Personally Opposed, but…

Catholic World News ^ | December 2003 | Diogenes

[Land of the Irish]

Who was the first prominent American Catholic to announce that he could not impose his views on other citizens? (Hint: He wasn't a professional politican.)

By Diogenes

Dec 2003 (CWR) - What do you call a Catholic who says that he is "personally opposed" to some form of immoral behavior, but refuses to take action against it?

Under some circumstances, you call him Your Eminence.

For years I have been bewildered by the public statements of Catholic politicians who claim to be "personally opposed" to legal abortion, or physician-assisted suicide, or same-sex marriage, but nevertheless vote in favor of these policies. From a strictly logical perspective, their position is incoherent.

"You can't legislate morality!" the slick politicians tell us. But of course we can legislate morality; we do it all the time. Our laws against murder, slavery, and fraud are based on moral judgments.

Granted, it may be imprudent for a secular society to legislate matters of sectarian religious interest, such as dietary laws or Sabbath observance. But the "personally opposed" argument is always raised with regard to issues of fundamental moral law, which transcend sectarian differences.

Christians oppose abortion not because of some peculiar ritual or mystical rule, but they say that abortion involves the taking of a human life. This is a statement of fact, not of religious belief. It is either true or untrue. A politician who thinks the statement untrue would have no compelling reason even to be "personally" opposed to abortion. (He would find it difficult to defend his own position on a scientific basis, but that is another matter.) A legislator who recognizes that abortion is a form of killing should also recognize his obligation to curb the bloodshed. A purely "personal" opposition is morally indefensible. Yet Catholic politicians persist in trotting out these same lame arguments.

Several weeks ago, I began a quest to trace the lineage of these specious arguments, and try to determine who was responsible for introducing this line of (il)logic. My search took me back beyond Mario Cuomo, beyond Ted Kennedy, to Richard Cushing—also known as Cardinal Cushing, the Archbishop of Boston.

THE YEAR: 1965

Early in the summer of 1965, the Massachusetts legislature took up a proposal to repeal the state's Birth Control law, which barred the use of contraceptives. (As a matter of historical interest, the repeal effort was sponsored by a young state representative named Michael Dukakis, who would be the Democratic Party's candidate for the US presidency 23 years later.) In a state where Catholics constituted a voting majority, and dominated the legislature, the prospects for repeal appeared remote. Then on June 22, Cardinal Cushing appeared on a local radio program, "An Afternoon with Haywood Vincent,” and effectively scuttled the opposition.

Cardinal Cushing announced:

My position in this matter is that birth control in accordance with artificial means is immoral, and not permissible. But this is Catholic teaching. I am also convinced that I should not impose my position—moral beliefs or religious beliefs—upon those of other faiths.

Warming to the subject, the cardinal told his radio audience that "I could not in conscience approve the legislation" that had been proposed. However, he quickly added, "I will make no effort to impose my opinion upon others."

So there it was: the "personally opposed" argument, in fully developed form, enunciated by a Prince of the Church nearly 40 years ago! Notice how the unvarying teaching of the Catholic Church, which condemned artificial contraception as an offense against natural law, is reduced here to a matter of the cardinal's personal belief. And notice how he makes no effort to persuade legislators with the force of his arguments; any such effort is condemned in advance as a bid to "impose" his opinion.

Cardinal Cushing conceded that in the past, Catholic leaders had opposed any effort to alter the Birth Control law. "But my thinking has changed on that matter," he reported, "for the simple reason that I do not see where I have an obligation to impose my religious beliefs on people who just do not accept the same faith as I do."

(Notice that the Catholic position is reduced still further here, to a matter of purely sectarian belief—as if it would be impossible for a non-Catholic to support the purpose of the Birth Control law. The cardinal did not explain why that law was enacted in 1899 by the heirs of the Puritans in Massachusetts, long before Catholics came to power in the legislature.)

Before the end of his fateful radio broadcast, Cardinal Cushing gave his advice to the Catholic members of the Massachusetts legislature: "If your constituents want this legislation, vote for it. You represent them. You don't represent the Catholic Church."

Dozens of Catholic legislators did vote for the bill, and the Birth Control law was abolished. Perhaps more important in the long run, the "personally opposed" politician had his rationale.

[Land of the Irish]

Ping

[GoBucks2002]

From what I've heard, he is also the genius behind the original cover-ups of sexually abusive priests-- at least in Boston.

[nickcarraway]

I wonder who would need to withhold their name from this article?

[SausageDog]

What you're talking about here is a common phenomenon, and not just among Catholics. For example, Mr. Bush also is personally opposed to abortion (except in case of rape, incest, or life of the mother). However, Mr. Bush will do nothing to make it illegal.

