The brother of the late coma-patient Terri Schiavo has called for an end to forced removal of hydration from brain-damaged patients in light of a scientific breakthrough which allowed communication with a patient in a persistent vegetative state (PVS).
Speaking in Florida, Bobby Schindler said the recent finding raised serious questions about the notion of mercy killing and the method of death his sister suffered.
''They should stop any further dehydration deaths,'' he insisted, ''because we're learning how inaccurate the PVS diagnosis is.''
Adding that he preferred the term ''persons with brain injuries'' Schindler said the reference to 'vegetative state' only served to dehumanise patients.
''I don't know why I have to label them as being a vegetable,'' he said. ''I think it leads to an existing prejudice against [them].''
A patient's state, he continued, should never be used as justification to remove care, such as hydration. ''We are morally obligated to care for these people,'' he stressed.
Mr Schindler was reacting to the findings of researchers who used a technique known as functional magnetic resonance imaging to map a patient's brain reaction to 'yes' and 'no' questions. The project witnessed one patient actively changing his brain activity to offer correct answers to questions.
Terri Shiavo, who was severely brain damaged from oxygen deprivation, became known worldwide in 2005 during a legal dispute between her direct family and husband over withdrawing nutrition and hydration from her.
She ultimately died when a court ruled she could be denied these forms of care to allow for her death.
Egypt
Oldest monastery
The world's oldest monastery has been restored after eight years and over $14 million dollars of investment.
Located near the Red Sea coast in desert terrain, the monastery grew from what was the area in which early Christian St Anthony lived in a cave in the 4th Century. His followers established the monastery on his death in 356 AD and it has gone on to be the home for 120 monks and the burial site for four saints.
Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities oversaw the work, which included work on the site's two main churches, the 15th Century Church of the Apostles and the 4th Century Church of St Anthony.
Britain
Chief Rabbi defends Pope
Chief Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks has defended Pope Benedict's intervention in the Equality Bill debate. Describing the philosophy lying behind the Bill as ''a political ideology, relentlessly trampling down everything in their path'', Rabbi Sacks said the Pope's words should be taken seriously.
''When a Christian airport worker is banned from wearing a cross, when a nurse is sacked after a role-play exercise in which he suggested that patients pray, when Roman Catholic adoption agencies are forced to close because they do not place children for adoption with same-sex couples and when a Jewish school is told that its religious admissions policy is, not in intent but in effect, racist, we are in dangerous territory indeed,'' he warned.
France
Citizenship case fails
A foreign national has failed to gain full citizenship in the country because he forces his French wife to wear an Islamic veil. Immigration Minister Eric Besson said the application had been turned down on the basis that the unnamed man was depriving his wife of her liberty.
''It became apparent during the regulation investigation and the prior interview that this person was compelling his wife to wear the all-covering veil, depriving her of the freedom to come and go with her face uncovered, and rejected the principles of secularism and equality between men and women,'' he said.
Mexico
Abortion ops 'a plague'
Legislators in Mexico City have described the growth in abortion there since terminations were legalised as ''a plague''.
In a report commissioned for the government, it has been noted that between the earliest date for legal abortion, April 2007, and December 2009, seven in every 10 women making initial abortion inquiries proceeded to a full termination. The figure stood at 34,660 abortions in that period.
India
Another church ransacked
Another church has been damaged by vandals in the state of Karnataka. In the sixth such attack since the beginning of 2010, vandals broke into the church of St Matthias Malavalli in the district of Mandya and desecrated a crucifix and damaged other fixtures, including statues. Consecrated hosts were stolen in the attack.
According to Sajan K George, president of the Global Council of India, the attacks did not simply affect minority groupings but also ''the secular fabric of our society, human rights, the inalienable right to religious freedom, a right which is guaranteed by the Indian constitution''.
Island church blockaded
The country's navy has blockaded an island church which is a popular pilgrimage site for both Catholics and Hindus. Originally built by Portuguese faithful in the 16th Century, the church on the island of Anjediva found itself in the centre of a dispute between faith traditions in 2004 when Hindus prepared for a feast there and threatened violence if Catholics were allowed to be present at the same time.
The navy, which has maintained a base on Anjediva since 1991, solved the dispute by barring all sides, and has established a blockade annually for the last seven years.
South Africa
World Cup Prayer
The bishops of South Africa have issued a special prayer for the World Cup, taking place in the country from June 11 - July 11 2010.
''Almighty God, Creator of all, as people from every nation gather with excitement and enthusiasm for the 2010 World Soccer Cup may South Africans be good hosts, our visitors welcomed guests and the players from every team be blessed with good sportsmanship and health.
May your Spirit of fairness, justice and peace prevail amongst players and all involved. May each contribute in his own positive ways to prevent, control and fight crime and corruption, hooliganism of any kind and exploitation and abuse, especially of those most vulnerable. May those far away from home and those in their families find much joy in this occasion to celebrate the beautiful game of soccer and the beautiful game of life according to Your plan for the common good of all.''
United States
Nuns appear on Oprah
An order of nuns has appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show to explain the popularity of their devout lifestsyles.
The Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist were already gaining nationwide headlines for the rapid growth of the order when the Oprah show offered them airtime to explain the 'secret of their success'.
A spokesperson for the order explained that ''the world does not begin to understand our life. Hopefully, this will inspire more people to love God - and get the Gospel on the airwaves!'' The Dominican Sisters of Mary were founded in 1997 by four Dominican sisters responding to John Paul II's call for a new evangelisation.
