Lest any of us Americans start feel smug about the fact that it’s only those evil Chinese who coerce abortions in their country, we have this story:

Texas Parents Stopped From Forcing Teenage Daughter to Have Abortion

On two occasions, the teenager’s mother literally dragged her to local abortion facilities, including International Healthcare Solutions and Planned Parenthood of the Texas Capital Region, demanding that her daughter take the live of her unborn child.

Though she refused and the child’s father also does not want the baby killed, her parents continued to insist that they will force her to have the abortion. The court’s order prevents that from happening.

“No one should be...READ MORE

Here’s a story you might not have the stomach to listen to or read all the way through.

But I think it’s important to. These are the consequences we suffer when we allow our fellow human beings in other countries to suffer under inhumane rules of law. A Chinese couple shares a heart-rending story of being forced to abort their second child when the mother was 8-months pregnant.

After running afoul of China’s One Child policy, a Chinese couple expected to be hit with a fine. But instead, officials demanded that the woman — who was in the eighth month of her pregnancy — have an abortion, according to a new Al Jazeera report.

In telling the couple’s story, Al Jazeera reporter Melissa Chan...READ MORE

Think only your real life friends and family check out your Twitter updates or your Facebook page? Think again.

Uncle Sam is reading too.

You know, just in case you, or those cute shoes you just tweeted about, become a threat to national security.

A privacy watchdog has uncovered a government memo that encourages federal agents to befriend people on a variety of social networks, to take advantage of their readiness to share—and to spy on them. In response to a Freedom of Information request, the government released a handful of documents, including a May 2008 memo detailing how social-networking sites are exploited by the Office of Fraud Detection and National Security (FDNS).

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How much time did you spend glued to your television or computer screens yesterday? How many of you were moved as you watched person after grateful person brought into the light and reunited with family and loved ones?

I will admit to spending my fair share of time watching the news story of the Chilean miners, and wiping away a tear or two.

I especially loved Deacon Greg Kandra’s brief reflection on the miners’ story yesterday.

For over two months, they lived in a tomb, among rocks and rosaries. They prayed in darkness, waiting for light they could only remember, fleetingly, from last summer.  And yet, they dared to believe.  They sent a flag to the pope, and letters to loved ones, and...READ MORE

Fathers for Good recently ran a thoughtful interview on an important topic—men who are divorced against their will and denied the right to be a father to their children.

The anonymous interviewee is a dad who was divorced against his will and who now finds himself fighting for the right to play an active role in his children’s lives. To other dads facing similar challenges, he offers this advice:

Do not be intimidated by anyone. Believe in yourself and how important your role of father is to your children. Don’t let anyone take that away from them. Family court is not a father friendly place. You will be treated poorly. You must not let it get to you. You must show the judge, lawyers and...READ MORE

A few weeks ago, when I heard that reporter Ines Sainz complained of being harassed in the NY Jets’ locker room, my first reaction was: Why on earth was she in there??

Apparently, I am not the only female to think such “sexist” thoughts:

Female reporters should be barred from National Football League locker rooms, according to a majority of women surveyed in a Seton Hall University poll.

The telephone poll conducted this week among 1,026 randomly selected adults nationwide found 59 percent of 556 women and 47 percent of 470 men said female reporters should be banned from NFL locker rooms. Thirty-four percent of the respondents said all reporters should be banned. The poll has a margin of...READ MORE

I must say, I was disturbed by this recent Salon column by Nathan Hegedus:

I Will Put My Little Boy in Pink Pants

In it, Hegedus discusses the significance and importance of putting “feminine” clothes on his young son and reflects on the meaning of his own reluctance to do so.

I can understand being challenged in the laundry department. I can understand wanting to save money on clothing and thus re-using “girlish” clothes from an older sister. But Hegedus’ motivation to put his son in pink is not a practical one at all. In his mind, the importance of putting pink pants on his son is both social and political:

The stereotypes run both ways—feminine may be perceived as weak and passive,...READ MORE

Now that we’ve turned the calendar page to October, it’s time for families to start planning seasonal celebrations—and approaching them with caution.

This happens to be the time of year for many people’s favorite excuse to dress up in immodest clothing: Halloween.

Marcel leJeune is taking this annual problem head on at his blog with his post What Happened to Halloween?

He offers some good tips for those seeking to celebrate the Halloween in a family-friendly way, without sex or gore:

—Wear an appropriate costume if you dress up. Nothing “sexy” and nothing having to do with the occult. Make it fun or creative.
—Learn the truth behind Halloween and share it with others.
—Don’t forget to...READ MORE