Abortion // Current

“We Have No King But Caesar”

Now that the election is over, we can separate the real Catholics from those who just act the part.

jlaws
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Uruguay president vetoes abortion bill

Tabare Vazquez, president of Uruguay, has vetoed an abortion law that would have given Uruguay South America's most liberal... more

nazbags
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Priest blasts Catholic Obama voters

A South Carolina Roman Catholic priest has told his parishioners that they should refrain from receiving Holy Communion if they... more

mapsandatlases
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China trying to force 6-months pregnant woman to abort

A woman who's more than six months pregnant remained under watch in a hospital in China's far northwest Friday awaiting... more

TravG73
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Uruguay head vetoes abortion bill

Uruguayan President Tabare Vazquez has vetoed a bill approved by parliament earlier this week to legalise abortion in the first 12... more

bmltv
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Catholic bishops plan to forcefully confront Obama

I personally believe patrial birth abortion is atrocious and should never be considered by any means. There is no possible way... more

IMMININT
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Freedom of Choice Act or FOCA

FOCA - to prohibit, consistent with Roe v. Wade, the interference by the government with a woman's right to choose to bear a... more

bedeboop
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Fight FOCA

FOCA Would Wipe Away Every Restriction on Abortion Nationwide This would eradicate state and federal laws that the majority of... more

ilmor
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Obama faces long liberal wish list

NEW YORK -- Gays serving openly in the military. Voting rights for more ex-convicts. Paid sick days and family leave for most American workers.

Those are part of a long wish list that liberal advocacy groups hope will become reality as Barack Obama and his fellow Democrats take full control in Washington. Activists concede that political pragmatism — and the economic crisis — may force them to be patient, but they also don't want to let this opportunity pass without pressing hard for their agenda.

"We've been waiting a long time, and we've got a long list," said Kim Gandy, president of the National Organization for Women. "Since 1994, we've been losing over and over on legislation related to equality and fair treatment for women."

NOW, after backing Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton in the Democratic primaries, threw its support behind Obama in his race against Republican Sen. John McCain and Sarah Palin.

Feminist leaders now want Obama and the new Congress to address pay inequity for women, require most employers to offer paid sick days and paid family leave, and pass the Freedom of Choice Act, which would overrule many state-level restrictions on access to abortion.

The gay-rights movement also campaigned vigorously for Obama. It hopes for swift action on two bills previously debated in Congress — a measure that would outlaw workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation, and a hate-crimes bill that would cover offenses motivated by anti-gay bias.

Beyond that, gay activists hope for some sort of federal recognition of same-sex partnerships and for repeal of the "don't ask, don't tell" policy that prohibits active-duty service members from openly acknowledging they are gay.

However, the extent of congressional support for those two potentially divisive steps remains in question. Activists are braced for the possibility that Obama — as he seeks broad political support early in his term — won't tackle them immediately.

"We know the next administration will have a lot on its plate, facing the biggest economic crisis in a generation," said Rea Carey, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. "Those are our issues, too."

Regarding "don't ask, don't tell," Obama recently said he wants to work with military leaders to build a consensus on removing the ban so gays can serve openly.

"There's a very full agenda ... so I know we're going to have to get in line," Sarvis said. "Hopefully, we see a partnership with the White House, the Defense Department and the Joint Chiefs of Staff that results in a recommendation for repeal."

"Are the brakes applied equally and fairly across constituencies, or are certain constituencies told to wait longer than others?" he wondered. "Some people will be very unhappy if they're told to wait at the back of the line."

much more in linkNEW YORK -- Gays serving openly in the military. Voting rights for more ex-convicts. Paid sick days and family leave for most... more

TrikyNiki
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10 days ago

Court keeps abortion off license plates

A federal appeals court ruled Friday that the Illinois secretary of state's office does not have to issue specialty license... more

TrikyNiki
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10 days ago

The Bible and Abortion: No Clear Message

"The Bible says nothing specific about abortion, the "sanctity" of human life, or when life begins. The Ten Commandments does say "you shall not kill" (Exodus 20:13; Deuteronomy 5:17), which Bible scholars interpret as "you shall not kill unjustifiably." Exceptions to this command are: to punish a murderer, participation in holy war or general war and self-defense. Thus killing is permitted if the community finds it "justifiable."

