The US House of Representatives has passed a Bill designed to protect the conscience rights of pro-life Americans who are against funding abortions or participating in terminations as medical practitioners. The House voted 245 to 182 in favour of the Conscience Protection Act. During the debate on the legislation, House Speaker Paul Ryan stated: “No one should be forced to violate their conscience—least of all by the federal government. That’s all this Bill says. The federal government—or anyone who receives taxpayer dollars—cannot discriminate against health care providers who do not perform abortions.” Pro-Life groups warmly welcomed the passage of the Bill.
A Spanish fertility company has purchased a site in Ireland with the intention of providing genetic screening and anonymous egg donation here. The Institut Marques, which operates under a more lax legal regime in Spain, has purchased the Clane Fertility Clinic in Kildare and plans to import anonymously donated eggs to circumvent planned laws against such donations in Ireland. “We want to do all of the types of treatment that you can’t do, or have been really hard to do in Ireland, and we want to do them here,” Dr Hans Arce of the Institut Marques said.
The United Reformed Church (URC) in Britain is to conduct same-sex weddings following an overwhelming vote in favour of the move. With the 240-21 vote by its General Assembly, the United Reformed Church becomes the largest denomination in Britain to cater for same-sex ceremonies, with 1,500 churches across the country. The leader of the URC said that there would be no compulsion on local churches to follow the move. “Those of our churches who now wish to offer full marriage services to same-sex couples are free to do just that – and those churches who do not wish to are not compelled to,” said Rev. John Proctor, General Secretary of the URC. “All are part of this denomination. This has been a sensitive issue for many in our churches.”
A black pastor in the United States has said that abortion outstrips the 13 other leading causes of death among black Americans. Pastor Walter B. Hoye II has conducted a study of deaths within the black American community in light of the current issue of police shootings of black men. According to his own studies, the pastor reveals that, among other causes, abortion ends 53.2 more black lives for every homicide, 5.9 times more than heart disease, 6.3 times more than cancer, and 182.3 times more than suicide.
A Bill towards allowing abortion in cases of foetal abnormality has been defeated in a Dáil vote, despite the Government’s free vote on the matter. The legislation, proposed by Independent TD Mick Wallace was struck down by 95 votes to 45, with 17 TDs abstaining or absent. Only five Fianna Fail TDs voted in favour with 36 voting against in a free vote.
Two-thirds of voters say they favour the repeal of the Eighth Amendment to allow for abortion in cases of rape and life-limiting abnormalities, according to an Irish Times/Ipsos MRBI poll. When asked if the constitutional protection for the unborn should be set aside to allow for terminations in such circumstances, 67% of respondents agreed that termination should be an option, while 21% opposed the change. Among people resident in Dublin, the number jumped to 75% in favour. There is no difference between men and women on the subject, with 67 per cent of men and 68 per cent of women in favour of repeal. Voters aged 65 and over are much more likely – 39% -to support the anti-abortion position, while farmers are also more likely to support retention of the amendment 35%.
The Methodist Church says it will “revisit” the issue of same-sex marriage after members voiced backing for the church to endorse gay unions. The commitment came after the Methodist annual general meeting in London heard from its Marriage and Relationship Task Group that there is a measure of support for the church conducting same-sex marriage ceremonies. Rev. Graham Carter told the meeting that there is a “clear mandate” to “revisit” the church’s definition of marriage via a ‘re-examination’ of theology. However, the task group also noted that there was concern within the church that voting for same-sex marriage would “damage its prophetic and counter-cultural role by giving into changes in society”.
The Minister for Education Richard Bruton has vowed to “explicitly ban” discrimination on schools’ admissions, signalling a possible end to Catholic schools prioritising students of the faith. Minister Bruton made his comments as he unveiled his new Admissions Bill, the provisions of which are expected to be enacted this September. One new requirement under the Act is that schools must consult with parents in relation to their admissions policies, which must be made public. Along with the issue of possibly ending the right of religious schools to prioritise pupils, the issue of reserving places for relatives of past pupils has been referred to an Oireachtas committee for a final decision.
