TresSugar

70,000 Women a Year Die From Unsafe Abortions

TresSugar — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 15:00:00 -0700

After three years of research, the New York-based Guttmacher Institute has concluded that although contraceptive use has lowered the number of abortions worldwide, unsafe abortions still account for a staggering 70,000 deaths a year, particularly in the developing world. More than half the deaths are in sub-Saharan Africa, a region with the lowest rates of contraceptive use and the highest rates of unintended pregnancies.

"In much of the developing world," said the Institute's president Sharon Camp, "abortion remains highly restricted, and unsafe abortion is common and continues to damage women's health and threaten their survival."

The report calls for easing developing nations' abortion laws, citing that laws banning or restricting abortion don't keep it from happening, they just make abortion unsafe and either self-induced or performed by unskilled people in any unhygienic conditions.

The Guttmacher Institute's recommendations: expand access to family planning and modern contraceptives and to legal and safe abortion, and improve the coverage and quality of post-abortion care.

Their recommendations have been criticized by Deirdre McQuade, a policy director for the US Conference of Catholic Bishops' Secretariat for Pro-life Activities who also castigates priests or nuns who make referrals to family planning services, which she says veers from church policy. "We need to be much more creative in assisting women with supportive services," she said, "so they don't need to resort to the unnatural act of abortion."

Dominican Republic Bans Abortion, No Exceptions

TresSugar — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 09:00:00 -0700

As support for legal access to abortion in the US drops (with only 47 percent of Americans thinking it should be legal), the Dominican Republican has decided to go one better: they want to constitutionally ban the procedure altogether.

With support for the Catholic Church and the country's Catholic population, lawmakers recently ratified an amendment that makes it illegal for women to terminate pregnancy in all cases. Abortion is now constitutionally forbidden even if the mother or fetus's life is at risk. And there is no exception for incest or rape.

It is very taboo to discuss abortion in the Dominican Republic, but some bloggers are speaking out against the new amendment. One such blogger writes:

A string of hypocrisy, and those that think they voted for life, when a woman needs to abort because her life is in danger and they do not, THE WOMAN AND THE FETUS DIES. What ignorance! Death will now be 2 for 1 in the Dominican Republic.

Could you imagine something like this happening in the US?

Ireland Released Five Volumes on Abuses, But No Names

TresSugar — Thu, 21 May 2009 08:30:00 -0700

Ireland released an extensive report yesterday revealing that more than one thousand children were beaten, neglected, or raped at Catholic reform schools. The five-volume accounting took nine years to compile and covers six decades, but it doesn't include a single name of a priest, brother, or nun who abused children at the Catholic institutions. A religious order in question successfully sued the government in 2004 to keep the names secret. Thus, the perpetrators of rape and other physical, emotional, and sexual abuse are free from criminal prosecutions. Now victims say they've been cheated of justice.

While the victims feel vindicated by the inquiry, many maintain that they never would have opened their wounds if they knew it would result in zero criminal accountability. The report did offer over 20 ways the government could address the wrongs, including: building a monument, improving child protection services, and providing counseling to the victims. The Catholic Church in Ireland has also apologized.

Do you think the perpetrators should be brought to justice in the courts?

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Thousands March Against Looser Abortion Laws in Spain

CitizenSugar — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 06:00:44 -0700

Over 100,000 to 500,000 people (depending who you believe) marched in Spain Sunday to demonstrate against government laws that would increase access to abortion. As part of one protest, children danced while singing "Thank you mommy for letting me live."

Since 1985, when Spain decriminalized abortion, women can only receive abortions in special cases: up to 12 weeks into pregnancy in the case of rape; up to 22 weeks in the case of malformation of fetus; at any point if it represented a threat to physical or mental health of the woman. The Church greatly influenced these laws in the traditionally Catholic country.

Spain's current government wants to increase legal protections for abortion providers and seekers, while also allowing girls 16 or older to get an abortion without parental consent. Many doctors refuse abortion in Spain for ethical reasons or out of fear of legal prosecution.

In addition to impacting the lives of Spanish women, the outcome of this latest abortion battle will test the influence of the Catholic Church in Spain.

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Controversy Commences at Notre Dame Over Obama Speech

CitizenSugar — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 10:30:07 -0700

Newt Gingrich recently expressed his disapproval of Notre Dame's decision to host President Obama as the commencement speaker in less than 140 characters. He tweeted: "It is sad to see notre dame invite president obama to give the commencement address Since his policies are so anti catholic values."

