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Open Letter To Victorian MP's Re: Abortion Legislation Print E-mail

Thursday 4 September 2008

The Ad Hoc Interfaith Committee has sent an open letter to Victorian MP's regarding the proposed abortion legislation

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Making abortion legal? Print E-mail

Pastoral Letter image A Pastoral Letter of the Catholic Bishops of Victoria

To the Catholic people of Victoria and all men and women of good will, 2008 is a critical year in the life of the people of Victoria. In our State Parliament we are confronted by a series of legislative projects that involve grave moral issues. Prominent among these projects is the so-called “decriminalisation of abortion”.

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Church speaks for the vulnerable and the unborn Print E-mail

Archbishop Denis HartThursday 21 August 2008

Archbishop Hart has spoken out strongly today against the Abortion Law Reform Bill 2008 and the proposal to decriminalise abortion.

"Treating abortion as an ordinary medical procedure deprives the unborn, our most vulnerable human beings, of the legal protection which the law should afford them. An abortion is not like any other medical procedure and any attempt to treat it as such should be opposed both for the sake of the unborn and for the sake of women who may be pressured to have an abortion," the Archbishop said.

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Supplementary notes on Archbishop Hart’s 21 August statement Print E-mail
Friday 22 August 2008

1. Treating abortion as an ordinary medical procedure deprives the unborn, our most vulnerable human beings, of legal protection which the law should afford them.  An abortion is not like any other medical procedure and any attempt to treat it as such should be opposed.
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40-hour prayer of intercession Print E-mail

6pm, Sunday 7 September - 10am, Tuesday 9 September
St Anthony’s Shrine
182 Power Street, Hawthorn
(Melway: 45 B11; Tram No. 70 or 75)

Seven Masses and 40 hours of prayer and Adoration to stop the proposed decriminalisation of abortion legislation. The parliamentary debate is due to begin on Tuesday 9 September.
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Find and contact your local MPs Print E-mail

Monday 1 September 2008

Find out who your State Parliamentarians are by clicking on the link below.

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Respect for unborn human life: The Church's constant teaching Print E-mail
A fact sheet by the USCCB Committee on Pro-Life Activities

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states: “Since the first century the Church has affirmed the moral evil of every procured abortion. This teaching has not changed and remains unchangeable. Direct abortion, that is to say, abortion willed either as an end or a means, is gravely contrary to the moral law” (No. 2271). 
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Quotes on the Catholic Church’s teaching on abortion Print E-mail
"God, the Lord of life, has entrusted, to men the noble mission of safeguarding life, and men must carry it out in a manner worthy of themselves. Life must be protected with the utmost care from the moment of conception: abortion and infanticide are abominable crimes."
Gaudium et Spes,  51 (1966).
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Read the Bill Print E-mail

Monday 1 September 2008

The Abortion Law Reform Bill 2008 is currently before State Parliament. Debate is due to begin on the Bill on Tuesday 9 September.
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Women, abortion and mental health Print E-mail

Tuesday 26 August 2008

The bottom line regarding abortion and mental health is that women have been hurt and they need help, says the founder of Project Rachel.
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Will Pro-Choicers Respect Conscientious Choice? Print E-mail
Cardinal RigaliThursday 24 July 2008

The chairman of the U.S. bishops pro-life committee says an issue is being discussed by members of Congress that should be a matter of agreement between "pro-lifers" and "pro-choicers": respect of conscience.
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Cardinal: UK Abortions a "Badge of Shame" Print E-mail
ImageThursday 3 July 2008

The United Kingdom's abortion statistics are a "badge of shame" for the nation, Cardinal Keith O’Brien told Britain's 646 parliamentarians in a letter.
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Video Library Print E-mail
 
Effects of abortion can be long term Print E-mail

Rachel's VineyardTuesday 1 July 2008

Over ten years ago, His Holiness, Pope John Paul II, recognised the need to extend the hand of compassion to women who had undergone abortion.

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Catholic Church calls for Parliamentary enquiry on abortion Print E-mail

Archbishop Denis HartThursday 29 May 2008

The Catholic Archbishop of Melbourne, Archbishop Denis Hart, today called on the Victorian Government to establish a Parliamentary Enquiry into abortion, before introducing legislation on abortion.

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The unborn's silent suffering Print E-mail

Tuesday 27 May 2008

A topic receiving more attention recently in debates on abortion is the question as to whether a fetus can suffer and feel pain. A book just published brings together a variety of evidence by experts, mainly Italian, on the subject.

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Cardinal: let's at least make abortion rarer Print E-mail
Cardinal Cormac Murphy O'ConnorFriday 23 May 2008

Cardinal Cormac Murphy O'Connor looked at the bright side, after noting the disappointment brought by parliamentarians who voted to leave the upper time limit for Britain's abortion law at 24 weeks of gestation.
The vote rejected a proposal to lower the time limit to 12, 16, 20 or even 22 weeks, based on research showing that babies are more and more able to survive outside the womb at earlier points of gestation.
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British lawmakers reject new abortion restrictions Print E-mail
An 18-week old foetusThursday 22 May 2008

The British House of Commons has rejected proposals to reduce the 24-week limit on legal abortion procedures. Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor has spoken out about the results saying that many people will be "very disappointed" the outcome.
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Mexican defence of life summarised in 10 points Print E-mail

ImageThursday 22 May 2008

Good reasons to fight against the legalisation of abortion can be summarised in 10 basic points, affirm pro-lifers in Mexico.

Dioceses throughout the nation will participate in a march for life this Sunday, convoked by the Mexican bishops' conference's department of lay pastoral ministry. In preparation for the march, an official from the organisation Manos a la Vida -- a play on words with the Spanish expression "manos a la obra" (let's get to work) -- prepared a 10-point summary of the basic arguments against abortion.
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Heal the wounded Print E-mail

Monday 7 April 2008

The pain and suffering caused by abortion and divorce keep many from pursuing a full life of faith, concluded a conference seeking pastoral situations for children of divorce and parents of aborted children.

The two-day congress, titled "Oil on the Wounds: A Response to the Aftermath of Abortion and Divorce", was organised by the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and the Family and the Knights of Columbus. It ended Saturday.

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Pope: Take Gospel of mercy to those who've divorced, had abortions Print E-mail
Monday 7 April 2008

Pope Benedict XVI said the church must bring the "Gospel of mercy" to those involved in abortion and divorce, showing sensitivity to the inner burdens they bear.

The Pope said both practices had created much suffering in modern society, particularly among innocent victims, leaving wounds that affect people's lives permanently.
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Archbishop Hart's VLRC abortion law review submission Print E-mail

Archbishop Denis HartFriday 26 October 2007

Archbishop Denis Hart has made a submission to the Victorian Law Reform Commission's abortion law review.

Below is the full text of Archbishop Hart's submission.

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