in this issue:
abortion: VIRGINIA
bioethics: ZYGOTES
demographics: BAMBINO BUST
human cloning: CIRCLING THE WAGONS
mandatory coverage: ARIZONA / CHURCH INFLUENCE
misoprostol: LABEL CHANGE
on the air: ALL / STOPP
politics: EMILY’S LIST
planned parenthood: RHETORIC / SPECIAL REPORT
stem cell research: ADULT STEM CELLS / PARKINSON’S
reminder: WORLD FAMILY CONFERENCE
reflection for prayer: MATTHEW 5:11-12
abortion
VIRGINIA: According to court testimony, Dr. Rodger A. Fraser performed 22 abortions at a suburban Richmond clinic on Feb. 9. However, his medical license had been suspended the previous day. The Virginia Board of Medicine ordered the suspension after he was accused of mishandling an abortion at a Falls Church clinic last year. Fraser faces trial in June for practicing medicine without a license.
(Reading: “Henrico charges abortion doctor,” Richmond Times-Dispatch, 4/18/02)
bioethics
ZYGOTES: In a New York Times op-ed column, Michael S. Gazzaniga, a member of President’s Council on Bioethics, writes that the “belief” that life begins at fertilization is “problematic when viewed with modern biological knowledge.” He notes that Britain does not grant the embryo moral status until after 14 days. “The blastocyst, the biological clump of cells produced in biomedical cloning, is the size of the dot on this i,” he wrote. “It has no nervous system and is not sentient in any way. It has no trajectory to becoming a human being; it will never be implanted in a woman’s uterus. What it probably does have is the potential for the cure of diseases affecting millions of people.”
COMMENT: For a proper perspective, see “When do human beings begin?” by Dianne N. Irving, Ph.D.
(Reading: “Zygotes and people aren’t quite the same,” New York Times, 4/25/02)
demographics
BAMBINO BUST: A Hartford Courant article examines the population decline in Italy, where women “in a country where more than 90 percent of the people are at least nominally Catholic have just said ‘no’ to more babies.” Over the next 50 years, population is projected to shrink from 56 million to 40 million. As for Pope John Paul’s call for Italians to have more children, one woman commented, “Who is he to tell me what I can do with my body and how many babies I must have? The pope talks, talks, talks, but believe me, nobody in Italy listens.”
(Reading: “Birth control challenge to Church admonitions on sex,” Hartford Courant, 4/24/02)
human cloning
CIRCLING THE WAGONS: The biotech industry is scrambling to convince Congress to reject President Bush’s call for a total ban on human cloning. According to the Boston Globe, “The research lobby has argued that a ban on therapeutic cloning would create a climate of fear in laboratories, have a chilling effect on medical breakthroughs, and force pioneering research involving stem cells to relocate overseas, taking with it potential commerce based on treatments that might be developed.”
COMMENT: Commerce?
(Reading: “Coalition battles bill to ban cloning,” Boston Globe, 4/22/02)
mandatory coverage
ARIZONA: Gov. Jane Hull signed a bill requiring insurance companies to cover birth control. House sponsor Linda Binder (R-Lake Havasu City) called it a “victory for women.” Noting that the only organized opposition came from Catholic groups, Binder said, “Right now, the Catholic Church should be cleaning its own house and not worrying about things like the subjugation of women.”
(Reading: “Hull signs contraceptive insurance bill,” Arizona Republic, 4/23/02)
CHURCH INFLUENCE: An Associated Press report notes that legislatures in New York and Massachusetts have passed bills requiring insurance companies to cover birth control, despite strong Catholic opposition to such measures. The article suggests that backers of such mandates succeeded because Church officials have had to concentrate on the current sexual abuse scandal. One Massachusetts lawmaker said the scandal has diminished the Church’s clout in the legislature.
