Roundup: Around the World In 20 Minutes
Today we look abroad to see how women in other countries are doing. And in our mini roundup we take one more look at the bishops, and one good nun.
It’s Wednesday, the Nelson-Hatch amendment to roadblock women from necessary reproductive care has been tabled, and, until we hit a point of reconciliation where Stupak-Pitts will once again rear its ugly head, it is time to move on in the world. Literally.
Is an abortion ban a violation of human rights? Ireland is about to find out as its very strict rules against abortion are being challenged in court.
The legal action has been brought by three Irish women who say the effective ban on abortion in Ireland violates the European Convention on Human Rights.
All three have traveled to Britain to have abortions….They argue that being forced to travel abroad for abortions endangered their "health and well-being" as safeguarded by the European Convention on Human Rights.
Lawyers defending the law will argue that the European Convention does not have the right to supersede domestic law.
Colombia’s Inspector General is demanding that the morning after pill be removed from market in the country, stating that it is actually an abortifacient and violates the country’s abortion laws.
[Inspector General] Ordoñez is a devoted Catholic and a vociferous opponent of abortion. Colombia’s constitution allows abortion only in the case of rape, life-threatening complications for the mother, or the serious deformation of the unborn baby.
The Inspector General made the demand after a proposal was made to the government to make the drug available free for minors, in order to decrease the high number of teenage pregnancies in Colombia.
In Britain, numbers have been released stating that there were over 20,000 repeat abortions in 2008 on women younger than 25, with 5,000 of those procedures being performed on teenagers. British Right to Life responds by saying that means youth need less access to contraception.
Finally, a recent Guttnmacher report states that one key way to drastically reduce maternal and newborn death is to increase investment in family planning and pregnancy care.
Doubling the amount of money that nations invest in family planning and
pregnancy care initiatives in developing countries could reduce the
rate of maternal deaths by as much as 70% and cut newborn deaths by
nearly 50%, according to a report released by the United Nations Population Fund and the Guttmacher Institute, Reuters reports. The report said that doubling current spending to $24.6 billion could achieve a number of "dramatic" results.
Mini roundup: Don’t like getting pushed around by Bishops? Think the church might be cheating? Become inspired by a nun.
12/9
US
bishops urge opposition to Senate health bill with defeat of pro-life
amendment Catholic
Culture
Ireland’s
abortion law
challenged in European court BBC News
From
Rightwing to Prochoice: The Shifting Goalposts of ‘Abortion Neutrality’ Religion Dispatches
Lives
crushed as adoption
program halted ABC
Online
Health
care: The culture war intervenes Dallas Morning News
Privacy
comes before someone else’s faith Sioux Falls Argus Leader
12/8
What
My Amendment Won’t Do New York Times
On
health care, the bishops have lost their way Politico
High
Court’s abortion decision is the right one Belfast Telegraph
Catholic
Health Center for Women Opens in Manhattan Zenit News Agency
Colombia’s
Inspector General Demands Morning-After Pill Be Taken Off Market Lifesite
Senate
Democrats May Employ Tabling Strategy to Defeat Nelson Amendment LifeNews.com
Senate
Defeats Pro-Life
Health Care Amendment Christian News Wire
Guatemala
pushes for DNA tests of kids adopted in US Reuters
Britain
Saw 20000 Women Under 25 Have Repeat Abortions in 2008, Many Teens LifeNews.com
Study:
Nearly half of all parents wait too long to talk about sex Washington Post
Wonk
Room » Pro-Life Dem
Bob Casey: We Can Solve Abortion Issue … ThinkProgress
Cheating
the gospel and the Church Washington Post
Would
you choose your child’s gender? CNN
UN,
Guttmacher Report Says Doubled Funding For Family Planning, Pregnancy Care … Medical News Today
If
We Need Abortion
Riders, Why Not Viagra Policies, Too? » New York Daily News
Abortion and
Costs at Top of Senate Agenda New York Times
Vote
set on abortion
amendment; deal in works on public option Washington Post
New
Zealand Abortion
Rate Drops Slightly Lifesite
Legacy
of a Late-Term Abortion
Doctor: Recalling Tiller, Six … Change.org Women’s Rights Blog
Franken
calls for abortion
rights in Senate’s health care bill
Minneapolis City Pages
Senate
rejects abortion
amendment to healthcare bill Los Angeles Times
Opinions
About Abortion
Remain Remarkably Steady CBS News
35
Senators Issue Letter Opposing Attempt to Fund Abortions Lifesite
Tim
Rutten: Will abortion
derail healthcare reform? Los Angeles Times
Nelson
amendment fails, but healthcare abortion battle isn’t over Christian Science Monitor
Will
women be blamed if substantive health care reform fails to pass? Perhaps… Firedoglake
Former
Planned Parenthood director details turn of heart Town Hall
Senate
Tables Nelson’s Nix on Abortion Coverage The Nation.
Pro-choice nun
still fighting for women’s care Chicago Tribune