Euthanasia bill
THE HOUSE OF Commons today hears the second reading of a ten-minute rule bill by Conservative MP Gary Waller which opposes euthanasia. Mr Waller said his bill, intended to gauge support and stimulate debate rather than to become law, had received a "widespread welcome". The Lords debate their own select committee report on euthanasia later this week.
New vice-chair
THE NATIONAL BOARD Of Catholic Women has elected a new Vice-President. Sr Janet Norman, Provincial of the Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, represents the Conference of Religious on the NB C W.
Mass confirmation
MORE THAN 70 young people aged 14 received the Sacrament of Confirmation last Tuesday when Bishop Joseph Gray of Shrewsbury celebrated Mass for 700 people from four parishes.
No to sex choice
BarrAIN's NURSES HAVE called for a ban on clinics which allow parents to choose the sex of their baby "for nonmedical reasons". The Royal College of Nurses, meeting in Bournemouth for its annual congress, said sex selection should be used only to combat diseases such as haemophilia or cystic fibrosis, which affect only one gender.
Un-Biblical oath
AN OLD BAILEY attempted murder trial collapsed this week when officials realised that a man had sworn an oath on an exercise book instead of the Bible. The case restarted with a new jury.
CNI-IC to stay
THE CHURCHES NATIONAL Housing Coalition, the ecumenical forutn set up three years ago, is to continue on a permanent basis, it has been decided. The forum, which brought together over 50 housing and homelessness action groups, was originally set up for a three-year period, to organise last year's successful lobby of Parliament.
Sainsbury's priest
A CATHOLIC PRIEST was the first in the queue when Sainsbury's opened its new drink shop in Calais this week. The British supermarket giant aims to take advantage of the thousands flocking to France following the scrapping of duty-free limits on alcohol. "I know and trust their range," Whitechapel-based Fr Brian Ventham explained.