Imago Dei, Volume 3, Issue 3

The Monthly Newsletter of the Dignitatis Humanae Institute

April
September 2013 - Volume 3, Issue 3

Editorial

Welcome to the latest issue of Imago Dei.

On monday, the UK Director of Public Prosecutions, Keir Starmer, insisted it was correct not to prosecute doctors who have been proven to authorise illegal gender-based abortions. Such a conclusion is entirely unjustified, yet entirely explanatory. Were the prosecutions to proceed, the subsequent effect would inevitably be charges brought against a huge swathe of medical practitioners across the country; who for decades have knowingly and willingly circumvented the 1967 Abortion Act to instead provide unregulated and illegal gender-based terminations on demand.

Therefore, in a shameless attempt to hide the true nature of the abortion industry in Britain, those guilty of female infanticide shall avoid trial. Such a brazen move from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) clearly runs contrary to the rule of law; the very basis of our society and the very notion that the CPS is dedicated to uphold. In its 'defence' of this decision, the CPS openly admits that there is sufficient evidence to warrant a prosecution with "a realistic prospect of conviction" - yet deems such a prosecution to be against the public interest! Evidently no longer the upholder of the rule of law, the CPS has instead appointed itself the moral arbiter of the nation.

Such hubris may be short-lived. As today the British House of Commons - the true arbiter of such matters - will debate the evident failure of the prosecution service. As David Burrowes MP, the sponsor of today's debate stated: "The CPS decision not to prosecute was a dereliction of duty. Once the evidential threshold was passed, it was plainly in the public interest to prosecute."

Let us hope and pray, that unlike the CPS, there still remains one Great British institution that remains dedicated to the rule of law and the defence of societies' most vulnerable.

Daniel Howard

Editor, Imago Dei

Slovakian March For Life Draws 80,000 Supporters

The first ever Slovakian march for life held in the town of Kosice on 22 September drew an incredible 80,000 strong crowd. According to an on-the-spot account by Hlavné Správy, a local news service, the crowd shut down most streets in the city's core.

Miroslav Mikolasik, a Slovakian MEP who attended said, "We were all shocked at the sheer magnitude of the March for Life." Organisers said their aim was to mobilise public support to advise legislators that the protection of life and family consisting of a married man and woman, is an indispensable basis for the stability and development of life in Slovakia. While Slovakian supporters have held pro-life demonstrations previously, this event, organised by the Conference of Slovak Bishops, was the first event organised on a national scale. Flags and banners asked for protection for the family and protection of human beings from conception.

A participator in the march commented, "I am for the family. I myself grew up in a family. And of course, I am all for life... the attitude for life is an attitude for all the people. That we do not discriminate against anyone is the first and foremost issue with abortion." The march was preceded by a Mass, celebrated by 16 Catholic bishops, and an evening vigil. Papal Nuncio, Mario Giordana, conveyed greetings from Pope Francis to the crowd, saying, "Pope Francis sends you a message- never let anyone stop you from promoting the culture of life."

USA Bishops Voice Support for Freedom of Marriage Bill

American bishops have praised a bill in the House of Representatives that would protect those who share the Church's understanding of marriage from the punitive penalties of the federal government. The Marriage and Religious Freedom Act was introduced in the lower chamber of Congress on 19 September by Republican Congressman Raúl Labrador.

Labrador explained that his bill would "ensure tolerance for individuals and organisations that affirm traditional marriage, protecting them from adverse federal action." The legislation would prohibit the federal tax code from targeting groups and individuals who act upon their conscience in defining marriage as an institution between one man and one woman. These protections would extend to both non-profit and for-profit organisations, but would only take effect on the national level, meaning that states could still penalise those who define marriage as a union of a man and a woman.

Archbishop William W. Lori of Baltimore, who chairs the U.S. bishops' committee for religious liberty said, "In a growing climate of intolerance against individuals and organisations who believe that marriage is the union of one man and one woman, this Act is an important step in preserving their religious liberties at the federal level." Religious freedom concerns in connection with marriage have been increasing for months, amid mounting lawsuits against those who object to a redefinition of marriage. Photographers, bed-and-breakfast owners and bakers have been among those facing large fines or jail time for adhering to their religious beliefs on marriage.

