in this issue:
hot button issues: FIRM PRINCIPLES / PETITION / T-SHIRT DAY
abortion: EDUCATION / MIFEPRISTONE (RU-486) / SOUTH DAKOTA
abstinence education: PROJECT REALITY
aids: CURE?
birth control: INTERNET
down syndrome: TARGETING
in vitro fertilization: SCANDAL IN WISCONSIN
personhood: RIGHT TO LIFE ACT
stem cell research / ethical: ARTHRITIS / SPINAL CORD INJURY
stem cell research / unethical: MARYLAND
zinger: DOOM AND GLOOM
reflection for prayer: LEARNING
hot button issues
FIRM PRINCIPLES: In her weekly commentary, ALL’s Judie Brown talks about those in the pro-life movement who, for political reasons, are opposing initiatives designed to end abortion. “It’s outlandish for any organization or individual who is identified as pro-life to argue that a bill banning all surgical and medical abortions is ill-timed,” she wrote. “Such statements defy the heart of what the pro-life movement is all about.”
(Reading: “Timing is everything,” American Life League commentary, 4/7/06)
PETITION: American Life League is leading a major petition effort designed to cut all tax funding directed to Planned Parenthood. In its most recent fiscal year, Planned Parenthood received more than $265 million from federal, state and local government sources. Petitions may be signed online.
T-SHIRT DAY: American Life League is sponsoring National Pro-life T-shirt Day for the fourth year. On April 25, ALL is asking pro-life students to wear a pro-life message to class. All are invited to participate, but public schools are especially invited. The official shirt of ALL’s National Pro-life T-shirt Day is available online for $5 plus shipping and handling. Other details are available at www.NationalProLifeTshirtDay.comwww.NationalProLifeTshirtDay.com.
abortion
EDUCATION: A study claims that abortion instruction is deficient in nursing programs around the United States. The writers recommend making such education “routine.”
(Reading: “Abortion education in nurse practitioner, physician assistant and certified nurse-midwifery programs: a national survey,” Contraception, 73:2006:408-414)
MIFEPRISTONE (RU-486): A report on one serious infection as a result of a mifepristone abortion explains that “significant infection after medical abortion can occur in the absence of typical pelvic signs.” Authors call for “enhanced vigilance for infection post medical termination of pregnancy.”
(Reading: “Atypical presentation of serious pelvic inflammatory disease following mifepristone-induced medical abortion,” Contraception, 73:2006:431-2)
SOUTH DAKOTA: The Oglala Sioux Tribe’s president, Cecelia Fire Thunder, is planning to build an abortion clinic on the reservation. While Fire Thunder continues to examine the legalities of the planned building, some argue that only Sioux Indians could use the facility to abort their babies.
(Reading: “Sioux tribe plans to scalp its own,” World Net Daily, 3/29/06; “Pine Ridge Indian reservation to offer abortions,” KNBN-TV, 3/31/06)
abstinence education
PROJECT REALITY: Project Reality director Libby Gray Macke wrote to the Wall Street Journal in an effort to correct errors in a report on sex education. Among her observations, “in Illinois, where abstinence programs have saturated the state, teen births are now the lowest they have been in 46 years.”
aids
CURE? News reports claim that doctors have discovered that by combining two drugs they may be able to prevent AIDS. However, the same report continues the deceptive claim that condoms are doing the work of stopping the spread of the disease. The drugs, tenofovir and emtricitabine, are sold by the same company that invented Tamiflu, the flu vaccine.
(Reading: “AIDS drugs show prevention promise,” Associated Press, 3/28/06)
birth control
INTERNET: Research has shown that “both oral and transdermal contraceptives are easy to obtain over the Internet without a physical appointment with a health care provider to obtain a prescription.”
(Reading: “Over-the-Internet availability of hormonal contraceptives regardless of risk factors,” Contraception, 73:2006:372-375)
down syndrome
TARGETING: Australian researchers have determined that by using combined screening during the first trimester of pregnancy, not only can Down syndrome babies be detected earlier, but other anomalies can be identified as well. The goal of reducing the births of those affected by Down syndrome is also discussed.
(Reading: “First trimester combined screening for Down syndrome and other fetal anomalies,” Obstetrics and Gynecology, 4/1/06, pp. 869-876)
in vitro fertilization
SCANDAL IN WISCONSIN: The University of Wisconsin Medical Foundation is closing its fertility clinic due to various problems among the staff, including sexual harassment charges filed against one of the doctors. University officials are saying that since UW Hospital does not deliver babies, fertility services are really not a focus for the university.
(Reading: “Official: Conflict at fertility clinic,” Wisconsin State Journal, 3/30/06)
personhood
RIGHT TO LIFE ACT: This bill (HR 552) states, “The terms ‘human person’ and ‘human being’ include each and every member of the species homo sapiens at all stages of life, including, but not limited to, the moment of fertilization, cloning, or other moment at which an individual member of the human species comes into being.” See www.RightToLifeAct.org for details.
COMMENT: Is your member of Congress a co-sponsor? If not, ask!
stem cell research / ethical
ARTHRITIS: Cultured adult human periosteal stem cells demonstrate mesenchymal multipotency, suggesting that they may be used to repair tissue and joint damage associated with arthritis, researchers here reported.
(Reading: “Periosteal cells grow cartilage, bone and skeletal muscle,” MedPage Today, 3/29/06)
SPINAL CORD INJURY: Stem cells taken from the brains of mice can help laboratory rats with spinal cord injury. These findings are the latest in a series of successes with rodent experiments.
(Reading: “Stem cells from mice get rats with spinal cord injuries walking,” Reuters, 3/29/06)
stem cell research / unethical
MARYLAND: $15 million in grants will be offered in the coming year to university and private-sector researchers who are seeking treatments for disease using stem cells, including human embryonic stem cells.
(Reading: “Maryland to fund stem cell research,” Washington Post, 3/30/06)
zinger
DOOM AND GLOOM: University of Texas professor Eric Pianka tells his students the earth would be a better place if 90 percent of the population of the earth were dead. He says, “Disease will control the scourge of humanity. We’re looking forward to a huge collapse.”
(Reading: “UT professor says death is imminent,” Seguin Gazette, 4/2/06)
reflection for prayer
LEARNING: The contemplation of Jesus is vital for our spiritual lives. We want to believe, but we must continually nurture our faith. St Thomas Aquinas once remarked how he learned more from looking at the crucifix than from all the books he had ever read. Let’s strive to make this Holy Week one in which our faith takes a leap forward.
(Reading: “I am,” Regnum Christi, 4/4/06)