Roundup: Surgeon General’s View on Abortion

Surgeon General's View on Abortion; NOW Fights with Anti-choice Activists in Kansas; New "Sexting" Legislation in New Jersey

Surgeon General’s View on Abortion
Regina Benjamin, President Obama’s pick for surgeon general, grew
up in a Catholic home and attends mass often, and although she has not
publicly taken a stance on the right to choose to terminate a
pregnancy, sources close to her say she supports a woman’s right to an
abortion, according to Washington Post. This could cause conflict with the Catholic church’s stance on abortion.

If confirmed, Benjamin would lead the Public Health Service Commissioned
Corps, issue public health messages and advise the president and health
and human services secretary, the article said. She would also be the chief health educator in the country. 

Benjamin is prohibited from speaking publicly on any issue until she is confirmed, according to Washington Post

David Satcher, a former surgeon general under President Bill Clinton, told the Washington Post,
"We all have our religions, but when you speak as the surgeon general
to the American people, it’s not about your religion…I don’t see why
the surgeon general has to get involved in a discussion about abortion."

NOW Fights with Anti-choice Activists in Kansas
After Dr. George Tiller’s death, the closing of his clinic and of the
committee he founded and funded, ProKanDo, the National Organization
for Women is rebuilding the abortion rights movement in Kansas,
according to Associated Press.

The article said:

"Marla Patrick, the Kansas coordinator for NOW, said that for years
ProKanDo took the lead on abortion rights issues because it had the
funding to do so. NOW was content then to stay in the background
because it had found that its presence could hurt the cause."

Although ProKanDo had approximately 6,400 donors, Dr. Tiller
contributed between one-third and one-half of the committee’s revenue,
depending on the year. The committee will no longer have the same
financial support as it did during Dr. Tiller’s life, but his death
propelled the grass roots support, Patrick said.  

"While we may have less funding, we are going to have more grass
roots," she told AP. "And I think that can be every bit as effective, if
not more so, especially in light of all the recent events."

New "Sexting" Legislation in New Jersey
After a 14-year-old girl in New Jersey was arrested for posting
partially nude photos of herself on MySpace and originally charged with
distribution of child pornography, state lawmaker Pamela R. Lampitt
introduced legislation aimed at reducing "sexting," according to the Associated Press.

Lampitt told AP:

"Kids may be kids, but they can be forced to grow up in a hurry when an
explicit photograph meant only for one person gets forwarded and
reforwarded throughout their school…"Young people, especially teen girls, need to understand that
sending inappropriate pictures is not only potentially illegal, but can
leave an indelible mark on them socially and educationally."

The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy conducted
a 2008 survey and found that one-in-five teens have sent nude or
partially-nude photos or videos of themselves to friends or posted them
on a social networking site like MySpace, the article said.

The proposed legislation would not punish minors for "sexting," but
would instead create an education program that would teach participants
about potential state and federal penalties for "sexting."

In the article, Lampitt said:

"Young people need to understand the ramifications of their actions,
but they shouldn’t necessarily be treated as criminals…We need to create a path that places education and forgiveness before
arrest and prosecution."


OTHER NEWS TO NOTE:

July 19: Blogger News Network:Will Ethical Issues Derail the Health Care Bill?

July 20: Washington Times: McConnell won’t vote for Sotomayor   

July 19: Moderate Voice: Vatican Unequivocally Confirms Automatic Excommunication for Anyone Involved in Abortion 

July 20: New Zealand Herald: Judge reserves decision on abortion    

July 17: Fox News: Abortion Issue Dogs Health Care Reform in the House  

July 19: NYTimes: Health Bill Might Direct Tax Money to Abortion

July 20: Daily Mail: Christian doctor is axed from panel over failing to back gay adoption

July 19: Opposing Views: Did Sotomayor Perjure Herself on Abortion?  

July 20: WaPo: D.C. Adoptions Drop Sharply, Causing Dismay

July 19: Fox News: Two Republican Senators Question Sotomayor’s Judgment   

July 19: Fox News:As Health Insurance Debate Looms, Budget Director Refuses to Rule Out Federally Funded Abortions

July 19: PewSitter: Catholic Politicians Continue to Advance Abortion Lobby Agenda

July 19: AP: Officials: Health care proposal a work in progress

July 19: AP:NJ Assemblywoman moves to combat teen "sexting 

July 19: Cape May County Herald: National Natural Family Planning Awareness Week

July 18: NYTimes: Helping in Pakistan  

July 18: Catholic News Agency: Vietnamese Catholics pay high fines for violating government’s two-child policy  

July 17: San Francisco Examiner: The upcoming governor races will also be a fight for pro-life

July 19: Naperville Sun:Anti-abortion protest seeks to shock  

July 18: KOS: Abortion Clinic Escorting Day 1: The Sidewalk Dynamic   

July 19: New Nation: Reproductive health supplies scarce

July 18: Examiner: 16 & Pregnant: Reality Documentary Or Shortcut to Fame?

July 18: AP: NOW takes on Kansas abortion fight      

July 18: Wichita Eagle: Tiahrt’s abortion remarks criticized

July 19: Daily Star: Overcoming the problems of population growth

July 17: Yuma Sun: Abortion law draws mixed reaction in Yuma

July 17: Star Tribune: Where are all those Democrats who claim to be supporters of abortion rights?

July 17: LifeSiteNews: Representatives of European Catholic Bishops’ Conferences Denounce Homosexual Adoption and Euthanasia 

July 18: Argus Leader: Judge vows to rule soon in abortion warning case 

July 18: The Ledger: More Not Always Merrier 

July 17: Galesburg Register Mail:Parenting programs take big hit from state budget cuts

July 18: People and Planet: World must act now to prevent contraceptive crisis

July 18: WaPo: Surgeon General Pick’s Stance on Abortion May Clash With Church’s

July 17: Spokesman-Review: (Letters) Women need allies

July 17: Politics Daily: Why Emily Bazelon Didn’t Follow Up on Ginsburg’s Abortion Comment

July 17: Catholic News Agency: Italy to sponsor U.N. resolution condemning abortion   

July 17: Daily Dish: The Abortion Debate, Cont’d

July
17: LifeSiteNews: Giant Webcast Thursday to Educate and Mobilize Pro-Life Americans Against Great Dangers of Obama Health Care Bill

July 17: NASDAQ: Anti-Abortion Democrats Emerge As Obstacle To Health-Care Bill  

July 17: New Mexico Independent: N.M. lawmaker seeks to protect ‘unborn victims of violence’ 

July 17: Wichita Eagle: Letters to the editor: Vietnam memorial health care, tax increases, abortion, rural broadband

July 17: Virginia Pilot:Pro-choice advocates pick Deeds

July 17: Catholic Spirit: Pope praises work by late cardinal of Mauritius to promote the family

July 17: HuffPo: How Green Is Your Birth Control? (POLL)  

July 17: LifeNews: Congressman to Offer Amendment to De-Fund Planned Parenthood Abortion Biz

July 17: Daily KOS: Lindsey Graham’s Shocking Defense of Choice

July 17: Together for Adoption:Ed Stetzer on Social Justice and the Gospel 

July 17: ABA Journal: Columnist Hits Justice Ginsburg for ‘Simplistic, Pro-Choice Rant’

July 17: Daily Gleaner:Pro-life activist fighting city on refusal to print anti-abortion ads