With respect to the "sanctity" of human life, the situation depicted in Hebrew Bible/Old Testament is surprising. God authorizes the killing of Job's entire family to satisfy a back room bargain with Satan (Job 1:12). God himself kills the two brothers Er and Onan for different reasons (Genesis 38:7-10). God was responsible for the deaths of Moses' opposition, Korah, Dathan, Abiram, and their entire households (Numbers 16:1-35). The prophet Samuel told Saul that God had authorized the slaughter of the entire nation of the Amalekites--including even infants and nursing babies (1 Sam 15:2-3). The prophet Elijah slaughtered 400 prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18:40-41). So much for the Bible's position on the sanctity of life!

Anti-abortionists cite certain texts from the Bible to argue against abortion, but none are specifically on the topic of abortion. For example, they make inferences from texts tangentially related to the issue and argue that the Bible's use of the term child, son or daughter for an unborn fetus means that the fetus has the same standing as a child living independently of the mother's womb. A text that says the opposite, however, regards harm to a living person as greater than harm to a fetus. In Exodus 21:22-25 a pregnant woman is caused to miscarry. The man causing the miscarriage must pay a fine, but if the woman subsequently dies the killer must pay "life for life" (Exodus 21:23). A fine is paid for the death of the miscarried fetus to compensate the father for the potential economic worth of the child, but the mother's death requires the killer's death! Another argument asserts that when God is described as "knowing an individual before birth" it means that the Bible regards the fetus as a person. Such language, however, is a poetic way of affirming the omniscience of God. For example, Jeremiah 1:4-5 asserts that God knew Jeremiah's future before he was in the womb. The writer could equally well have said God knew me "when I was but a gleam in my father's eye," as is suggested by the Psalmist's statement "The Lord knows the thoughts of man" (94:11; see also 1 Chronicles 28:9; Psalm 44:21). Prohibitions against committing murder exist in the New Testament (Matt 19:18; 1 Pet 4:15; Rev 21:8, 22:15), and one text even asserts that murderers are denied eternal life (1 John 3:15), but nothing on abortion or describing abortionists as murderers.

On the other hand, the Didache, an early non-biblical Christian writing dating anywhere from 50 to 150 C.E., reads "you shall not kill a child by abortion/miscarriage; you shall not kill an infant" (2:2). The same writer also argues for a clearly immoral idea: "slaves be subject to your master, as to God's representative, in reverence and fear" (4:11). The trick in using an ancient text to support modern ethical arguments is to quote briefly.""The Bible says nothing specific about abortion, the "sanctity" of human life, or when life begins. The Ten... more

DeliaTheArtist
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12 days ago

After Election, Smear Campaigns Continue

Pro-life Jill Stanek is still spewing her venom - calling Barack Obama a "barbarian."

jjeziorski
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12 days ago

Bush on a rape spree

While Americans eagerly vote for the next president, here’s a sobering reminder: As of Tuesday, George W. Bush still has 77 days left in the White House — and he’s not wasting a minute.

President Bush’s aides have been scrambling to change rules and regulations on the environment, civil liberties and abortion rights, among others — few for the good. Most presidents put on a last-minute policy stamp, but in Mr. Bush’s case it is more like a wrecking ball. We fear it could take months, or years, for the next president to identify and then undo all of the damage.

Here is a look — by no means comprehensive — at some of Mr. Bush’s recent parting gifts and those we fear are yet to come.

CIVIL LIBERTIES We don’t know all of the ways that the administration has violated Americans’ rights in the name of fighting terrorism. Last month, Attorney General Michael Mukasey rushed out new guidelines for the F.B.I. that permit agents to use chillingly intrusive techniques to collect information on Americans even where there is no evidence of wrongdoing. (details at link)

THE ENVIRONMENT The administration has been especially busy weakening regulations that promote clean air and clean water and protect endangered species.

