11/05/2007 May
Pope abortion comments spark controversy
POPE Benedict XVI stirred up a controversy at the start of his first
papal pilgrimage to the Americas with his comments on abortion.
He is due to meet Latin American bishops in an event in the shrine city
of Aparecida near Sao Paulo. The meeting is organised once in 10 years.
The visit to Brazil, the most populous Roman Catholic country in the world,
is his first since becoming Pope in April 2005
Moments after landing in Sao Paulo, the Pope, while answering the questions
of the 70 journalists present there, underscored the need to respect life
"from the moment of conception until natural death".
He suggested the Catholic politicians who lent their support to legalise
abortion in Mexico City should rightfully be considered excommunicated.
“The excommunication was not something arbitrary. It is part of
the (canon law) code. It is based simply on the principle that the killing
of an innocent human child is incompatible with going in Communion with
the body of Christ. Thus, they (the bishops) didn’t do anything
new or anything surprising. Or arbitrary,” said Benedict.
The Rev. Federico Lombardi, the pope's spokesman, later sought out reporters
to downplay Benedict's statement.
Excommunication is considered to be the church's severest punishment
which includes barring the person from receiving sacraments and participating
in public worship. 11/05/2007
Bush to veto new Iraq bill
US President George W Bush is set to veto a second congressional bill on
the war in Iraq that that will fund the Iraq war only through July. 11/05/2007
NASA unveils Hubble's successor JWST
NASA has unveiled a model of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST),
that scientists say will be able to see to the farthest reaches of the
universe. 11/05/2007
Ten troops die in Colombia attack
At least 10 soldiers have been killed by a roadside bomb in south-western
Colombia's Valle de Cauca province - the deadliest such attack on security
forces this year. 11/05/2007
Business Headlines
US Congress, White House clinch trade standards deal
The US Congress has reached agreement with the White House over new free
trade policy guidelines.
Lord Browne quits Goldman Sachs
Lord Browne of Madingley has resigned as a director at Goldman Sachs.
11/05/2007
Sports Headlines
Hingis may pull out of French Open
Former world number one Martina Hingis is a doubtful starter for the French
Tennis Open starting on 27 May because of a back injury.
Federer loses to Italian wild card
Top seed Roger Federer suffered a shock straight-sets defeat against wildcard
Filippo Volandri in the third round of Rome Masters. 11/05/2007
Entertainment
Chaplin camera up for auction
The movie camera used by Charlie Chaplin to make some of his best known
films including The Kid and The Gold Rush is going up for sale.
Paris may not serve full sentence
Celebrity heiress Paris Hilton may spend far less than 45 days in county
jail for violating probation because of state policies and jail overcrowding.
11/05/2007
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