The International Down Syndrome Coalition (IDSC) is a religiously- and politically-neutral organization dedicated to supporting individuals with Down syndrome and their families. According to IDSC, When a mother finds out her baby has Down syndrome, she needs support and helpful information. What sometimes happens, instead, is that professionals, family members, and friends will pressure her […]
Earlier this year, NPR reported on a controversial abortion-related arrest: Jennie Linn McCormack was charged last year under an obscure Idaho law for ending her pregnancy with RU-486. She joins an increasing number of women who get the so-called abortion pill off the internet. NPR describes the circumstances of the abortion: In late 2010, McCormack […]
Similar to previous stories, a federal judge ruled that Baltimore cannot force a CPC to post signs stating the CPC does not provide abortions or birth control. In 2009 Baltimore passed a law requiring such signs, and Archbishop Edwin O’Brien filed suit, claiming the law violated free speech and assembly, free exercise of religion, equal protection under […]
I’ve previously mentioned how most abortion advocates discuss the fetus in impersonal terms (“product of conception”) while some go further and describe the fetus as an antagonist (“parasite”). I’ve had a few (albeit not many) people object to these suggestions, insisting that pro-choicers do understand the humanity of the fetus. Some pro-choicers insist all women […]
NBC Philadelphia reports on an upcoming merger between two Montgomery County-based hospitals: Holy Redeemer Health System (Catholic) and Abington Health. One effect of this merger is that Abington Health will no longer perform abortions. As Abington Health President and CEO Larry Merlis explains, We wanted assure that we would be able to provide assurances that […]
So apparently there’s this podcast called Ask an Atheist (AaA) that asked their listeners to provide non-religious reasons to oppose abortion. On June 17th, AaA discussed these responses and other abortion-related topics during their show entitled “The Other A-word.” Listen to the full show (or download it) here. Please note: the online audio clip displays […]
Since SPL’s presence at the American Atheists Convention, we have had multiple people accuse us of being a secretly religious/Christian group, and insist that there is no such thing as a non-religious pro-lifer. According to this recent Gallup report, 19% of atheists, agnostics, and those with no religious preference identify as “pro-life.” While Gallup’s findings […]
Hinds County: location of the only remaining abortion clinic in Mississippi. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, Mississippi may be the first state to have zero abortion clinics. Beginning July 1, all abortion-clinic physicians must have admitting privileges at a local hospital under a law passed by the Republican-led Legislature and signed by Republican Governor Phil Bryant in […]
Interesting piece by pro-choice author Jeannie explaining why mandated transvaginal ultrasounds should not be likened to rape. I don’t agree with her on every count–for example I don’t see how anti-abortion folks are to blame for imagery purported by abortion rights activists–but I still think her overall message is valid, particularly her 3rd point. Arguments that […]
Maggie Koerth-Baker describes a heartbreaking situation in which the fetus she tried desperately to conceive has a chromosomal abnormality and is going to die. Maggie considers whether or not to have an abortion, as opposed to waiting around to miscarry. She points out that many people who are against abortion in general are less likely […]