Mandatory No More

BGNEWS.COM, March 14 — Because of growing student opposition, abortion has been dropped as a procedure that must be included in Bowling Green State University’s voluntary medical insurance for students, reported the website of an alternate student newspaper.

The news was “absolutely” unexpected, said Mike Woodall, the coordinator of the loose coalition of groups that had collected more than 300 signatures in support of changing the policy.

Optional insurance coverage for elective abortion “was one of the things we wanted, and they told us it was impossible,” Woodall said. “We had no idea.”

The Ohio University’s Health Services Advisory Committee had recommended the insurance package make abortion coverage mandatory.

Victory Plated

NYCHOOSE-LIFE.COM, March 9 — The Second Circuit Court of Appeals has dismissed New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer’s second attempt to ban the phrase “Choose Life” from a pro-adoption specialty license plate.

His first defeat occurred in 2005 when a federal judge ruled that the Children First Foundation (CFF) had sufficiently alleged constitutional violations involving freedom of speech and equal protection under the law.

A trial date was postponed when the state appealed the federal court ruling to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, which has now ruled in CFF’s favor.

Life at Conception

WORLDNETDAILY, March 7 — Citizens have proposed an amendment to Michigan’s constitution establishing that a person exists at the moment of conception. If passed, the amendment will grant all unborn children the constitutional rights of due process and equal protection.

Michigan Chooses Life, a newly formed interdenominational group of prominent Michigan pastors, is supporting the petition drive.

Richard Thompson, president and chief counsel of the Thomas More Law Center, said the petition drive is “important if we are to insure that Michigan becomes a pro-life state after Roe v. Wade is overturned.”

Hospitals Defended

NEWSDAY, March 10 — In a state dominated by pro-abortion politicians, one health official has taken a courageous stand.

James Papillo, Connecticut’s state victims’ advocate, said he opposes a bill in the state legislature that would force Catholic hospitals to provide the morning-after pill to rape victims in violation of Church teaching.

He told the Public Health Committee that the bill is “a solution in search of a problem,” saying rape victims “are not being denied services.”

Connecticut Lt. Gov. Kevin Sullivan has called for Papillo to resign, an idea that he has rejected.