1. The Justices Take Up Abortion, The result in the Mississippi case is hard to predict., By The Wall Street Journal, May 19, 2021, Pg. A14, Editorial
So much for ducking the hard cases. Not long after taking up a contentious New York gun-rights case, the Supreme Court on Monday agreed to hear what could become a landmark case on abortion rights.
Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization concerns Mississippi’s 2018 law that, with rare exceptions, barred abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy. Lower courts overturned the law as a violation of the Supreme Court’s precedents, notably the 1992 Planned Parenthood v. Casey ruling that said state laws cannot impose an “undue burden” on the right to abortion.
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The question is whether the current Court, bolstered by new Justices Amy Coney Barrett and Brett Kavanaugh, is ready to narrow Casey or even overturn it and Roe v. Wade. The left is already predicting the latter, in apocalyptic terms, but it always does.
This is hardly a foregone result.
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The Court finds itself in this thicket because it usurped the laws of all 50 states with Roe in 1973. Abortion politics has roiled the country and the Court ever since, and the public lobbying and threats before the Justices hear the case next fall will be fierce. Vows of Court-packing are sure to return. We hope the Justices ignore the politics and follow the Constitution, which is what they take an oath to do.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-justices-take-up-abortion-11621376923?
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2. Justice dismiss challenges to ‘gag rule’, By Alex Swoyer, The Washington Times, May 19, 2021, Pg. A2
The Supreme Court has dismissed a group of cases challenging the Trump administration’s “gag rule,” which banned clinics that receive government funds for family planning services from referring women to abortion providers.
The Biden administration plans to roll back that rule before the matter would be resolved during the court’s next term — which begins in October — so the justices dismissed the cases.
Acting Solicitor General Elizabeth B. Prelogar urged the dismissal, saying the administration would be doing away with the mandate forbidding clinics from abortion referrals.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/may/18/supreme-court-dismisses-challenges-donald-trumps-f/
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3. Cardinal Parolin: Vatican wants to ‘do everything possible’ to end Israel-Gaza conflict, By Courtney Mares, Catholic News Agency, May 19, 2021, 5:00 AM
The Vatican Secretary of State said Tuesday that the Holy See is committed to doing everything it can to help end the Israel-Gaza conflict.
“This conflict is bringing destruction and death,” Cardinal Pietro Parolin told journalists in Rome May 18.
Parolin said that the Holy See is concerned that international efforts to reach a cease-fire have not been successful and that the Vatican wishes to “do everything possible to stop the conflict.”
He added that he does not see the Holy See as acting as a “mediator, in the technical sense of the word,” under the current conditions, stressing the importance of direct negotiations.
“It’s necessary that any action, any initiative of goodwill, must lead to a cease-fire. Direct negotiations must be taken up again between the two sides, in such a way that puts an end to this age-old conflict and reaches a solution,” he said.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/247707/cardinal-parolin-vatican-wants-to-do-everything-possible-to-end-israel-gaza-conflict
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4. ‘Roe v. Wade’ can finally be overturned. The court shouldn’t hesitate, By
Henry Olsen, The Wahington Post, May 19, 2021, Pg. A21, Opinion
The Supreme Court’s decision to review the constitutionality of Mississippi’s ban on almost all abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy will likely be a watershed in the nearly 50-year battle over Roe v. Wade. The court should ignore the inevitable whirlwind of elite opinion and do its constitutional duty: uphold the law and overturn Roe.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/05/18/supreme-court-can-finally-overturn-roe-v-wade-it-should-do-it/
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5. Groups ask judge to block Indiana ‘abortion reversal’ law, By Tom Davies, Associated Press, May 18, 2021, 4:25 PM
Abortion rights groups asked a federal judge on Tuesday to block a new Indiana law that would require doctors to tell women undergoing drug-induced abortions about a disputed treatment for potentially stopping the abortion process.
The lawsuit filed with the U.S. District Court in Indianapolis argues that the requirement would confuse patients and increase the stigma associated with obtaining an abortion, while also forcing doctors to give what they regard as dubious medical information. The groups want a judge to block the new so-called “abortion reversal” law from taking effect as scheduled in July.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/groups-ask-judge-to-block-indiana-abortion-reversal-law/2021/05/18/2f962ff8-b817-11eb-bc4a-62849cf6cca9_story.html
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6. Despite protests from senators, Planned Parenthood affiliates still received PPP loans in 2021, By Kate Scanlon, Catholic News Agency, May 18, 2021, 1:00 PM
Planned Parenthood affiliates have continued to be approved for emergency small business loans in 2021, despite protests by senators who say they should be ineligible for the loans.
The office of Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) said last week that it had once again sought an explanation from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) as to why Planned Parenthood affiliates were continuing to receive loans under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The program was set up under the CARES Act to provide forgivable loans to small businesses and eligible non-profits to help with payroll and day-to-day costs during the pandemic.
Paul, the ranking member of the Senate Small Business Committee, said that Planned Parenthood affiliates unlawfully received funds through the program, and his Republican colleagues on the committee joined him in expressing their displeasure.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/247697/despite-protests-from-senators-planned-parenthood-affiliates-still-received-ppp-loans-in-2021
___________________________________________________________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. |
