Abortion Alternatives

DETROIT FREE PRESS, Jan. 7 — Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm has signed the Pregnant and Parenting Student Services Act.

The measure is designed to pay for university grants to set up clinics as alternatives to those offering information on abortion.

The program, which will serve students who are parents or pregnant, was the result of a five-year effort by Right to Life of Michigan and Feminists for Life.

Students will be able to get referrals for prenatal care, foster care, adoption and other services.

The offices won’t give referrals for abortions.

Adoption Ban Holds

THE WASHINGTON TIMES, Jan. 10 — The U.S. Supreme Court has rejected an appeal by four Florida men, leaving in place the state law banning homosexuals from adopting children.

Florida is the only state with a complete ban on adoption by a “homosexual person,” and not just by a single person or a cohabitating couple.

This makes the case especially significant, as the Supreme Court’s refusal opens the door for other states to enact similar legislation.

“It is rational to believe that children need male and female influences to develop optimally, particularly in the areas of sexual and gender identity and heterosexual role modeling,” Florida’s attorney, Casey Walker, wrote in his filing.

Her Baby First

THE PROVINCE, Jan. 10 — Gabriele Helms, 38, a Vancouver woman who created a support group for young breast-cancer survivors, gave birth to a baby girl just two days before succumbing to the disease.

Helms underwent chemotherapy and other treatments while pregnant, though this treatment — and all efforts to treat pain — were greatly mitigated by the presence of her unborn baby.

“She was in excruciating pain but she was still elated about her pregnancy,” said Ruth Kwok, a friend and fellow founder of the support group.

“In her obituary, it says she chose her daughter over herself. It was the number one priority in her life.”

Doctors told the Vancouver daily that they believed that Helms was aware that she delivered the child.

Pro-Life Wristbands

ST. LOUIS REVIEW, Jan. 13 — Jeff Geerling, a seminarian at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary, and his sister, Maria Geerling, have seized on the current wristband craze to promote the pro-life message and help to raise funds for the local pro-life movement through a number of organizations.

The bands are royal blue in honor of the Blessed Mother and bears the word “PROLIFE.” 

The two placed an initial order of several thousand bands, paying for them out of their own pockets. They quickly sold out for $1 each.

For more information, contact: prolifewristbands@mac.com, or by calling (314) 792-7555.