Demonstrators take part in a protest on Sept. 24, 2016, in Dublin to urge the Irish government to repeal the eighth amendment to the constitution, which enforces strict limitations to a woman's right to an abortion. Photo courtesy of Reuters/Clodagh Kilcoyne

As church influence wanes, an abortion debate arises in Ireland

by Karen Huber - Religion News Service May 16, 2017

Abortion in Ireland is only legal if the pregnant woman’s life is at risk, including risk of suicide, but public opinion has long been evolving.

Cardinal Thomas Collins of Toronto speaks out against euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide during an April 19 news conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario. (CNS photo/Art Babych)

Faith, News

Advocates must use hands, hearts, heads to end abortion, Cardinal says

by Deborah Gyapong - Catholic News Service May 15, 2017

The theme of the 2017 Canadian march was “Life We Stand on Guard for Thee.”

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Podcasts, Politics & Society

Donald Trump’s Catholic Outreach

by The Editors May 10, 2017

This week Matt Malone, S.J., and Kerry Weber discuss a range of political issues, from the recent chatter about whether or not pro-life people are welcome in the Democratic Party, to President Trump’s public engagement with the Catholic Church. Senior Editor Kevin Clarke also offers his expertise. Joining them is Michael O’Loughlin, the national correspondent […]

Editorials, Politics & Society

Pro-life goals need to be more ambitious than opposing abortion

by The Editors May 4, 2017

As necessary as opposition to abortion and funding for it are, they are not sufficient pro-life goals, especially when achieving them eliminates support for other programs that support maternal health.

Of Many Things, Politics & Society

How pro-choice activists (inadvertently) converted me to the pro-life cause

by Matt Malone, S.J. May 4, 2017

My conversion to the pro-life cause began, strangely enough, when I took part in a pro-choice march.

Activists of the collective Yellow Safety Jacket take part in an anti-euthanasia protest on Feb. 11, 2014, in Brussels. (CNS photo/Julien Warnand, EPA)

News, Politics & Society

Belgian Brothers to allow euthanasia in psychiatric care centers

by Simon Caldwell - Catholic News Service May 4, 2017

The Brothers of Charity Group stated that it would allow doctors to perform euthanasia in any of its 15 centers, which provide care to more than 5,000 patients a year, subject to carefully stipulated criteria.