach it.”
Other recommendations (abridged):
- RSE continues to be compulsory from Years 1 to 10.
- The Government consider how to extend RSE teaching and learning into Years 11 to 13.
- The Ministry of Education review the Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) curriculum to ensure clarity on what should be taught and when spanning from Years 0 to 13.
- The Ministry of Education provides evidence based resources and supports for school leaders and teachers, including curriculum and teaching guidance.
- Teachers, especially those in primary schools, receive the professional development necessary to effectively teach RSE.
- Consider replacing the requirement on school boards to consult the school community on RSE (as part of the Health and Physical Education curriculum) with a requirement to inform parents and whānau about what they plan to teach and how they plan to teach it, before they teach it. Schools should continue to take steps to understand students’ needs. Schools should also ensure that parents and whānau know that they can withdraw their children from any element of RSE that they are uncomfortable with.
- Retain the ability for parents and whānau to withdraw their children from RSE lessons and provide clear information about how to do this.
FLI Comment:
Parents are the first teachers of their children, and it is their responsibility and God-given right to educate them on the delicate matter of sexuality. The Catholic church has been clear of this fact, and that others may only assist them in this critical task with their permission and with full knowledge of what is being taught, and it must always be grounded in solid moral principles. Parents must stand firm and insist that they have a say about what is taught in schools in this matter and not merely be “informed.”
It is heartening that the report found that 13% of parents do not want RSE taught in schools at all, while 38% of parents of primary-aged students are concerned that the RSE content is not age-appropriate. Such unease means that some parents still have an innate sense of this important responsibility that they bear.
New Zealand’s official abortion death toll announced [2023]
Family Life International NZ
New Zealand’s official abortion death toll announced [2023]
The Ministry of Health has released the official annual report for abortion in New Zealand, painting an even more grim picture than provisional figures obtained earlier this year.
It is reported that 16,277 chemical and surgical abortions were performed in 2023.
Putting it into perspective, that is 44 pre-born children killed every day of the year, or 313 per week, and roughly two abortions every hour, every day.
FLI’s National Director, Michelle Kaufman, responded to the news, saying, “We must not lose heart. It appears that Satan has won. He has not. We must remain faithful, assisting pregnant mothers in their greatest hour of need and educating people, especially our youth, about the sacredness of human life and the urgent need to protect the most innocent amongst us, our pre-born brothers and sisters.”
She declared, “Protecting pre-born children is the duty of everyone, not just a few. Without the right to life, there can be no other rights.”
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