The following pro-life news summaries are reprinted with permission from the National Catholic Register, and appear with the most recent summary first. 

 

Protecting Both

ASSOCIATED PRESS, Feb. 21, 2006

     Backers of various proposals to protect unborn children as well as their pregnant mothers from acts of violence have agreed to support a law that protects mother and child throughout pregnancy.

     The Alabama District Attorneys Association switched its allegiance from a competing measure that would protect unborn children after 19 weeks of pregnancy.

     The law will allow the state to charge criminals with a second crime when they kill or injure an unborn child in an assault against a pregnant woman.

     Alabama Attorney General Troy King said similar laws in other states have never been declared unconstitutional in any legal challenges to them filed by abortion advocates.

 

Pregnant Possibilities

THE OAKLAND TRIBUNE, Feb. 20, 2006

     Several studies dating back more than a decade have shown that fetal cells are present within a woman's body for years after she has been pregnant.

     It was earlier theorized that fetal cells could be the culprits for the autoimmune diseases that women who have been pregnant are likelier to develop.

     But a recent study by researchers at Tufts-New England Medical Center, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, offers an alternative hypothesis:  The fetal cells may be acting like stem cells, and may be responding to injury.

     The cells resembled those in the organs where they were found --- the liver, spleen and thyroid --- and they appeared disproportionately in diseased organs, suggesting that they were performing some therapeutic function.

 

Abortion Doesn't Save

UNITED NATIONS POPULATION DIVISION, Feb. 11, 2006

     A new report from the division that registers maternal and infant mortality for every nation contradicts the position of abortion advocates that abortion restrictions increase women's deaths in childbirth.

     According to the "World Mortality Report:  2005," nations with laws permitting abortion have not produced a corresponding drop in the rate of maternal deaths, and their rates of maternal mortality are not lower than those for nations that have made abortions illegal.

     The report reveals that Russia, where abortion has long been legal, has a maternal mortality rate of 67 deaths for every 100,000 births.  The rate is 17 deaths for every 100,000 births in the United States.

 

Cell Bill Pruned

CHRISTIAN NEWS WIRE, Feb. 9, 2006

     A Delaware bill authorizing human stem-cell research was stripped of all anti-life components before passing in the Delaware house, thanks to the grassroots efforts that included much prayer on the part of a concerted group of Christians. 

     With the encouragement of Wilmington Bishop Michael Saltarelli and leaders of other churches, more than 2,400 people signed up for prayer hours in opposition to the bill.  More than 10,000 people contacted their representatives and asked them to vote against the bill.

     Legislators amended the bill to remove all references to embryonic stem-cell research adn to clarify the definition of "human reproductive cloning" to clearly ban any cloning that results in a human fetus or child for any purposes, and to close a loophole that would have allowed fetal farming.

 

Abort 'Capital' Reconsiders

THE NEW YORK POST, Feb. 8, 2006

     Even New York, recently dubbed by New York magazine "the abortion capital of the United States," may be open to a new discussion on abortion that includes pro-life options.

     Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi, a Democrat who favors legalized abortion, has announced a multi-pronged effort designed to curb teenage pregnancies and reduce the number of abortions in his Long Island county.

     His plan would provide county funds to groups that encourage abstinence, promote adiption, get housing for single mothers and provide information about other birth-control measures.

     Columnist Charles Millard contrasts this approach with "the more standard approach among New York Democrats:  Making sure that nobody supports abortion more than [I do]."

     So surprised by Suozzi's approach was the Post that its editorial on teh subject declared that "hell has frozen over."

 

Life Gains Ground

USA TODAY, Feb. 8, 2006

     Pro-life advocates "are gaining ground" with proposals to require doctors to tell women that their unborn children might feel pain during an abortion, said the national newspaper in a lead article.

     Fetal-pain bills were introduced in 19 states in 2005, and were passed in Arkansas, Georgia, Minnesota and Wisconsin, where Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle vetoed the legislation.  Measures have passed at least one house of the state legislatures in Utah and Indiana.

