BRITAIN
Scotland repeals Clause 29
Edinburgh-The Scottish parliament will repeal a law prohibiting the promotion on homosexuality in schools, despite a privately-funded poll showing overwhelming support for the prohibition. Clause 28 was supported by nearly 90 per cent of Scottish voters in an unofficial poll financed by Scottish businessman Brian Souter. A bitter “Keep the Clause” campaign pitted pro-family groups against gay activists, union leaders and most of the media.. Scottish Cardinal Thomas Winning was among the leading voices arguing against repeal.
Hague wants abortion limits
London-Calling for counter measures against the reigning “liberal establishment,” a high ranking British statesman has called for stronger laws against abortion. William Hague, leader of Britain’s Conservative party, said liberal views on abortion and other life issues have been running the country for generations. He urged greater restrictions on abortion in the country, and he called for reinstatement of the death penalty. Neither view represents official Conservative party policy, Hague said.
FINLAND
Abortion riskier than birth
Helsinki-A Finnish government study indicates that women who abort are four times more likely to die in the following year than women who carry their pregnancies to term. The study, undertaken by Finland’s National Research and Development Centre for Welfare and Health, indicates that abortion is clearly not safer than childbirth. Many abortion supporters and United Nations officials have suggested that childbirth has become a major risk to women’s health and safety, especially in the Third World. These claims have been used to justify increased abortion and contraception services in Africa, Asia and elsewhere. The Finland study, based on seven years of research, showed that women who aborted in the year prior to their deaths were 60 per cent more likely to die of natural causes than women who carried the pregnancy to term. These same women were also more likely to die of suicide, accidents and homicide.