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February 15 to February 21, 2017
Eating with ethics: My beef with beef
Reg No. 1920/002058/06
No 5020
What you need to be a good leader
Book review: Be God’s friend this Lent
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Abortion and care ‘at odds’ STaFF REPORTER
“It is deeply concerning that the termination of pregnancy is often perceived as the only option available in crisis pregnancies. The services of the Department of Health may aim to be quick, effective and confidential, and the legalisation may intend reducing the number of maternal fatalities from ‘backstreet’ abortions. “However, it has done little to address the reasons which lead girls and women to seek out these services. There is no aftercare plan. The legislation focuses almost solely on the woman and on it being her ‘choice’ to make,” the CPLO paper said. Ms Law said that internationally, researchers have identified the first 1 000 days of a child’s life—that is, from the moment of conception to the age of two—as critical for its future wellbeing and development. The Departments of Health and Social Development, Ms Law noted, have prioritised these first 1 000 days by stressing proper nutrition during pregnancy, breastfeeding, and free healthcare at state hospitals. However, Ms Law said, “the contradiction between the abortion law and the policy which emphasises the importance of the first 1 000 days is strikingly anomalous. The former deals with a ‘foetus’ as if it were subhuman. The latter sees the unborn child as worthy of care, and entitled to public resources.” Abortion, she said, “is the last stop for many women in crisis pregnancy and, just as it is our collective responsibility to provide the best possible ‘first 1 000 days’ for all our children, so also is it is our collective responsibility to ensure that expectant mothers do not feel compelled to make this choice”.
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HE Catholic Parliamentary Liaison Office (CPLO) marked the 20th anniversary of the abortion act taking effect with a Mass in Cape Town’s St Mary’s cathedral. Congregants prayed for “a change of heart on the part of all who disregard the rights of unborn children”. The CPLO also released a research paper by Lois Law on the effect of the legalisation on abortion two decades ago. It notes that the Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act 92 of 1996, especially with its 2008 amendment, “is widely regarded as among the most permissive in the world”. The law allows for any woman to procure an abortion, without the consent from any other person, including the father of the child. Girls who are 12 years and older who wish to have an abortion are urged to seek the guidance of their parents or primary caregivers, “but this is not required in order for the procedure to take place”, the CPLO paper explains. “Teenage pregnancy, rape, incest and sexual abuse, which may result in crisis pregnancies, all characterise contemporary South Africa. These are major challenges, but recourse to abortion does not address the long-term causes. Ms Law also pointed out that the Act provides for an abortion should it, according to the law, “significantly affect the social or economic circumstances of the woman concerned”. “While the termination of a pregnancy may be perceived by some to be ‘one less mouth to feed’, it cannot be seen as a povertyalleviation measure,” she warned.
The official launch of the 50th anniversary year of little Eden homes for the intellectually disabled was a Mass of thanksgiving at the society’s Elvira Rota Village in Bapsfontein, Gauteng. Cardinal Wilfrid Napier is seen blessing a great-grandchild of Danny and Domitilla Hyams, founders of little Eden.
Rome posters attack reforming Pope Francis By Eliza HaRRiS
W People look at a poster expressing criticism of Pope Francis in central Rome. (Photo: Paul Haring/CNS)
HILE the Pope has been depicted as a superhero or peace advocate, there was a different tone as Rome woke up to see the walls of the city centre plastered with some 200 anti-Pope Francis posters in early February. According to Italian news agency ANSA, the pope received the news with “serenity and detachment”. Depicting a dour Pope Francis, the posters read: “Ah Francis, you’ve
taken over congregations, removed priests, decapitated the Order of Malta and the Franciscans of the Immaculate, ignored Cardinals… but where’s your mercy?” After a short time, many of the posters were covered with signs reading “abusive posting”. The brief phrase included on the posters was written in “Romanaccio,” or the Roman dialect, and indicates the poster-maker is from more conservative sectors of the Church.
By saying the Pope had “decapitated the Order of Malta,” the author was referring to the pope’s recent request for the Order’s former Grand Master, Matthew Festing, to resign while ousted Grand Chancellor Albrecht Freiherr von Boeselager be reinstated. The reference to taking over congregations and removing priests is likely to refer to allegations that Francis had fired three priests from the Congregation of the Doctrine of
the Faith with no notice or reason. On ignoring cardinals, the point was a letter written to Pope Francis in September, asking for clarification on five points—called dubia—in Amoris Laetitia. The reference to the Franciscans of the Immaculate referred to the fact that Francis made some changes to the order early on in his pontificate, restricting their use of the Latin Mass used prior to the Second Vatican Council.-CNA
S outher n C ross Pilgrimage HOLY LAND • ROME •ASSISI • CAIRO 25 Aug - 8 Sept 2017 • Led by Archbishop William Slattery OFM For more information or to book, please contact Gail info@fowlertours.co.za or 076 352-3809
www.fowlertours.co.za/slattery