     Fetal-pain bills have also been introduced this year in Arizona, Iowa, Missouri and Oklahoma.

     One advocate told the newspaper that the pro-life movement is working "to help the public mroe fully appreciate the humanity of the unborn."

 

Loss and Love

CHERRY HILLS COURIER POST, Feb. 2, 2006

     Something good has come from an immense tragedy.

     George Zallie's daughter, Stacy, took her own life in 2002, almost a year after having an abortion she kept from her close-knit family.

     Zallie, 53, is convinced the emotional fallout from the abortion led to her death.  "She just couldn't recover from it," said Zallie.  "It just breaks my heart that she didn't open up."

     So Zallie put his prominent name --- he's the owner of eight New Jersey ShopRites --- and his financial clout behind a website, stacyzallie.org, and teh Stacy Zallie Foundation to provide post-abortion support and advice.

 

Consent in Kansas

THE WICHITA EAGLE, Jan. 28, 2006

     The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals lifted a court order that prohibited Kansas from enforcing a law that requires healthcare providers to report consensual underage sex to authorities.

     In a 2-1 decision, the panel reversed a lower-court ruling against a 1982 law requiring doctors, nurses, psychiatrists, social workers and others who work with minors to report suspected instances of underage sex, even if it involves willing partners of similar ages.

 

Roe Fatigue

THE NEW YORK POST, Jan. 25, 2006

     Talk of "Roe fatigue" is spreading among pro-abortionists, says Catholic columnist Maggie Gallagher.  "Abortion rights stalwarts like law professor and author Susan Estrich and columnist Katha Pollitt feel obliged to ask ... "Should Roe Go?"

     The New York Times and The Washington Post have recently run op-ed pieces by normally pro-abortion analysts calling for Democrats to abandon their devotion to Roe v. Wade.

     In the Post, Richard Cohen said it was time to "untether abortion rights from Roe," admitting that abortion ought to be decided by the states.  "This is another way of saying abortion is not a constitutional right," countered columnist Anne Coulter.

     In The New York Times, William Saletan counseled feminists to admit:  "It's bad to kill a fetus."  And former President Jimmy Carter told the New York Review of Books:  "I don't believe that Christ would approve of abortions."

 

Blogging for Life

UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL, Jan. 24, 2006

     A growing number of weblogs are promoting pro-life views and playing watch-dog to abortion-rights activists, legislation and abortion clinics, reported the wire service.

     But better communication is needed, agreed prominent pro-life bloggers at their first annual conference prior to the 33rd annual March for Life in Washington, D.C.

     Blogging "will help turn the tide, raising awareness about the dignity of human life and protecting it," said Joseph Gillin, 50, of the blog Life at the Frontier (lifeatthefrontier.blogspot.com).  "And it's a healthy progress, finding more sources of information than the few networks I grew up with."

     Mary Worthington, 23, of The Revolution (myheartsrevolution.blogspot.com) said "we need to communicate with the general public who really needs to hear our message."  She said this is necessary because "the mainstream media portrays us as extremists."

 

Abstinence Works

THE WASHINGTON TIMES, Jan. 24, 2006

     Abstinence from sex before marriage has strong support from the people who matter most --- teenagers and young adults, according to a new Harris Poll.  The survey reveals 56% of those 18-24 and 60% of people 25-29 think abstinence programs reduce the rates of HIV and AIDS.

     Meanwhile, 49% of 18 to 24-year olds and 60% of 25 to 29-year-olds say abstinence education programs are effective in reducing the number of unwanted pregnancies.  

     According to the Times story, younger-age categories were the most likely of six age groups to find abstinence education effective, which is a promising trend.

 

Conspicuous Crosses

THE PRESS-TRIBUNE, Jan. 23, 2006

     Project 33, a California pro-life group, has sparked reflection and a new awareness of abortion by erecting 944 crosses in front of Foothills Community Church in Sacramento.

     Project 33's name represents the 33rd anniversary of Roe vs. Wade and the estimated one-third of pregnancies terminated by abortion since 1973.

