BELFAST, Northern Ireland — The people of Northern Ireland face another assault on their pro-life province, mounted by the British Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety.

The department has reissued guidelines relating to the law on abortion that were deemed unacceptable by pro-life groups in the province.

Michael McGimpsey, a member of the Ulster Unionist Party, is minister of health, social services and public safety. He was elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly and subsequently appointed by his party to the health post.

Bernadette Smyth of the pro-life organization Precious Life described it as an attempt to “legalize abortion through the back...READ MORE

• Must United Ireland Have Legalized Abortion? Morning Star
• Polish women encouraged to come to UK for 'free abortions' on NHS The Telegraph (London)

WASHINGTON — Pro-life advocates say that provisions to allow the largest expansion of abortion since it was legalized in 1973 will likely be part of a national health-care overhaul.

Catholic and pro-life leaders said it appears Democratic leaders have dropped negotiations to add a ban on federal funding for elective abortions and are pushing ahead with a final vote this week so President Obama can sign it before departing on an overseas trip.

The apparent decision by Democratic leaders to push for final passage of a bill previously passed by only the Senate means that pro-life provisions — including a ban on taxpayer-funded abortions and conscience protections for health-care workers...READ MORE

• Cardinal Francis George, head of Bishops Conference, on rejecting Senate health care bill LifeNet
• ObamaCare and Eugenics The Wall Street Journal
• Slaughter House Rules The Wall Street Journal

WASHINGTON — As health-care reform advocates make their final push to pass President Obama’s signature legislation, Denver Archbishop Charles Chaput issued an urgent statement backing and restating the U.S. bishops’ opposition to the Senate bill’s language on abortion funding and implicitly challenged the Catholic Health Association’s apparent endorsement of the proposed legislation issued this past weekend.

The Senate bill failed to “meet minimum moral standards in at least three important areas: the exclusion of abortion funding and services; adequate conscience protections... READ MORE

PHILADELPHIA — Not everyone will be able to travel to Italy this year when the Shroud of Turin is on public view for the first time in 10 years.

But Philadelphia might be a good alternative.

A Vatican replica of the Shroud of Turin is on display in the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Philly until June 29, and, according to officials of the Ukrainian Archdiocese, the effect the replica has been having on people is quite profound.

“People are moved by the awesomeness of seeing the shroud and contemplating what Jesus did for them,” said Msgr. Myron... READ MORE