Canada

On March 17, the Liberals won three by-elections and the Conservatives one. Among the new Liberal MPs is former NDP Ontario premier Bob Rae, who brought in the temporary injunction against peaceful pro-life witnessing in 1994 … REAL Women is pleased with changes to the advisory board of the federally funded Museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg. The museum, which has received $1 million from Ottawa and a promise of $22 million annually to cover operating costs, was the brainchild of the late Izzy Asper and sought to be a monument to Pierre Trudeau and his Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Its former board included numerous former Liberal party politicians and pro-lifers and there are serious concerns the museum will be used as a powerful tool to champion past Liberal government’s interpretation of human rights, such as abortion rights, feminism and homosexuality. The new advisory board includes people with broader experiences, including in business, law and history. One standout is Constance Glube, former chief justice of the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal, who has criticized the politicization of judicial appointments, and well-respected senior public servant Mary Gusella. REAL Women has raised concerns about the panel of academic experts, however, which includes Constantine Passaris, former chair of the New Brunswick Human Rights Commission … CTV pulled an ad sponsored by Life Productions that said it is possible to leave the homosexual lifestyle, after the network received complaints from gay activists. Former homosexual John Westcott, founder of Exchange Ministries, says in the commercial: “You hear a lot about gay rights, gay ‘marriage’ and the gay lifestyle being taught in our public schools for children, but what many people don’t realize, and seldom hear, is that many homosexuals don’t want to be homosexual. What many who are struggling with homosexuality don’t realize, and seldom hear, is that they can change. I should know – for 13 years, I used to be one.” Westcott then walks off the camera and an announcer says, “This message has been brought to you by Life Productions.” The ad ran for three days in Sudbury, Ont., before being yanked off the air.

United States

Democratic presidential hopeful Senator Barack Obama (Ill.) told an audience at Hocking College in Nelsonville, Oh. that the Sermon on the Mount supports same-sex unions. Saying he did not support homosexual “marriage,” he offered his support for same-sex unions which would, he explained, “allow a same-sex couple to visit each other in a hospital or transfer property to each other.” However, he would not oppose states that want to recognize same-sex “marriage.” He said, “If people find that controversial, then I would just refer them to the Sermon on the Mount, which I think is, in my mind, for my faith, more central than an obscure passage in Romans.” … Euthanasia activist and convicted murderer Jack Kevorkian has announced he plans to run for Congress as an independent in Michigan’s 9th congressional district. He told the Oakland Press, “We need some honesty and sincerity, instead of corrupt government in Washington.” Kevorkian boasts of killing 130 people, many of whom were never diagnosed with physical illnesses … Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt expressed disappointment in a new policy put forth by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists that mandates doctors to refer for abortions. He also called on the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology to reject this policy and protect the conscience rights of physicians.

International

A parliamentary committee of the Council of Europe is considering a report called “Access to Safe and Legal Abortion in Europe,” which calls upon all 47 member states of the council to make abortion an unconditional right. It also urges governments to use taxpayer dollars to fund abortion. The report said there should be absolutely no restrictions on abortion, because restrictions are onerous on women. It also referred to abortion as an “enlightened” choice for women. If the committee supports the report, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe will vote on it and, although it will be non-binding on member states, it will be used to persuade countries to liberalize their abortion laws … The administration of recently elected Argentine President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner sent a letter to representatives of the national congress, urging them to legalize abortion and homosexual “marriage.” María José Lubertino of the National Institute against Discrimination, Xenophobia and Racism listed among the 13 items her group wanted to see the Chamber of Deputies consider in the upcoming session was “legalization and broadening of the cases of voluntary interruption of pregnancy,” “regulation of non-punishable abortions” and “marriage between people of the same sex.” During the election campaign last year, Fernandez de Kirchner vaguely referred to herself as pro-life … The National Congress of Peru has approved a new system of “rapid divorce” that allows couples to process their divorces simply by filling out forms at city hall or the office of a notary public. The divorce application can be submitted any time after two years of marriage and must be processed by the government within two years of submission. Rosario Sasieta, the bill’s sponsor, says the changes are necessary to reduce the costs of divorce.