Reflection

"While new rights are attributed to or indeed almost presumed by the individual, life is not always protected as the primary value and the primordial right of every human being. The ultimate aim of medicine remains the defense and promotion of life."

- Pope Francis

"The Institute promotes recognition of the infinite value of every single person by recognising each human life as being made in the Image and Likeness of God, from conception until natural death. The Imago Dei is the source of the sanctity of human life. Promoting Human Dignity protects this sanctity in the political sphere, as the Christian Faith upholds it in the cultural sphere. The Institute exists to draw these themes together."

Benjamin Harnwell

Founder, Dignitatis Humanae Institute

Links

Website
Facebook
Declaration
Donate

If you have any human dignity related stories you would like including in next month's newsletter, please contact us at:

press-office@dignitatishumanae.com

Recent Press Releases

DHI: "False Charity Not To Excommunicate Visibly Pro-Abortion Politicians"

Recent Press Releases

French Government: Children Must be Forced to Learn the Secular 'Commandments'

DHI Warns G20 Summit: "Blood for Blood" is no Pathway to Peace in Syria

DHI

Honorary President

H E Renato Raffaele Cardinal Martino

Patrons

Rocco Buttiglione
HMEH Fra' MAtthew Festing
Field Marshall The Lord Guthrie GCB LVO

HI & RH Otto von Habsburg +

Advisory Board

H E Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke President of the Advisory Board

H E Francis Cardinal Arinze

H E Walter Cardinal Brandmüller
H E Cardinal Francesco Monterisi

H E Cormac Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor
H E Cardinal Edwin O'Brien

H E Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith

H E Robert Cardinal Sarah

H E Angelo Cardinal Scola

H E Cardinal Elio Sgreccia

H E Peter Cardinal Turkson

H E Joseph Cardinal Zen Ze-kiun

Chairman

Luca Volontè

President

International Committee

on Human Dignity

Nirj Deva DL KMCO* MEP

Chaplain

Fr. Michael Seed, SA, PhD, STD

Cross Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice

Fellows

Yoyo Allalouf

John Hughes

John Kennedy CBE KSG KCHS KMCO DL
JP Loveland

Dean Slover KSS

Christian Sweeting KCSG
Ray Usher

***

Theresa Creel

Executive Vice-President External Affairs

Leo van Doesburg

Director of Operations

Dott. Antonio Maria Sacco

Medical Surgeon

Secretary-General,Sub-Committee

on Human Dignity and Bioethics

O'Niel Minto

Secretary-General,

Sub-Committee on Human Dignity and Religious Freedom

Andrea Sicari

Webmaster

Research Department

Director of Research:

Dr. Radu Motoca PhD
Alexander Cipoletti
Marcin Dadura
Ena Granulo
Nick Keilty

Consultants

Eunice Dugulescu Vatran

Stephen Jones

Ingrid Grosu

Secretary-General

Daniel Howard

Deputy Secretary-General

Benjamin Harnwell

Founder

President, Board of Trustees

For enquiries into internships with the Dignitatis Humanae Institute, please contact

office@dignitatishumanae.com

Was this forwarded on to you?

Dignitatis Humanae Institute

Via delle Fornaci 44, Roma 00165, Italia

Office: +39 06 622 79252 Fax: +39 06 622 79212

email: office@dignitatishumanae.com

Skype: dignitatis_humanae

Stay In Touch

Imago Dei, Volume 3, Issue 3

Comments are disabled for this post

Advertisement

Visit Trisulti

SUBSCRIBE

or sign the Declaration now with your smart phone!

NOTICE BOARD

OUR PARTNERS

What they say about the DHI…

CONTACTS

Imago Dei, Volume 3, Issue 3

Comments are disabled for this post

Advertisement

Visit Trisulti

SUBSCRIBE

or sign the Declaration now with your smart phone!

Our Stats

NOTICE BOARD

OUR PARTNERS

FOLLOW US!

What they say about the DHI…

CONTACTS