(Reading: “Catholic defeats blamed on scandals,” Associated Press, 4/19/02)
misoprostol
LABEL CHANGE: The label for misoprostol, an ulcer treatment also known as Cytotec, has always warned that the drug was not to be used by pregnant women. However, doctors have been using misoprostol as part of the RU-486 abortion regimen for some time. Now, the FDA has changed the drug’s labeling to reflect that usage. As Pharmacists for Life International notes, “The label changes were initiated by the FDA and not at the request of the drug manufacturer, a most unusual move by the agency.”
(Reading: “FDA OKs label change for labor-inducing drug,” Reuters Health, 4/18/02; “Major changes to Cytotec labeling,” PharmFacts E-news, 4/20/02)
on the air
ALL: Judie Brown, American Life League’s president, will talk about defending the priesthood and exposing media bias against Catholic Church on KKLA’s Duffy and Company. The program airs Monday, 4/29 at 8:15 p.m. EDT. To listen live, go to “Duffy and Company.”
STOPP: Ed Szymkowiak, STOPP International’s national director, will talk about Planned Parenthood’s agenda during three radio interviews in the days ahead. All of these interviews can be heard through the internet.
On Friday, 4/26 at 9 p.m. EDT, Ed appears on Duffy and Company on KKLA. On Saturday, 4/27 at 1:30 p.m. EDT, Ed will be on Judicial Watch Radio. The third interview is on Monday, 4/29 at 7:05 a.m. EDT — The American Breakfast Radio Show with Phil Paleologos.
politics
EMILY’S LIST: The Washington Post offers a profile of what it calls “an emerging political juggernaut: EMILY’s List.” This fundraising/lobbying group claims campaign reform legislation will only strengthen its clout. The Post reports three conditions are necessary for a candidate to gain EMILY’s List’s endorsement and funding. A candidate must “back abortion rights, including late-term (or ‘partial birth’) abortions; be a Democrat; and, in primary elections, be a woman.”
(Reading: “EMILY’s List makes a name for itself,” Washington Post, 4/21/02, p. A5)
planned parenthood
RHETORIC: From Planned Parenthood president Gloria Feldt: “The House Energy and Commerce Committee’s vote today to reauthorize abstinence-only sex education programs for another five years (H.R. 4122) denies our children the uncensored truth about their health. The committee’s action is dangerous, irresponsible and reprehensible — and reflects the Bush administration’s agenda to appease political extremists at the expense of the health and lives of American youth.”
(Reading: “Planned Parenthood calls House committee vote to censor health information for teens dangerous and irresponsible,” Planned Parenthood news release, 4/25/02)
SPECIAL REPORT: STOPP International’s latest summary and analysis of Planned Parenthood’s operations shows individual affiliate income and service reports, along with financial data for the last five years. Among the findings: Since 1977 Planned Parenthood has made $815 million from abortion procedures.
(Reading: “Analysis of Planned Parenthood shows abortion is big, profitable business,” STOPP International news release, 4/15/02; “Summary and analysis of Planned Parenthood’s operations in the U.S.,” Ryan Report, 4/02)
stem cell research
ADULT STEM CELLS: Canadian researchers say they’ve discovered how to “supercharge” and mass produce adult stem cells. These cells, taken from blood, could be used to treat leukemia and other blood diseases. Scientists say this has the potential to eliminate the need for bone marrow transplants. So far, the technique has only been used on rats. Researchers say more work is needed before any human testing begins.
(Reading: “Canadian team ‘supercharges’ adult stem cells,” National Post, 4/2/02)
PARKINSON’S: Teams at the University of Florida and Lund University in Sweden announced promising research that shows Parkinson’s disease could be treated without having to resort to the use of human embryonic stem cells. Through gene therapy, normal motor movement was restored to laboratory rats. Scientists say this itself is not a cure for Parkinson’s, but a positive step on the road to a solution.
(Reading: “Rats with partial Parkinson’s damage in the brain show complete functional recovery after gene therapy,” University of Florida news release, 3/26/02)
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
MATTHEW 5:11-12: Blessed are you when people abuse you and persecute you and speak all kids of calumny against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.