Belgium has allowed twin blind brothers who were not suffering from a terminal illness to be killed under its euthanasia laws. The 45-year-old brothers from the Antwerp region were born deaf and sought euthanasia after finding that they would also soon go blind. They told doctors they were unable to bear the thought of...
Socio-economic status and the educational level of parents is more important than family structure for children’s welfare, a major new study says. The study, Family Relationships and Family Well-Being, written by Professor Tony Fahey of UCD, suggests that says the education level of the mother is particularly important in giving a child a good start...
Today’s ruling by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in which three British Christians lost their claims against religious discrimination has “sent out the wrong message about the position of religious faith in Britain today,” according to Theos, a leading religion and society think tank. The ECHR ruled that three out of four Britons...
Parents in 38 more towns and suburbs around the country are to be asked whether they want some of the Catholic school in their areas to be handed over to another patron body. Parents of all children up to 12 years in the 38 areas, which encompasses 311 schools, will be asked by the Department...
A huge demonstration against Government plans to legalise same-sex marriage took place in Paris yesterday drawing 800,000 people from all parts of France. The protest is the biggest Paris has seen since 1984. The ‘Demo for All’ was led by comedienne ‘Frigide Barjot’. The main message of the protestors is that children deserve a mother...
A Christian Church in the UK denied charitible status on the basis that it does not provide a “public benefit” is set to appeal the ruling in court. More than 50 MPs from all the main parties signed a Commons motion in November calling on the charity regulator to think again, amid fears that hundreds...
Illegal abortion on the grounds of sex may be taking place in the UK within immigrant communities, Government ministers have admitted. They made the admission after an official analysis was made of birth statistics. The Government was urged to open an inquiry after officials found signs that birth rates for girls and boys vary noticeably...
The High Court in its ruling yesterday dismissing an appeal against Ireland’s ban on assisted suicide held out the possibility that those helping terminally ill people to commit suicide might not be prosecuted, according to reports. Ms Marie Fleming, who suffers from multiple sclerosis, lost her challenge against Ireland’s legal ban on assisted suicide. However...
A Christian pastor chosen by President Obama (pictured) to deliver the benediction at his inauguration later this month, has backed out after a pressure campaign by gay rights activists. Reverend Louie Giglio had been chosen for the occasion to highlight his work opposing human trafficking and slavery. However, attention had been drawn to a sermon...
The Iona Institute appeared before the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children in its hearings on the abortion issue earlier today. Irish Times columnist Breda O’Brien and barrister Maria Steen told the committee that the Government should amend rather than repeal the 1861 Offences Against the Person Act which criminalises abortion. They were responding...
