Once a Pro-Lifer, She'll Soon Perform Abortions

(NEWSER) - President Obama is enacting a ghastly brace of pro-choice policies, including weakening "conscience protections" for doctors and adopting the “most radical possible option” on stem cell research, Michael Gerson writes for the Washington Post. And enlisting a Catholic—HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius—to help implement his agenda “smacks of religious humiliation,” writes Gerson, “like asking a rabbi to serve pork roast.” More»

(NEWSER) - Catholics are pulling out all the stops to quash the Freedom of Choice Act, peppering Congress and the White House with postcards and letters. There’s just one problem: There is no Freedom of Choice Act. The bill has been introduced in years past, but it isn’t before Congress now, won’t be anytime soon, and wouldn’t pass if it were, Time reports. More»

Right states prepped to label abortion a criminal act

(NEWSER) - If John McCain wins and puts conservatives on the Supreme Court, not only could Roe v. Wade go down—states may prohibit women from crossing state lines for abortions, Linda Hirshman writes in the Washington Post. Past rulings and Constitutional interpretations don't clearly support such laws, but times have changed since 1972, and many top legal minds "believe that this is something states probably can do," writes Hirshman. More»

Snub raises questions about politically active Catholics' options

(NEWSER) - The question of whether pro-choice Catholic politicians should take Communion is a familiar one in election years, but in 2008 it has a new twist. A Repubilcan abortion opponent, onetime Reagan administration official, and private citizen who supports Barack Obama was denied Communion in April. EJ Dionne of the Washington Post tells the story of Douglas Kmiec, "one of the nation's leading 'Obamacons.'" More»

Even where abortion is severely restricted, it must be available to women legally entitled

(NEWSER) - Even countries that severely restrict abortion must make them available to those who are entitled to them by law, the European court of human rights ruled yesterday. A Polish mother sued because her fourth pregnancy's damage to her failing eyesight made her legally eligible for an abortion to preserve her health, but a doctor refused her anyway. More»