Is Culture Peace breaking out? Did Pat Buchanan just call Obama's speech "centrist"? Can we take up the call for respect, and individual as well as mutual responsibility?
The concept of conscience has been repeatedly manipulated, especially in the context of reproductive health and rights. While some have pointed to Catholic teaching to support the imposition of ever-more restrictive refusal clauses, they do not, reflect the Catholic position.
Wisconsin's Family Planning Health Services put 20,000 emergency contraceptive pills in the hands of 10,000 women last year. Is preventing unwanted pregnancy as simple as that? Yes. And no.
A group of Filipino Catholics calling themselves a part of the "silent majority," broke their silence and came out in support of pending legislation on reproductive health.
The contrasts between the extremist values and tactics of the far-right and those of progressives are being made more clear as the election intensifies.
The new HHS provider conscience regulations aren't a problem simply for women of childbearing age. Your body is now the tableau of conscience for whatever doctor or pharmacist you draw.
The reality for women is that our nation's health care "system" is failing us. We need to be listening carefully to what the two parties have to say about health care reform at their national conventions.
New anti-domestic violence law in Guatemala classifies denying a woman the right to use contraceptive methods or STI prevention measures as a violent sex crime.
Once laws were designed to allow those who objected to abstain from participating in abortions. But Secretary Leavitt's clear intent now is to allow these laws to apply to a larger set of health care services.
Right wingers are appealing to the political parties and to universities to punish the straying Catholics--bishops can't find traction, the government can't do it, and the "problem" of Catholics showing common sense is out of control.
Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell may soon re-enroll the state in the federal Title V abstinence-only-until-marriage program. This decision would represent the prioritizing of short term political gain over the long term health of Pennsylvania's young people.
The American Board of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has clearly stated that certification is not at issue if a provider refuses to perform or refer for abortion. But HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt continues to cite this certification as justification for his new regulations.
Sixty percent of the under-five deaths in India occur in just five states. An Indian child's chance of celebrating the fifth birthday clearly depends on the state or community it is born into.
What I ask of you, Secretary Leavitt, is to clarify the new HHS regulations. Release a statement saying that pressing the definition of abortion to include contraception is an unacceptable distortion of these regulations.
Senator John McCain is going all-in with "pro-life" social conservatives by selecting first-term Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his Vice Presidential running mate. This post will be updated throughout the day.
