4th Circuit will rehear important crisis pregnancy center/free speech cases
Back in June, I reported on two important decisions from the Fourth Circuit. https://dev.uffl.org/2012/06/28/important-decisions-from-the-4th-circuit-in-crisis-pregnancy-center-cases/ Those cases involved laws that require crisis pregnancy centers to post notices stating that the centers don’t have medical professionals on staff and encouraging women to consult with a licensed health care provider. In June, a panel of the Fourth Circuit held that these compelled speech laws […]
Michael New’s review of Jane Gilroy’s book on Ellen McCormack
Here is a link to Michael New’s review of Jane Gilroy’s book on Ellen McCormack. http://www.thepublicdiscourse.com/2012/08/6039 McCormack’s 1976 presidential campaign was an important moment in the history of the pro-life movement. New notes: “This campaign is nicely chronicled in Jane Gilroy’s new book A Shared Vision. Gilroy gives some well-deserved attention to the accomplishments of a […]
9th Circuit enjoins Arizona’s law banning abortion after 20 weeks
Here is a link to a LifeNews article on the 9th Circuit’s ruling to enjoin an Arizona law banning abortions after 20 weeks based on fetal pain. http://www.lifenews.com/2012/08/01/appeals-court-stops-arizona-fetal-pain-based-abortion-ban/ On July 30, 2012, Judge Teilborg of the US District Court for the District of Arizona upheld the constitutionality of the Arizona law. Judge Teilborg’s ruling included this passage: […]
“Dutch Doctors Use ‘Deep Sedation’ to Hide Assisted Suicides”
Here is a link to a good piece by Dr. Peter Saunders addressing this issue. http://www.lifenews.com/2012/07/11/dutch-doctors-use-deep-sedation-to-hide-assisted-suicides/ The use of “terminal sedation” to advance the euthanasia movement is worth careful attention. The use of “deep sedation” or “terminal sedation” needs to be distinguished from a legitimate technique–the use of sedation for symptom relief (so-called “palliative sedation”). There is a careful treatment of […]
dangerous developments with regard to the Swiss law on assisted suicide
Here is a link to a good post by Wesley Smith noting that the Swiss law allowing assisted suicide is being extended to an increasingly larger number of “target groups.” Here’s the opening of the post: “Once a society accepts the fundamental premises of assisted suicide–e.g., radical individualism and killing as an acceptable answer to suffering–there really are […]
pro-life gains since the Casey decision
It has been 20 years since the Supreme Court’s decision in Planned Parenthood v. Casey. On the 20th anniversary of this landmark decision, there has been much recent reflection about the impact of Casey. In LifeNews, Dr. Michael New notes Clarke Forsythe’s recent National Review commentary on Casey and offers some comments of his own. http://www.lifenews.com/2012/07/02/prolife-movement-has-made-big-gains-since-the-casey-decision/ Here […]
Mississippi abortion law enjoined
Here is a link to a LifeNews story on a decision from a federal judge enjoining Mississippi’a abortion law.http://www.lifenews.com/2012/07/02/judge-blocks-mississippi-law-to-make-it-abortion-free/?pr=1 The new Mississippi law required abortion practioners to have admitting privileges at local hospitals. The effect of the new law would likely have been to make Mississippi the only state in the country without an abortion clinic. Richard M.
important decisions from the 4th Circuit in crisis pregnancy center cases
Yesterday, the 4th Circuit ruled (in 2-1 decisions) on 2 cases involving laws that compelled crisis pregnancy centers to engage in certain speech. Here are links to the decisions. http://www.ca4.uscourts.gov/Opinions/Published/111111.P.pdf and http://www.ca4.uscourts.gov/Opinions/Published/111314.P.pdf The court held that the compelled speech ordinances violated the First Amendement rights of the centers. Among other things, the ordinances required the centers to […]
more on infanticide
Here is a link to an interesting essay in the Washington Post by Charles C. Camosy. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/guest-voices/post/is-infanticide-madness/2012/06/14/gJQAnT8RcV_blog.html (Here is Wesley Smith commenting on Camosy’s essay.http://www.firstthings.com/blogs/secondhandsmoke/2012/06/25/treating-infanticide-respectfully-makes-it-respectable/) Camosy begins by noting the controversy over the article on “after-birth abortion.” He mentions that the Journal of Medical Ethics, where the original article appeared, is going to publish an issue devoted to infanticide […]
Planned Parenthood v. Casey at 20
Here is a good essay by Michael New reflecting on the 20th anniversary of Planned Parenthood v. Casey. http://www.lifenews.com/2012/06/25/casey-decision-at-20-pro-lifers-make-progress-on-abortion/ As New points out, the decision was a mixed blessing. The Court failed to take the anticipated step of overruling Roe v. Wade. But the Court did open the door to further incremental restrictions on abortion […]