War of Words in Opera Review

NEWSMAX.COM, March 4 — An opera reviewer writing for the Los Angeles Times voiced his displeasure after the paper changed the words “pro-life” to “anti-abortion” in his review.

Critic Mark Swed's review of the Richard Strauss opera Die Frau Ohne Schatten described the piece as “an incomparably glorious and goofy pro-life paean.” The paper changed the phrase to “anti-abortion paean.” “It's about children who aren't born yet screaming to be born — not abortion,” Swed said. “Somebody who didn't quite get it got a little bit too politically correct … and we had a little breakdown in communications.”

Not All Swiss Tourists Welcome

SWISSINFO, Feb. 27 — A public prosecutor in Zurich, Switzerland, is seeking to ban organizations from offering assisted suicide to foreigners.

“Tourists” have been visiting the city in increasing numbers in order to die. In 2000 only three non-Swiss residents made the trip; last year 91 did.

Andreas Brunner said he wants to put an end to the practice, which has earned the country unwanted notoriety, according to the news service. He plans to introduce legislation to the government this spring.

Terri's Fight Continues

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, March 5 — Bob and Mary Schindler, parents of brain-damaged Terri Schiavo, got a break March 4 that will allow them to intervene in the court battle over the removal of their daughter's feeding tube.

Circuit Court Judge W. Douglas Baird had denied the couple's motion to intervene in the legal battle over Terri's Law, which was passed in October with the help of Gov. Jeb Bush to prevent the removal of Terri's feeding tube. Schiavo's husband, Michael Schiavo, sued Bush, arguing the law is unconstitutional.

Michael Schiavo has sought for years to remove his wife's feeding tube.

An appeals court judge ruled Baird didn't follow proper judicial rules when he denied the Schindlers' motion, granting them a new hearing. The Schindlers have repeatedly doubted their daughter had any end-of-life wishes and believe her condition could be improved with therapy.

Pro-Life Advances in Iowa

WATERLOO-CEDAR FALLS (Iowa) COURIER, March 5 — An unborn victims of violence bill was saved from extinction March 4 by an Iowa Senate committee.

The state's Unborn Victims of Violence Act would level tougher penalties than are currently in place against an offender who kills or injures an unborn baby.

Any bills not passed by Senate or House committees by the end of the March 4 deadline would have been considered dead for the current session. The committee approved the bill before the deadline.

Also before deadline, the House Trans portation Committee approved a bill that would allow for “Choose Life” license plates.