Argentina marks Day of the Unborn
Abortionist commits suicide
Russian abortions down?
Egyptian orphans killed for organs
Israeli pro-life group active
Argentina marks Day of the UnbornBUENOS AIRES – Argentina observed its first national Day of the Unborn March 25, with President Carlos Menem sending a message to all heads of state in Latin America, as well as Spain, Portugal and the Philippines, urging them to join in the observance. “If we all raise our voices, proclaiming the existence of human life from the moment of conception, the world cannot remain indifferent,” Menem said.
The Argentine president made it clear that he is seeking the adoption of new international laws that would provide “suitable protection for the unborn child, however fragile and defenseless he might be.” Menem inaugurated the day with a presidential proclamation.
Abortionist commits suicide
BRISBANE, Australia – Notorious Australian abortionist Peter Bayliss, 71, was found dead in his suburban Brisbane home March 30, and police are treating the death as a suicide. It is thought he took an overdose of sleeping pills.
Bayliss was serving a three-month suspension after one of his patients suffered brain damage during an abortion at his “Greenslopes Fertility Control Clinic.” Although pro-abortionists praised Bayliss for having “amazing courage,” Right to Life Australia co-ordinators Graham and Liz Preston noted he had a “sordid” career as an abortionist and “died in an unrepentant state.”
“It is good to know that Peter Bayliss will no longer be able to end the lives of innocent, preborn babies,” the Prestons said in a statement.
Russian abortions down?
MOSCOW – Contradicting earlier reports that abortions in Russia have been skyrocketing in light of that country’s worsening economic problems, the New York Times says the number of abortions has been cut nearly in half, and improvements have taken place in once-dismal infant and maternal mortality rates. The number of abortions is said to have dropped from 4.6 million in 1988 to 2.5 million in 1997.
Russian pro-life leaders welcomed the new figures, but noted that work on reducing the prevalence of abortions was far from complete. Rev. Maksim Obukhov, a Russian Orthodox priest, indicated the extent of the challenge pro-lifers face when told the Times, “Abortion in this country had become a normal state of affairs, and there were many women who had five or six without any hesitation … Abortion is a tradition, handed down by mothers, even grandmothers.”
Egyptian orphans killed for organs
CAIRO – Egyptian authorities are investigating reports that a welfare organization murdered homeless children in its care and sold their body parts to private hospitals for transplants. The country’s general prosecutor is staging an inquiry into the allegations. Suspicions were aroused when 25 of 32 children at the organization’s home died within three months.
Egyptian MPs claim the killings involved “large sums of money” and “the knowledge and collaboration of certain powerful figures.” Organs were allegedly sold for up to $30,000 each. The allegations come in the wake of previous incidents in which donors were exploited to provide transplants for wealthy people from the Arab world.
The controversy also comes amidst reports from other countries of similar occurrences, including Honduras, where 800 children vanished in 12 months, and China, where executed prisoners are routinely cut up by doctors immediately after being shot.
Israeli pro-life group active
JERUSALEM – The Israel Pro-Life Association says at least 10 babies were directly saved from abortion last year through pro-life outreaches, which included the distribution of tens of thousands of pieces of pro-life literature at shopping malls, bus stations, schools, hospitals and rock concerts.
“I believe that God is calling us to go forward and reach more people all across Israel with the message of life,” said the association’s outreach director, adding that new leaflets are being designed that will describe the emotional and physical side effects of abortion, and alert Israeli youth to the biblical virtues of purity.