[DBeers]

However, Mr. Bush will do nothing to make it illegal.

Considering President Bush is Executive and not Legislature there is little he can do directly. Indirectly, by Executive Order he has eliminated abortion funding nationally and internationally. As such, your statement would appear semantically correct but realistically false...

[Piers-the-Ploughman]

Pres. Bush could use more of the "bully pulpit" of the presidency to educate Americans and make a good case for Christian moral law. He perceives the Ba'ath Party of Iraq to be deserving of more attention and political capital as well as various economic initiatives. I think the president is a better man than many other republican politicians but he does not engage America much on these moral subjects. I do think he has tried on judicial appointments to give traditional Christians their influence and for that reason I voted for him.

[SausageDog]

"Considering President Bush is Executive and not Legislature there is little he can do directly."

Except, of course, propose legislation to make it illegal, which he hasn't. Also, he could order federal law enforcement agencies not to enforce Supreme Court decisions legalizing abortion. Also, he could get rid of RU-486, the abortion pill. The pill was legalized by the FDA in the closing years of the Clinton administration. The officials who legalized it are still in place. Bush could replace them.

"Indirectly, by Executive Order he has eliminated abortion funding nationally and internationally."

No, he has increased it. 1) President Bush is funding surgical abortions via Medicaid (Title XIX)
in the HHS Appropriations bills: [see http://thomas.loc.gov]
- Check out HR 3061 for FY 2002, signed by President Bush (PL 107-116) on Jan. 10, 2002
- Check out HR 2673 for FY 2004, signed by President Bush (PL 108-109) on Jan. 23, 2004

2) President Bush is funding chemical abortions via Medicaid (Title XIX)and the Title X birth/population control and Planned Parenthood funding program: [see http://thomas.loc.gov]
- Check out HR 3061 for FY 2002, signed by President Bush (PL 107-116) on 1/10/2002
- Check out HR 2673 for FY 2004, signed by President Bush (PL 108-109) on 1/23/2004

3) President Bush is funding the nation's largest perpetrators of child-murder-by-abortion, Planned Parenthood (report murdering over 200,000 unborn children annually by surgical abortion alone), through both Medicaid (Title XIX) and Title X, with OVER $50 MILLION
per year through each program: [see http://thomas.loc.gov]
- Included in HR 3061 for FY 2002, signed by President Bush (PL 107-116) on 1/10/2002
- Included in HR 2673 for FY 2004, signed by President Bush (PL 108-109) on 1/23/2004

4) President Bush has INCREASED the Title X funding levels OVER $26,000,000 MORE THAN THE LAST CLINTON BUDGET:
- The Title X funding level for FY 2001, the last Clinton-influenced budget, was a total of $254 MILLION, of which over $58 MILLION went to Planned Parenthood
- In FY 2002, George W. Bush's first full budget year, the Title X birth/population control and Planned Parenthood funding authorization INCREASED OVER 11,000,000, to $265 MILLION (HR 3061 for FY 2002, signed by President Bush on 1/10/2002)
- In FY 2004, George W. Bush's most recently completed full budget year, the Title X
birth/population control and Planned Parenthood funding authorization INCREASED EVEN MORE to $280 MILLION, OVER $26,000,000 ($26 MILLION) MORE THAN BILL CLINTON'S LAST BUDGET YEAR ! (HR 2673 for FY 2004, signed by
President Bush on 1/23/2004)

[Mark in the Old South]

Re: "Considering President Bush is Executive and not Legislature there is little he can do directly."

Not true there are examples of Presidents who ignored SCOTUS rulings, Jackson, Lincoln, Roosevelt, Eisenhower, Johnson. Remember it takes the Executive branch to enforce the ruling on a state that outlaws abortion.

And if you do not like the above method, I myself am not comfortable with it, there are other ways. Presidents generally initiate the spending bills. Cut back their staffing and hold down their cost of living pay increases. There is no way the Court would have even attempted this if they thought there would be a credible move to impeach. This is the primary reason I believe the President and leaders of Congress where okay with Roe v Wade before it happened.

Cut the funds and they will get in line or cry like a little brat who had their lollipop taken away. Most likely both but there would be little sympathy in the public.

[Campion]

"Diogenes" is the pseudonym for the inside back cover commentary in every issue of Catholic World Report. It's usually really pithy, and sometimes hilarious.

[DBeers]

Not true there are examples of Presidents who ignored SCOTUS rulings, Jackson, Lincoln, Roosevelt, Eisenhower, Johnson. Remember it takes the Executive branch to enforce the ruling on a state that outlaws abortion.