Mr. Bush, or more to the point, Vice President Dick Cheney, came to office determined to dismantle Bill Clinton’s environmental legacy, undo decades of environmental law and keep their friends in industry happy. They have had less success than we feared, but only because of the determined opposition of environmental groups, courageous members of Congress and protests from citizens. But the White House keeps trying. (details at link)

ABORTION RIGHTS Soon after the election, Michael Leavitt, the secretary of health and human services, is expected to issue new regulations aimed at further limiting women’s access to abortion, contraceptives and information about their reproductive health care options.(details at link)

More horrifying details at link!!!!While Americans eagerly vote for the next president, here’s a sobering reminder: As of Tuesday, George W. Bush still has 77... more

iloveravi
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41 responses

12 days ago

South Dakota voters reject abortion ban for second time

South Dakota voters once again rejected a proposed law that would have banned most abortions. Tuesday's vote was the... more

Future_America
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5 responses

13 days ago

The president is not the only thing on the ballot

When we head to the polls today, we're not only voting who we want for president. Voters in California, Arizona and Florida... more

nazbags
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14 days ago

Doctor accused of poisioning pregnant woman

Edward Erin, a London doctor, has been charged with three counts of administering poison with intent to induce miscarriage. He has... more

ClareW
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0 responses

15 days ago

Palin campaign stonewalls on medical records - She is hiding something awful

Well they would do it she wants to appeal to the Anti choice mob ... more

WhichWayIsUp
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9 responses

15 days ago

The John McCain Sex Scandal

John McCain is a strong supporter of abstinence- only sex education in the schools — a program that has been shown to be... more

covelogibbs
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51 responses

17 days ago

I Am Not A Conservative

I am difficult to pigeon-hole by the average American. The two-party system forces people to consider politics in a linear manner,... more

unitedliberty
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4 responses

17 days ago

Das governator releases positions on propositions

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger today released his positions on the 12 ballot measures voters face Tuesday, and there are no surprises.

He opposes the gay marriage ban in Proposition 8, favors the abortion notification measure in Proposition 4 and is neutral on two crime measures, Propositions 6 and 9.

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Proposition 4

What it does: Amends the state Constitution to require a physician to notify a minor patient's parent or other adult family member 48 hours before performing an abortion.

Back story: Déjà vu. Californians defeated parental consent or notification for abortion measures in 2005 and 2006, but had last year off. (There is no limit on how often failed ballot measures may be resubmitted to voters.) Proposition 4 adds the "other adult family member" alternative to answer critics of earlier propositions. It also would require a girl who chooses that alternative to allege parental abuse. The Legislature passed a parental consent law in 1987, but it never took effect. The state Supreme Court upheld it in 1996, but on rehearing -- after court membership changed -- struck it down. Which is why Proposition 4 is a constitutional amendment.

Proposition 6

What it does: Commits close to 1% of the state's annual general fund budget for anti-crime programs. The state Legislative Analyst's Office estimates costs of $500 million for additional prison space.

Back story: This is the Son of Three Strikes and Jessica's Law. It's sponsored in part by Mike Reynolds, author of the 1994 Three Strikes Initiative, and state Sen. George Runner (R-Lancaster), whose anti-sex-offender Proposition 83 -- Jessica's Law -- won 71% of the vote in 2006. The top donor is Henry T. Nicholas III, who gave $1 million (see Proposition 9)

Proposition 8

What it does: Outlaws same-sex marriage by adding the following words to the state Constitution: "Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California."

Back story: More déjà vu. Californians expressly outlawed same-sex marriage in a voter initiative in 2000. But that was mere law, which the state Supreme Court struck down earlier this year in a case that found that the right to marry is fundamental -- the state can't deny marriage to a couple based on their sex. Proposition 8 opponents tried (but failed) to get the court to also strike the measure from the ballot on the argument that voters cannot strip citizens of their state constitutional rights. If the initiative passes, they will be back.
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Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger today released his positions on the 12 ballot measures voters face Tuesday, and there are no surprises.... more