1. Pro-life Democrats stick with party, hope to expand numbers, Several face challengers during primary races, By Mica Soellner, The Washington Times, April 19, 2022, Pg. A4
Democrats who oppose abortion may be scarce today, but the few who are running for office on that platform are seeking to expand the number.
Pro-life Democrats running for state and federal office say their party needs to accept members who break with the majority on that issue if it wants to remain a big tent party.
“I’ve spent my life doing work in the Democratic Party. I have inherited a legacy that has helped build up this party. I’m not ready to just walk away and be pushed out of the party,” said Chris Butler, who is running for Illinois’ open 1st Congressional District seat.
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The number of pro-life Democrats declined significantly in just the past decade.
In 2009, 64 House Democrats with their GOP colleagues, helped pass an Affordable Care Act amendment that restricts federal funding for abortions or health insurance plans that covered abortions.
Today, only a handful of Democratic lawmakers hold that position.
Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas is the only Democrat who breaks with his party on the issue in the House. In the Senate, Joe Manchin III of West Virginia, Tim Kaine of Virginia, and Bob Casey of Pennsylvania have expressed pro-life views. Mr. Manchin, however, is the only Democratic senator who has carried his views on the issue into his voting record.
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Pro-abortion groups are going all-in to attack Mr. Cuellar in his primary race against challenger Jessica Cisneros, who lost to the congressman by just 2 percentage points in 2020.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2022/apr/18/pro-life-dems-stick-party-hope-expand-view/
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2. Cardinal Parolin discusses the future of Vatican diplomacy, By Andrea Gagliarducci, Catholic News Agency, April 19, 2022, 3:00 AM
When it comes to diplomacy, the Holy See cannot pick and choose which challenges are the most urgent. Rather, it must simply address whatever issues need to be faced, from the wars in Yemen and Ukraine to defending Western Christians from the threats posed by new laws.
That is what Cardinal Pietro Parolin said in the fifth and final part of his interview with CNA. The Vatican Secretary of State also spoke about the priorities of pontifical diplomacy and how it might look in the future.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/250987/cardinal-parolin-discusses-the-future-of-vatican-diplomacy
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3. Abortion training under threat for med students, residents, By Lindsey Tanner, Associated Press, April 18, 2022, 9:37 AM
Browse any medical dictionary, and before hitting appendectomy and anesthesia, you’ll find abortion.
The first two procedures are part of standard physician education. But for many U.S. medical school students and residents who want to learn about abortions, options are scarce.
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U.S. medical schools require students to complete a clerkship in obstetrics and gynecology, but there is no mandate that it include abortion education. At the post-graduate level, OB-GYN residency programs are required by an accrediting group to provide access to abortion training, though residents who object can opt out of performing abortions.
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Abortion rights supporters argue all physicians should know enough about the procedure to inform and counsel patients, and that such education should start in medical school.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/abortion-training-under-threat-for-med-students-residents/2022/04/18/bedd7f2e-bf1c-11ec-b5df-1fba61a66c75_story.html
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4. Hong Kong bishop ‘hopes’ for women’s ordination ‘one day’, By The Pillar, April 18, 2022
Hong Kong’s Bishop Stephen Chow expressed hope April 13 for the Catholic ordination of women, joining several European bishops who have expressed similar sentiments in recent years.
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The bishop’s appointment came after almost a year of deliberation over his candidacy. He was the third candidate to have received papal approval for the job, but the first to have been publicly announced; the previous two candidates were withdrawn over political concerns prior to public announcement.
Chow met with Pope Francis in March, as the Vatican gears up for a renewal of its controversial “pastoral” agreement with the People’s Republic of China.
https://www.pillarcatholic.com/p/hong-kong-bishop-hopes-for-womens?s=r
__________________________________________________________TCA Media Monitoring provides a snapshot from national newspapers and major Catholic press outlets of coverage regarding significant Catholic Church news and current issues with which the Catholic Church is traditionally or prominently engaged. The opinions and views expressed in the articles do not necessarily reflect the views of The Catholic Association. |
