Obama's Promise to "Pro-Llifers"

E.J. Dionne of the Washington Post writes today about President-elect Obama's assertions during the campaign that "there surely is some common ground" to be found on the issue of abortion.  Dionne claims that, Obama should make good on his promise to help "turn the page" on what is probably the most divisive issue in American politics.  Doing so would convince moderate conservatives that he means to govern from the center on divisive social issues.  Obama could move in this direction with support for a bill co-sponsored by two Democrats, the "pro-life" Rep. Tim Ryan from Ohio, and pro-choice Rep. Rosa DeLauro from Connecticut that includes money for contraceptive programs and social support programs for struggling families and single mothers:

Rep. Tim Ryan, a pro-life Democrat from Ohio, stumped all over his state urging Catholic groups and others on his side of the abortion question to put their faith in Obama's pledge. He's confident Obama will keep it. 

"He could address this issue in a thoughtful way and take it off the table," says Ryan, the co-sponsor of an abortion reduction bill with Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn). In moving quickly, he says, Obama would "show that there is a new politics by acting on one of the most divisive issues of the last 30 years."

This should not be hard, Ryan says, since the central elements of their bill are "bread-and-butter issues for Democrats."

These include contraception programs, even if they are a sticking point for some social conservatives, along with "programs that are going to encourage women to bring their children to term." Among them: expanded health coverage for women and children, more child care, adoption help and income support for the working poor.

President-Elect, Please Improve Sex Education

Dr. Karen Rayne, whose Adolescent Sexuality blog is one of our favorites, wrote this letter to the President-elect:

Dear President-elect Obama,

Congratulations on your election.

As you set the agenda for your first 100 days, please consider comprehensive, developmental-appropriate sexuality education for children of all ages.  I know you believe in this!  (Who doesn’t remember that McCain ad…)  Now start to take a stand.  Make sure that our children know how to keep themselves safe from unwanted pregnancies and STDs, and that they have access to the information and services they need to put that knowledge into action.

Providing education and preventative health care services and access to birth control and condoms is far cheaper, easier, and accessible than treating STDs or supporting unprepared women through pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting.

President-elect Obama, right now, and through your first 100 days, you hold immense sway over the American people.  Your election is historic, and your ability to bring change is substantial.  I have great hope that you will tend to this responsibility closely.

Thank you.

Sincerely yours,
Karen Rayne, Ph.D.

Philippine Reproductive Health Bill Stirs Battle with Church

A bill on maternal health care, which requires the government to promote artificial contraception if it becomes law, has become a battleground between the powerful church and activists in the staunchly Roman Catholic nation.  Some bishops have said they will refuse communion and other sacraments to politicians who support the bill, set to be discussed this month in the House of Representatives.  Others warn that the church's crucial backing in the 2010 presidential and congressional elections will only be given to those who oppose the bill:

"I have never seen the bishops so aggressive in a campaign to block a piece of social legislation as in this case against the reproductive health care bill," said Aries Rufo, a journalist who has been covering church issues for more than a decade.

"In the last six attempts to legislate a population policy, a bill never gets out of the committee level in the lower house. It is only now that the chance of passing a law on family planning is really high."

Vaccine for Cervical Cancer Prevents Genital Warts in Males

U.S. researchers have claimed that a vaccine for cervical cancer in women also cures genital warts in males prompting the drug's maker to seek federal approval to sell it:

Researchers who injected Gardasil and fake vaccines on more than 4,000 males aged 16 to 26 in 20 countries over a six-month period found that 90 percent of recipients who got the real shot did not develop the sexually transmitted disease 30 months later. The group given the fake drug resulted in 101 cases of genital warts infection.

The men did not suffer any side effects during the clinical trial funded by Gardasil maker Merck & Co. Inc. The research is continuing.