The treaty opens the possibility of prosecuting political, religious, and civil opponents of gender ideology under the international crime of “gender persecution.” The treaty could also make denial of abortion or public support for restrictive abortion laws part of the international crime of “forced pregnancy.” The post United Nations Launches Project to Criminalize Opposition to Gender Ideology appeared first on ZENIT - English .
The Holy See also questioned the committee chair’s assertion that the treaty is a “living instrument,” pointing out that this is inconsistent with the text of the treaty itself as well as the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties. The post Vatican Criticizes UN on Abortion appeared first on ZENIT - English .
While the Vatican pressed for palliative care, respect for the elderly and support for the families who care for them, others advocated for radical interventions for aging individuals such as sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI). The post Euthanizing Elderly Debated at U.N.
In a statement released on November 9, the Virginia-based institute identified the recipient as the United Workers Association (UWA), a Baltimore-based organisation which, according to its findings, helped establish a healthcare coalition campaigning for public funding of abortion The post Catholic Bishops’ Anti-Poverty Campaign Faces New Scrutiny over $805,000 in Grants to Pro-Abortion Activist Group appeared first on ZENIT - English .
Healey defended her decision by arguing that the previous exceptions were too narrowly defined to address the full range of serious complications that can arise in later pregnancy. In a letter accompanying the emergency preamble, she said that uncertainty over the law’s clinical interpretation, as well as differing approaches among hospitals and their legal advisers, could delay treatment and endanger patients.
US Midterm Elections Deliver Major Setbacks for Pro-Life Movement, but Idaho Offers a Sign of Hope The post Referendums in favor of killing babies in the womb prevail in U.S. midterm elections appeared first on ZENIT - English .
The initiative committee stated that this was the first time Prince Alois had exercised his veto power during his reign, according to SRF. Its members had met with Alois at Vaduz Castle hours before the announcement.
The General Comment was circulated in draft form last year and immediately faced pushback from the government of Argentina and the Holy See for including a right to “effective access to safe abortion services for adolescent girls.” The post The UN & Abortion for Kids appeared first on ZENIT - English .
Sacks, chairman and chief executive of investment firm GCM Grosvenor, was identified in a September 29 report by Crain’s Chicago Business as a donor to efforts to strengthen Illinois’ abortion-access infrastructure and offset federal funding cuts affecting reproductive health services. Initiatives associated with this effort have supported organizations including Planned Parenthood of Illinois and the Chicago Abortion Fund The post The Archdiocese of Chicago and Cardinal Cupich are facing new controversy over an award given to a donor who funded access to abortion appeared first on ZENIT - Eng
An October survey by the Pew Research Center found that 46% of registered voters considered abortion “very important” when deciding how to vote, down from 56% during the 2022 midterm elections. The economy, at 84%, and the future of American democracy, at 73%, ranked substantially higher The post U.S.: Four states will vote on abortion referendums in the “midterm” elections appeared first on ZENIT - English .
At a webinar earlier this week, representatives of the WHO discussed the “Fides” influencer group, which was launched in 2020 to spread content on social media platforms to oppose “anti-vax” narratives during the COVID-19 pandemic. WHO has an official partnership with TikTok to make sure this content is widely seen The post WHO to Censor Pro-Lifers appeared first on ZENIT - English .
According to the figures cited in the reports, approximately 100,000 Canadians have died through the program since its introduction. In 2023 alone, assisted deaths accounted for roughly one in every 20 deaths nationwide The post Canada Halts Expansion of Assisted Suicide to People With Mental Illness appeared first on ZENIT - English .
On November 3, voters in Virginia, Nevada, Idaho and Missouri are expected to decide measures that could significantly reshape abortion policy in their states. Catholic bishops and state Catholic conferences have responded with educational materials, videos, prayer cards, lawn signs and public statements, attempting to persuade voters that protecting unborn children should remain a political and moral priority.
The lawsuit was brought by the child's mother, both individually and as legal representative of the estate of Baby Wabbington, against Southwestern Women’s Options, an Albuquerque abortion facility operated by physicians Curtis Wayne Boyd, Emily Cohen and Carmen Landau. The post A $200,000 Settlement for an Aborted Child Raises a Stark Question About Legal Personhood appeared first on ZENIT - English .
The public debate on abortion often focuses exclusively on autonomy and choice. While personal freedom is important, rights must always be considered alongside responsibilities and the rights of others, including those who are unable to speak for themselves.
Seven world leaders spoke of the importance of “gender equality,” in addition to the EU official statement and the statement of outgoing UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The only representatives of nations who promoted LGBTQI+ issues were the Taoiseach of Ireland, Micheál Martin, and the Foreign Minister of Belgium, Maxime Prévot.
