A few months ago, we looked at stories about Angie Jackson, the woman who video taped herself having an abortion. Now we have stories coming out of Iowa about Planned Parenthood’s initiative to dispense an abortion drug after a video conference.
Catholic canon fodder
The story of a Catholic woman religious who was disciplined for authorizing an abortion has been percolating for a few weeks. It’s a very sad story and my heart goes out to all involved.
Does Time need to say, 'We're sorry'?
Guilt is a heavy burden sometimes. Every now and then, I tear a long article out of a mainstream magazine or journal that clearly deserves comment and put it in the front pocket of the shoulder bag that I carry while commuting. The longer and more complex the article — or the more horrible its contents — the more likely it is to linger in the bag, caught in layers of guilt that get harder and harder to crack.
Helen Thomas undone
Thomas, who covered every president since the second Adams, was undone when the above footage surfaced online of Thomas telling the Jews to “get the hell out of Palestine” and go back to “Poland, Germany … and America and everywhere else.”
Celibacy, NPR and Journalism 101
I’m no expert on the issue of celibacy and Catholic priests. Fortunately, I don’t need to be to critique an NPR Morning Edition report headlined “Letter From Priests’ Lovers Reignites Celibacy Debate.” A Journalism 101 student could handle this post.
Down and flirty in South Carolina
Year after year, election after election, South Carolina politics delivers the goods — if you like watching a combination of mud wrestling and demolition auto racing.
Inventing homophobic bogeymen
A couple of weeks ago, The Observer (U.K.) ran a brief editorial arguing that the Anglican Church “must not be complicit in gay persecution in Africa.” The editorial began with the doctrinal statement “Homosexuality is not a sin or a crime.” Normally we don’t concern ourselves too much with the house editorials but this one is different.
Jefferts Schori (quietly) goes Pentecostal
What can one say about the Pentecostal slap-fest that is currently going on between Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams and his counterpart here in the United States (his counterpart in every form of Anglican power that is meaningful, these days) Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori?
Still just a clump of cells?
This story that ran in the New York Times late last month is headlined “In Ultrasound, Abortion Fight Has New Front.” The inclusion of the word “fight” made me think the story might include perspectives from those who support abortion as well as those who don’t. And I guess, technically, the story did. To get that other perspective, it helps to not blink while you’re reading toward the end of the piece. But all of the drama, the meat and personal stories come from one side.
