The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote on the massive health-care reform bill this weekend. Here is Register correspondent Rich Daly’s latest look at the legislation and efforts to ensure that the federal government will not be spending tax dollars on elective abortions.

Abortion Fight Dominates House Vote

By Rich Daly

Register Correspondent

WASHINGTON — A fast-moving abortion fight dominated the last days before a final vote by the House of Representatives on legislation to overhaul the nation’s health-care system.

The House is expected to vote on the bill this weekend.

Democratic leaders scrambled to siphon enough representatives this week from a group of...READ MORE

Pro-life and traditional family values advocates are reveling in bright news this morning. Republican Chris Christie ousted Democrat pro-abortion Gov. Jon Corzine in New Jersey, and Republican Bob McDonnell won Virginia’s gubernatorial race over pro-abortion candidate Creigh Deeds.

And Maine voters rejected a bill legalizing same-sex “marriage” with a healthy 53-47 margin.

Partisans are interpreting the results in their own ways: Republicans heralding a rejection of the Obama agenda, including the massive health-care overhaul, Democrats pooh-poohing that idea.

On a more local level, two county contests in suburban New York saw wins by pro-life Catholics. Rob Astorino beat Westchester...READ MORE

The Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa censured Sister Donna Quinn Nov. 2 for working as an escort at a Hinsdale, Ill., abortion business.

Sister Donna was identified in a photo in the Chicago Tribune as one of two women wearing a “Clinic Escort” vest at the ACU Health Center.

ChicagoCatholicNews reported Nov. 4 Cardinal Francis George of Chicago, Bishop J. Peter Sartain of Joliet, Ill., and Bishop Robert Morlino of Madison, Wis., will meet to discuss the scandal and what remedial steps to take.

The three bishops are involved because the nun lives in the Archdiocese of Chicago, her motherhouse is in the Diocese of Madison and the abortion business with which she was affiliated is in the...READ MORE

In a forthcoming interview that will appear in the Register, New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan tells correspondent Paul Barra that the media in New York have been ”exceptionally attentive” since his installation earlier this year.

“They have been interested in what I have to say, they have joined in the chorus of welcome, and I can’t keep up with the requests for interviews and articles and appearances,” the archbishop told Barra.

That was Oct. 26.

A few days later, the archbishop published a column on his blog, The Gospel in the Digital Age. He said he had offered it first to The New York Times, but they declined it.

He told Barra in the interview with the Register: “As I’m...READ MORE

No wonder Planned Parenthood fights those who use ultrasound and 4-D imaging in its abortion businesses.

Abby Johnson, who had worked at the Planned Parenthood in Bryan, Texas, for the past eight years and had directed the Bryan business for the last two, resigned Oct. 6 after watching an ultrasound of an abortion procedure, reported the television station KBTX Nov. 1.

“I just thought, ‘I can’t do this anymore,’ and it was just like a flash that hit me, and I thought, ‘That’s it,’” said Johnson.

KBTX reported Johnson saying the economic downturn forced the Planned Parenthood franchise to change its focus from pushing contraception to promoting abortion.

Johnson now supports...READ MORE

The Vatican Oct. 31 clarified the issue of married Anglican clergy within the new structures to be set out in the forthcoming apostolic constitution.

In a lengthy statement, Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi relayed an explanation of the situation given by Cardinal William Levada, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

MIAMI — The Congregation of the Legionaries of Christ is “surprised and disappointed” that Archbishop John Favalora of Miami has decided to prohibit the order from functioning in the archdiocese, said a spokesman for the congregation.

Msgr. Michael Souckar, the archdiocesan chancellor, communicated to the local clergy Oct. 29 that members of the Legionaries of Christ are barred from any ministry in the archdiocese, effective immediately.

In a statement sent to Zenit late that day, Legionaries of Christ spokesman Jim Fair said the Legion will respect the decision: “We will be obedient to Archbishop Favalora’s directives. We also hope to gain a clearer understanding of his concerns...READ MORE

Not long after Nancy Pelosi unveiled the 1,990-page House health-care reform bill Oct. 29, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops issued an urgent call to arms.

The House bill, the Affordable Health Care for America Act, contains provisions for the public funding of abortions under a new health-care delivery and financing scheme in America. All Americans will pay for other people’s abortions, whether they are opposed to the practice or not.

Hours after Pelosi unveiled the legislation, the bishops conference sent bulletin inserts to almost 19,000 parishes across the country urging parishioners to lean on their elected representatives on this issue.

In particular, Pelosi, well known by now...READ MORE