The country that received the most pressure on sexual orientation and gender identity was Namibia, criticized by Malta, Belgium, Finland, Mexico, Iceland, Spain, the United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland, Australia, Canada, Brazil, and the Netherlands to adopt explicit legal categories of non-discrimination based on these characteristics The post Iceland Becomes the Most Aggressive Advocate for Abortion and Gender Ideology appeared first on ZENIT - English .
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has designated October as Respect Life Month with the theme 'Mary, Mother of Life,' encouraging prayer and action against the increased use of abortion pills.
On September 27, Leo XIV visited the Accueil Notre-Dame Center at the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes in France, addressing patients and their companions about the dignity of human life and rejecting euthanasia and abortion despite their legal status in France. He emphasized that no human law should undermine the inalienable dignity of the person, urged healthcare workers to care for the suffering rather than eliminate life, and called for the development of palliative care and tender accompaniment of the sick.
The two cases share an unusual feature: both countries have Catholic majorities and constitutional arrangements in which the Church or a Catholic head of state retains an institutional role. Yet they illustrate two very different ways in which questions of abortion, political authority and conscience can collide. The post Andorra and Liechtenstein: two European microstates facing the same problem—abortion while remaining Catholic appeared first on ZENIT - English .
The United Kingdom's House of Commons voted 286 to 270 against legislation that would have allowed certain terminally ill adults in England and Wales to seek assisted suicide, with the bill defeated by 16 votes on September 11, 2026. Opposition came from a broad coalition including disability organizations, medical professionals, religious leaders, and social care advocates who raised concerns about potential coercion, the reliability of prognoses, and the adequacy of palliative and social care services.
An expert group convened by Scotland's devolved government has proposed changes to abortion laws that could remove meaningful gestational limits, raising concerns among pro-life campaigners and Scottish Catholic bishops. The current law allows abortion up to 24 weeks, with later abortions authorized by two doctors, but the proposed reforms include removing specific references to sex-selective abortion and have sparked debate about protecting unborn children and supporting mothers.
Poland's Catholic bishops have condemned surrogacy as gravely immoral, emphasizing concerns about the commercialization of motherhood and childhood, the dignity of the child, exploitation of women, and potential links to human trafficking, while urging authorities to prevent its practice domestically and abroad. Concurrently, the bishops are contesting new Ministry of National Education regulations that reduce religious instruction to one hour per week and schedule classes at the beginning or end of the school day, arguing these changes hinder students' ability to attend and marginalize religious education in Polish schools.
The Netherlands has recorded its first case of euthanasia performed on a child between the ages of one and twelve since the 2024 expansion of euthanasia legislation allowing the procedure for minors with incurable illnesses causing unbearable suffering. The case was reviewed by a commission and submitted to the Public Prosecutor’s Office to determine if the physician acted according to the law, though the child's age and illness have not been disclosed.
The 1,235 deaths account for 0.438% of all deaths for residents of California in 2025. The post California sees record assisted suicide deaths after 150% rise in five years appeared first on ZENIT - English .
The decision does not overturn France’s legalization of euthanasia. Rather, it establishes a boundary around the institutions and individuals expected to participate in the new system—and, in doing so, gives religious freedom a significant foothold within a law that had initially offered little room for conscientious dissent The post France legalizes euthanasia but also safeguards the right to conscientious objection appeared first on ZENIT - English .
In 2025, the Andorran Government proposed a more ambitious plan involving the transfer of women to abortion clinics in France or Spain, where abortion is legal, with medical support provided from Andorra and public funding for those in "vulnerable situations." Because of the difficulty of negotiations, it was decided to process the measure in phases. The post European Catholic Principality Headed by a Bishop Moves Toward Decriminalizing Abortion Amid Vatican Obstacles appeared first on ZENIT - English .
The "Listen to Its Heart" bill was an initiative of the party to which President José Kast belongs. However, in an interview on August 10, he stated that while it is a legitimate parliamentary motion, he had pledged during his campaign to focus his administration on security and the economy, rather than pushing measures that generate "tension in certain aspects of social life." The post Catholic President of Chile Will Not Support Pro-Life Bill Requiring Women to Hear Baby’s Heartbeat Before Undergoing An Abortion appeared first on ZENIT - English .
In addition to invoking the intercession of St. Joseph, Defender of Life, participants can learn about the danger of abortion pills The post U.S. Bishops’ Initiative to Inform Communities on the Danger of Abortion Pills Includes Prayer, Education, and Advocacy appeared first on ZENIT - English .
The Geneva Consensus Declaration was launched in 2020 by the Trump administration and a cross-regional group of nations from all continents. The declaration is focused on international cooperation to improve women’s health through a pro-life, pro-family and pro-sovereignty approach. The post US Takes Lead in Global Pro-Life Coalition appeared first on ZENIT - English .