Yes, I am aware of this and was hoping that the Lawrence ruling would be pounced upon by the Executive or Legislative Branch. Even though the Executive can indirectly circumvent the courts it is the Legislature that is the one being neutered by judicial activism and the Legislature needs to step up to the plate...

[Mark in the Old South]

Re: " the Legislature needs to step up to the plate..."

Amen, and for more things than Roe. They are a little late doncha think? If the POTUS and the COTUS had fixed their little RED wagon in 73 there would be a whole lot less needing repair today. But then if you like to tin foil hat look one might be tempted to think undermining our Republic was the goal.

[Mark in the Old South]

I though Mr Silverback might like a look at your information. As one who remains undecided about W on this issue your information is helpful just as his was last week even if he is rude and unable to abide any differing opinion.

[Mr. Silverback]

I though Mr Silverback might like a look at your information. As one who remains undecided about W on this issue your information is helpful just as his was last week even if he is rude and unable to abide any differing opinion.

Will I be considered rude if I post these quotes from the ACTUAL TEXT of HR 3061, which SausageDog claims provides increased funding for abortion?

Provided further, That amounts provided to said projects under such title shall not be expended for abortions, that all pregnancy counseling shall be nondirective, and that such amounts shall not be expended for any activity (including the publication or distribution of literature) that in any way tends to promote public support or opposition to any legislative proposal or candidate for public office

Sec. 508. (a) <<NOTE: Abortion.>> None of the funds appropriated under this Act, and none of the funds in any trust fund to which funds are appropriated under this Act, shall be expended for any abortion.

So I doubt the validity of the other assertions presented. I welcome differing opinion, but if you voice it, you should have the facts to back it up.

We live in a nation which 1.5 million of its own kids per year. If you want to believe George W. Bush or the GOP are the source of the problem, go ahead, but you won't be right.

[SausageDog]

Mr. Bush is not the source of it. Mr. Bush will merely ensure that it continues.

[Mr. Silverback]

Mr. Bush is not the source of it. Mr. Bush will merely ensure that it continues.

1. No admission that your data wasn't supporting your conclusion? Hmmmmmm.....

2. Perhaps "source" was a poor choice of word, and as I writer I have no excuse for that.

3. However, my point is valid. The obsession some pro-lifers have with proving the President wants us to kill a lot of babies is silly to begin with given the massive cultural problems that abortion is a symptom of. It is further silly because the only way it could be true is if the man is suffering from multiple personality disorder. Notice I said "suffering form MPD," not "a liar." A mere liar would be much easier to explain. Check this list out, which was composed by Planned Parenthood as proof of Dubya's "War Against Women." Mark In The Old South has poo-poohed it, claiming that it signifies nothing, but I would like you to justify to me how someone can have a hand in all these things and be said to be "ensuring" that abortion on demand continues. I continue to maintain what is true: Questioning Bush's pro-life cred is like giving Bill Clinton a Husband of the Year Award because he didn't cheat on Hillary during those two weeks in the ICU.