     Joycelyn Golden, a volunteer who helped erect the crosses, said she had an abortion after being raped, but contrasts that with her black ancestors, who during the slave era would still honor a child's birth, no matter how it was conceived.

     Chris Lee, a father of two, said that "people don't think about what has been taken away [through abortion].  You don't know what they could have contributed."

 

Restrictions Favored

ABC NEWS, Jan. 17, 2006

     A new poll conducted by Angus Reid for the TV network and The Washington Post reveals that 70% of U.S. respondents favor greater restrictions on abortion with only 27% saying that abortion's availability should remain unchanged (permitted in all cases).

     Thirty-three percent of respondents said that abortion should be permitted only in cases such as rape, incest and to save the woman's life; 17% said abortion should be allowed to save a woman's life.

 

Worldwide Reach for Life

SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER, Jan. 13, 2006

     "From Peru to the Philippines to Poland," U.S.-based pro-life groups "are increasingly engaged in debates overseas," and have been particularly effective in Latin America, according to both supporters and detractors.

     In Colombia, American pro-lifers have assisted local activists in opposing a legal challenge to the country's ban on abortions, while Peruvian officials have been prevented from using the U.S. Agency for International Development to promote legalization of the morning-after pill.

     The article's tone made it clear that the Seattle daily did not welcome the trend, mentioning "liberal activists" only once --- in connection with the "empowerment of women" --- while branding the pro-life movement "conservative" no less than 14 times.

     A Planned Parenthood spokesman described the "massive effort" of the international pro-life movement as "very organized, with lots of resources," and "powerful allies in the White House and Vatican."

 

Cuffing Federal Courts

WORLDNETDAILY.COM, Jan. 13, 2006

     A bill introduced by Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, would remove from federal courts' jurisdiction any case involving religious liberty, sexual practices, orientation or reproduction and same-sex "marriage."

     Paul's bill points out provisions of the Constitution that are not well known to the public, including the fact that the Constitution "gives Congress the power to establish and limit the jurisdiction of the lower Federal courts," and "gives Congress the power to make 'such exceptions, and under such regulations' as Congress finds necessary to Supreme Court jurisdiction."

     Paul's bill stipulates that any judge violating the law shall be impeached by Congress or removed by the president.

 

Indiana Ban?

EVANSVILLE COURIER & PRESS, Jan. 6, 2006

     State Republican Representative Troy Woodruff has introduced a bill in the Indiana State Legislature that would make abortion illegal.

     Woodruff said the bill, if passed, would no doubt be overturned by the courts but gain a hearing by the U.S. Supreme Court, which might, by then, be disposed to use it to overturn the court's 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, which made abortion legal throughout the country.

     He added that the bill would give teh people, who have never had an opportunity to vote on the matter, to do so through their elected representatives.

 

Abortion Anxiety

THE NEW ZEALAND HERALD, Jan. 5, 2006

     The conclusion of New Zealand professor David Fergusson's latest research, which suggests a strong link between abortion and mental illness, is exactly what he didn't expect to present.

     Because he is "pro-choice," Fergusson said, "it's obvious I'm not acting out of any agenda."

     In conducting the largest international study of its kind, researchers found that "those having an abortion had elevated rates of depression, anxiety, suicidal behaviors and substance abuse," said the report.

     Fergusson said he had trouble getting his findings published, particularly in the United States, due to bias.

 

School Spirit

ALL HEADLINE NEWS, Jan. 5, 2006

     A national survey has found that high school seniors are "remarkably conservative on issues surrounding abortion" and favor restrictions on the practice.

     Researchers at Hamilton College in upstate New York found that students "appeared supportive of abortion rights" when asked general questions --- but responses to more detailed questions showed that "most seniors regard abortion as morally wrong" and that they "would significantly limit" it.

     Consistent with the finding that "religion and reported church attencance are powerful influences on abortion ... opinions," the results showed a higher adherence to Church teachings among Catholics who said that they went to church more than four times a month.