4/12/02
in this issue:
activism: FR. WESLIN activism
FR. WESLIN: After completing a five-month sentence for contempt of
court, Fr. Norman Weslin was released from prison April 3. He will be back
in court next week to argue that a revised version of the injunction he
was accused of violating represents an unconstitutional restriction of his
free speech rights. Fr. Weslin was imprisoned for praying on the sidewalk
within a 25-foot buffer zone outside an abortion mill.
(Reading: "Priest
released from jail -- but for how long?" CCN News)
birth control
NEW ZEALAND: The government has approved Implanon, a birth control
implant also authorized in Australia and parts of Europe. It was reported
that during trials of the implant, there were no pregnancies reported
among the 2,000 women who used it for three years. Implanon is an
abortifacient. One of its modes of action is listed as: "It changes the
lining of the uterus (womb) so a fertilized egg cannot grow."
COMMENT: "Fertilized egg" is, of course, a bogus term. At this stage
of life, we're talking about a living human being.
(Reading: "Contraceptive
implant approved for use," The Dominion, 4/5/02; "Contraceptive implants
-- Implanon," Family Planning Western Australia)
human cloning
BUSH: In supporting a total ban on human cloning, President Bush
said, "Life is a creation, not a commodity ... Research cloning would
contradict the most fundamental principle of medical ethics, that no human
life should be exploited or extinguished for the benefit of another."
COMMENT: Mr. President, the very same logic says Congress should
also ban human embryonic stem cell research. Action, please!
(Reading: "President
Bush calls on Senate to back human cloning ban," White House news
release, 4/10/02)
FRAUD? A report from the Middle East says a woman in Dr.
Severino Antinori's cloning program is eight weeks pregnant. The
scientific community seems to have answered in unison: "Prove it!" The
Washington Post called Antinori's clinic to arrange an interview, but was
told the doctor was too busy doing science to come to the phone.
(Reading: "Cloned-fetus
rumor stirs talk," Washington Post, 4/6/02)
morning-after abortion pill
CALIFORNIA: The California Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action
League (NARAL's state affiliate) is commending Walgreen's for "working
closely with the Pharmacy Access Partnership to provide EC [so-called
emergency contraception] in as many branches as possible" in California.
The program was begun following passage of SB1169, a bill that allows
pharmacists to dispense the morning-after abortion pill without a doctor's
prescription.
(Reading: "Action Alert on
Emergency Contraception," CARAL web site)
politics
NEW YORK: Gov. George Pataki has ruffled pro-abortion feathers by
nominating the Archdiocese of New York's respect life director to serve as
a City University of New York trustee. A clergyman traditionally occupies
one seat on the board of trustees. But opponents say Fr. John Bonnici
should not serve because "his vocational mission is to oppose abortion and
gay rights."
(Reading: "Pataki
taps abortion foe for CUNY board," New York Daily News, 4/10/02)
population control
UNFPA: The United Nations Populations Fund has begun its spin
campaign in the wake of a Bush Administration decision to withhold $34
million in "family planning" aid. UNFPA spokesman Stirling Scruggs told
the New York Times that the lack of funding "could mean 2 million unwanted
pregnancies, 800,000 induced abortions, 4,700 maternal deaths and 77,000
infant and child deaths." The article did not explain how Scruggs
determined those figures.
(Reading: "U.N.
agency on population blames U.S. for cutbacks," New York Times,
4/7/02)
publishing
MINNESOTA: Critics say the University of Minnesota Press should
fire the people responsible for publishing a highly-charged book by author
Judith Levine. The book, "Harmful to Minors: The Perils of Protecting
Children From Sex," claims that abstinence-only programs for teens are
misguided. In addition, the Associated Press reports, "she cites the Dutch
age-of-consent law as a 'good model' -- it permits sex between an adult
and a young person between 12 and 16 if the young person consents."
(Reading: "Book on
kids' sexuality causes furor," Associated Press, 4/2/02)
reminder
WORLD FAMILY CONFERENCE: American Life League's next Celebration of
Life World Family Conference is scheduled for July 10-14 in New Orleans.
Speakers include Fr. Tom Euteneuer, Joe Scheidler, Bernard Nathanson and
Judie Brown. Conference outlines and registration information may be found
online.
reflection for prayer
ROMANS 13:11-12: The time has come; the moment is here for you to
stop sleeping and wake up, because by now our salvation is nearer than
when we first began to believe. The night is nearly over, daylight is on
the way, so let us throw off everything that belongs to the darkness and
equip ourselves for the light.
©2002 American Life League, Inc.
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