Newt, the twice-divorced former speaker of the house who will become a Catholic this weekend, isn't the only person upset. Many at Notre Dame disapprove of Obama's stance on abortion and stem cell research. Others think the ceremony will turn into a circus and distract from the ceremony. Finally, some students and community members feel honored to host the president.

Are you surprised Obama's planned speech at Notre Dame is causing such a controversy?

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Using Protection: Vatican Defends Pope on Condoms

CitizenSugar — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 00:01:12 -0700

Earlier this week, Pope Benedict XVI took a controversial stance against condoms when it comes to AIDS prevention. World health experts and the French government have come out against the Pope's position, and German Catholic bishops are hinting at dissent. But, the Vatican is sticking to the Pope's belief that condoms make the AIDS problem worse.

Vatican spokesman Father Lombardi defended the Pope yesterday, saying condoms can lead to risky behavior. He also said Pope Benedict XVI was simply continuing the position of his predecessors that fidelity within heterosexual marriages and abstinence are the best ways to stop the disease.

Since the Pope maintains that AIDS cannot be overcome by the distribution of condoms, health workers in Africa fear that their progress will be stalled among the growing number of Catholics.

Adding some sense to the debate, one Catholic bishop in Germany clarified his own stance: "Anyone who has AIDS and is sexually active, anyone who seeks multiple partners, must protect others and themselves." Amen!

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Front Page: Pope Heads to Africa With Anti-Condom Message

CitizenSugar — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 07:49:59 -0700

Traveling to Africa for his first papal visit, Pope Benedict XVI maintained that condoms make the AIDS crisis worse. Instead he will advocate abstinence. - Telegraph
The rate of new home construction in the US unexpectedly jumped 22.2 percent last month. - AFP
International players are praising Pakistan's decision to peacefully resolve a political crisis by reinstating its Supreme Court justices.- Voice of America
Robert Gibbs hit back at Dick Cheney's claim that the Obama administration makes America less safe, by quipping that when Rush Limbaugh is busy, Republicans turn to Cheney. - USA Today
Gov. Sarah Palin will deliver the keynote address at the Senate-House GOP dinner in June. - Politico
Radio host Don Imus believes stress may have contributed to his prostate cancer diagnosis. - ABC News

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Archbishop Warns Against Worshipping Obama

CitizenSugar — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 10:30:06 -0800

While Americans hope President Obama's plans will be the savior the economy needs, a Catholic archbishop has warned against treating Obama like a savior. Archbishop Charles Chaput of Denver maintains that "in democracies, we elect public servants, not messiahs."

Speaking at a lecture in Canada, Chaput also shared his criticism of Obama's policy. He said:

Whatever his strengths, there’s no way to reinvent his record on abortion and related issues with rosy marketing about unity, hope, and change. Of course, that can change. Some things really do change when a person reaches the White House. Power ennobles some men. It diminishes others. Bad policy ideas can be improved. Good policy ideas can find a way to flourish. But as Catholics, we at least need to be honest with ourselves and each other about the political facts we start with.

The Archbishop delivered a hard message to American Catholics, telling them that they have been "absorbed and bleached and digested" by American culture. Do his words strike a cord with you?

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Catholic Church Offers Indulgences Once Again

LibertySugar — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 14:00:23 -0800

"Why are we bringing it back? Because there is sin in the world."

With that matter-of-fact answer one Catholic bishop in Brooklyn explained why the Church has decided to start peddling indulgences -or, get-out-of-purgatory ~~free~~ cards!

Technically believers haven't been able to purchase indulgences outright since 1857. But, you can exchange a charitable contribution and confession, or a combination of other acts for reduced time in purgatory. According to the Church, sinners must face punishment in purgatory before they make it to heaven.

Plenary indulgences, which erase all the time a sinner must spend in purgatory, only come around every so often. Right now they're being offered in conjunction with a yearlong celebration of St. Paul, and they're available for you, or someone you know (dead or alive).

So are Catholics lining up to participate in something as confusing as this? According to the New York Times, many are eager for the opportunity to "do something Catholic" in these modern times.

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Briefing Book! NBC Rejects Obama/Abortion Super Bowl Ad

LibertySugar — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 11:30:20 -0800

Abortion: NBC rejects Obama/aboriton ad that claims unwanted babies can grow up to be president, just like Obama. CatholicVote was ready to spend $1.5 million to air it during Super Bowl. - Jezebel
Technology: "I'm sorry for any incontinence." How spell check wreaks havoc. - Good
Japan: The cash-based society. - J-List Side Blog
Alaska: State braces for volcanic eruption. - Huffington Post
Condi Rice: Condi's back! ex-secretary of state returns to Stanford to teach politics. - SFist