News In Brief
SEATTLE — The Washington Supreme Court July 26 upheld the state’s law defining marriage as the union of a man and a woman, overturning two lower-court rulings that had called the law an unconstitutional discrimination against same-sex couples.
Archbishop Alex Brunett of
The ruling left
(CNS)
Cardinal George Undergoes Cancer Surgery
A notice from his medical team July 28 said, “Although the episode of postoperative bleeding represents a complication...it is not an unusual occurrence and is not expected to have a significant impact on Cardinal George’s recovery.” The notice was posted on the website of Loyola University Medical Center, where the surgery took place.
The second surgery, which began shortly before midnight, lasted two hours, the notice said. It said Dr. Robert Flanigan, who conducted the first surgery, also did the second with the assistance of Dr. Fred Luchette, chief of Loyola’s Surgical Intensive Care Unit. It said the decision to return to the operating room was prompted by signs of unstable blood pressure and a drop in blood count even though the cardinal had received blood transfusions.
After the bleeding was stopped, “the cardinal stabilized,” it said. “He tolerated the operation well and is resting comfortably this morning.”
Cardinal George, who is also vice president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, is 69 years old. In the first surgery doctors said they removed the cardinal’s entire bladder, his prostate gland and a portion of the right ureter, a tube from the right kidney to the bladder, to which the cancer had begun to spread.
(CNS)
Senate Passes Interstate Abortion Ban
WASHINGTON
— The U.S. Senate approved a bill July 25 that would make it a federal crime to
transport a minor girl across state lines for an abortion to circumvent the law
in her home state requiring parental notification or consent. A week earlier
Cardinal William Keeler of
The legislation, adopted by a 65-34 vote, would prohibit someone who is not the parent or guardian from taking a minor girl to another state for an abortion if her home state has a law that says a parent or guardian must be notified or give consent before a minor can obtain an abortion. Most states have such laws, although some have been blocked in court.
Although 14 Democrats joined the Republican majority in approving the Senate version, immediately after passage the Democratic caucus blocked the appointment of the necessary conference committee to reach a compromise on differences between the House and Senate bills. The National Right to Life Committee objected to the move, saying, “The Senate Democratic leadership is now obstructing legislation supported by 80% of the public, doing the bidding of the abortion lobby. They are ignoring the 80% of the public that believes parental notification laws protect vulnerable minors and the rights of parents.”
(CNS)
- Keywords:
- August 6-12, 2006