Portugal may have abortion referendum
LISBON — Portuguese President Jorge Sampaio suggested during a BBC interview that the country will hold a referendum on abortion. Sampaio is seeking to liberalize Portugal’s current law which limits abortion to cases where a pregnancy is thought to endanger a woman’s health or in cases of pregnancy caused by rape, and forbids all abortions after the 12th week of pregnancy. In a 1998 referendum, Portuguese voters narrowly rejected a bid to introduce abortion on demand.
Pro-family group receives NGO status
UNITED NATIONS — The Family Research Council has finally received Non-Governmental Organization status at the United Nation’s Economic and Social Council after a drawn-out three year effort. FRC thanked members of the Bush administration and Sen. Jesse Helms (R, N.C.) who worked to help achieve the official recognition which will provide the pro-life, pro-family organization a platform at the U.N. to raise concerns on “international decisions affecting the sanctity of life, the sanctity of marriage, religious liberty and human rights.”