Prolife Victories

U.N. Bans Cloning

THE SCIENTIST, Feb. 21 — The United Nations has called on member states to adopt legislation outlawing all cloning practices as “incompatible with human dignity and the protection of human life.”

The declaration, introduced by Honduras, also calls on countries to “prevent the exploitation of women” because cloning requires harvesting eggs from women.

The declaration has an immediate effect in that it sets an international standard and sends a clear signal to countries that encourage the practice. The United Kingdom, in particular, has issued two “licenses” for research cloning.


Prophetic Warning

WORLDNETDAILY, Feb. 17 — Philadelphia Judge Pamela Dembe cited First Amendment rights as she dismissed charges against four Christians who were arrested quoting the Bible on a public street during Outfest, a celebration of homosexual behavior, last October.

The charges grew out of Pennsylvania’s Ethnic Intimidation Law, a “hate crime” law that was amended in 2003 to cover “sexual orientation.”

Pro-family leaders warned that the change could be used against Christians to suppress freedom of speech, religion and assembly. As one said earlier this month, “Their fears came to life last October.”


Waiting for a Roe Reversal

ABERDEEN AMERICAN NEWS, Feb. 15 — Anticipating challenges in the courts, the South Dakota House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a measure making abortion a crime should the Supreme Court overturn Roe v. Wade.

The measure avoids damaging the pro-life movement by removing the possibility that such a law could be struck down because it does not conform to Roe, the 1973 Supreme Court ruling that legalized abortion nationally. Approval by the Senate is likely.

Pro-Life Consistency

ARKANSAS NEWS BUREAU, Feb. 16 — Girls younger than 18 must get a parent’s or guardian’s consent to obtain an abortion, except in medical emergencies or abuse cases, according to measures passed by both houses of the Arkansas Legislature.

The Senate also passed a bill to bar executions for crimes committed by people younger than 18.

“We’ve decided that someone who’s not 18 yet is not developed enough to make a decision when they commit a crime. If that’s true, then a minor is not capable of making a decision alone about abortion, either,” said Sen. Jack Critcher, a Democrat.


Pro-Life Poland

REUTERS, Feb. 16 — The Polish Parliament deferred debate on legislation that would have permitted abortion on demand for the first 12 weeks of pregnancy as the ruling ex-communist Democratic Left Alliance decided that changing the law might not be what the public wants.

Abortion was made illegal in 1993 after the collapse of communism. Currently, Poland allows abortions — about 200 per year — in cases of rape and where the mother’s health is at risk.

This is far fewer than the 100,000 abortions performed annually under communism.