N. J. Abstinence-First Bill

NEW JERSEY STAR-LEDGER, Dec. 18 — The 15-year battle over how sex education is taught in New Jersey's public schools moved close to an end when the state Senate voted to require teachers to stress abstinence “as the only completely reliable means” of preventing pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, reported the Star-Ledger.

The bill passed by a 25-11 vote and needs only acting Gov. Donald T. DiFrancesco's signature to become law. A DiFrancesco spokeswoman declined to say whether he would sign it before he leaves office Jan. 8. But he voted for the bill in his role as a senator from Union County.

Pro-Life Sign Permitted

THOMAS MORE LAW CENTER, Dec. 15 — Thomas More Law Center, located in Ann Arbor, Mich., has won the first round of a pro-life lawsuit on behalf of Ann Norton, a pro-life activist.

Federal Judge David W. McKeague signed an order temporarily restraining Michigan's attorney general and several other state law enforcement agents from using a state statute to prevent Norton from displaying a sign depicting the image of an aborted child in front of a Kalamazoo Planned Parenthood facility.

Planned Parenthood Cut Off

ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS, Dec. 15 — Planned Parenthood isn't going to get any more money from the state of Colorado.

The state health department announced it's going to cut off this year's $381,956 of taxpayer funds to Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains because an audit of the nonprofit organization found it is subsidizing rent for the separate Planned Parenthood arm that performs abortions.

Stem Cell Transplants

ANANOVA, Dec. 12 — Researchers have found a type of adult stem cell that could repair damaged organs without any chance of being rejected by a patient's immune system. The mesenchymal stem cells, or MSCs, don't carry markers on their surfaces that lead to rejection.

If MSCs live up to their promise there may be no need for the controversial harvesting of embryonic stem cells.

European Youth Alliance Declares Respect for Life

LIFESITE DAILY NEWS, Dec. 12 — Nearly two hundred young leaders representing nine countries gathered for a World Youth Alliance conference. They released a statement Dec. 1, called the Bratislava Youth Declaration, which said in part: “We call upon the governments and citizens of Europe to reaffirm the recognition … of the inherent dignity and inalienable rights of all, including the inviolable right to life, as the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in Europe.”