REDUCING ACCESS TO FAMILY PLANNING

• Anti-choice governor Tommy Thompson selected as Secretary of Health and Human Services (December 29, 2000).
• On his first day in office, the 28th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the president restores the Reagan-era global gag rule on international family planning assistance (January 22, 2001).
• The president closes the White House Office for Women's Initiatives and Outreach (March 29, 2001).
• Contraceptive coverage for federal employees striped by the president from his first federal budget (April 9, 2001).
• The president floats possibility of nominating John Klink - an ardent opponent of birth control and spokesperson for the Vatican in it's opposition to condom use - to oversee the U.S. Global population program (May 23, 2001).
• "Abstinence-only" proponent Patricia Funderburk Ware named the head the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS (PACHA) (November 30, 2001).
• House passes the "Child Custody Protection Act," which would make it a federal crime to transport a minor across state lines for an abortion unless the parental involvement requirements of her home state have been met (April 17, 2002).
• U.S. delegation to the U.N. Children's Summit, led by HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson, fights sexuality education and opposes condoms for HIV/AIDS prevention (May 2002).
• Louise Oliver, former president of the pro-life Harvard Law School's Society for Law, Life, and Religion appointed special assistant to the U.S. State Department Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (July 2002).
• The president withholds $34 million in funding for birth control, maternal and child care, and HIV/AIDS prevention from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) (July 22, 2002).
• House passes abortion ban legislation H.R. 4965 (July 24, 2002).
• Announcement made by administration that approximately $900,000 available for financial assistance and applications for embryo "adoption" (July 25, 2002).
• The U.S. Department of Justice does an about-face and withdraws support for women's rights treaty, maintaining U.S. as only industrialized nation not to ratify the Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) (July 26, 2002).
• Anti-condom "abstinence-only" proponent Dr. Freda McKissic named to the CDC Advisory Committee on HIV and STD Prevention (September 6, 2002).
• House passes the so-called "Abortion Non-Discrimination Act" (ANDA), a sweeping refusal clause that allows any health care entity to discriminate against any provider who provides or even gives information about abortion (September 25, 2002).
• U.S. State Department freezes $3 million in funding to the World Health Organization (WHO) in response to anti-choice objections to the WHO's Human Reproduction Program (October 2002).
• HHS Web sites remove medically accurate information about condom effectiveness and the lack of a proven link between abortion and breast cancer (October 2002).
• HHS Secretary's Advisory Committee on Human Research Protection Charter gives embryos new status as "human subjects" (October 2002).
• "Abstinence-only" proponent Dr. Alma Golden named to oversee Title X, nation's family planning program (October 7, 2002).
• Family Planning foe Chris Smith calls on USAID to exclude reproductive health organizations in developing countries from receiving HIV/AIDS funding, thus extending global gag rule (October 24, 2002).
• U.S. delegation to U.N. regional meeting reverses U.S. position in support of 1994 global agreement affirming the right of all couples and individuals to determine freely and responsibly the number and spacing of their children, and to have the information and means to do so (United Nations, 1994) (November 2, 2002).
• Anti-choice and religious extremist doctors opposed to contraception, mifepristone, and reproductive rights appointed to the Reproductive Health Drugs Advisory Committee of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) (December 24, 2002).
• The president's FY 2004 budget fails family planning programs and denies women access to abortion services (February 3, 2003).
• Politics trumps women's health, Senate passes S.3 abortion ban (March 13, 2003).
• Senate and House defeat Department of Defense (DOD) amendments that would have allowed access to abortion for women in the military who use their own funds (May 22, 2003).
• Abortion ban, H.R. 760, passes the House of Representatives (June 4, 2003).
• State Department denies funds for refugee AIDS prevention (August 1, 2003).
• The president extends global gag rule to all international family planning programs (August 29, 2003).
• Abortion ban, S.3, is sent to conference with the House of Representatives (September 17, 2003).
• Congress passes S.3, dangerous ban on abortion, endangering women's lives for political gain (October 22, 2003).
• The president signs abortion ban, the first federal legislation since Roe v. Wade to criminalize abortion, imperiling women's health (November 5, 2003).
• Budget released for FY 2005 funds "abstinence-only" sex education and marriage initiatives, freezes funding for Title X family planning services (February 2, 2004).
• FY 2005 budget pours money into discriminatory "Healthy Marriage" initiative (February 2, 2004).
• FDA bows to political pressure and delays making decision on converting emergency contraception to over-the-counter status (February 13, 2004).
• U.S. Delegation to Economic Commission of Latin America and the Caribbean stands alone in refusing to join a declaration reaffirming the Cairo consensus on population development because it objects to the use of phrases like "reproductive rights," "reproductive health," and families "in all their various forms" (March 11, 2004).
• July 16, 2004 — Bush administration withholds funding for UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund for third year in a row (July 16, 2004).
• Congress denies funding for military women seeking abortion after rape or incest, strips bipartisan Boxer-Snowe amendment from Department of Defense Authorization Bill. (October 7, 2004).

BUILDING THE PLATFORM TO OUTLAW ABORTION

• Extreme anti-choice zealot John Ashcroft proposed for U.S. attorney general (December. 22, 2000).
• Anti-Choice governor Tommy Thompson selected as Secretary of Health and Human Services (December 29, 2000).
• Chris Smith (R-NJ), U.S. House of Representatives' most ferocious opponent of international family planning programs, asked to address the annual "pro-life" march on behalf of the administration on the 28th anniversary of Roe v. Wade (January 22, 2001).
• The president closes the White House Office for Women's Initiatives and Outreach (March 29, 2001).
• House passes the so-called "Unborn Victims of Violence Act" (April 26, 2001).
• The president floats possibility of nominating John Klink - an ardent opponent of birth control and spokesperson for the Vatican in its opposition to condom use - to oversee the U.S. global population program (May 23, 2001).
• HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson announces new rules making fetuses, but not pregnant women, eligible for prenatal care in the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) (March 5, 2002).
• House passes the "Child Custody Protection Act" which would make it a federal crime to transport a minor across state lines for an abortion unless the parental involvement requirements of her home state have been met (April 17, 2002).
• Louise Oliver, former president of the pro-life Harvard Law School's Society for Law, Life and Religion appointed special assistant to the U.S. State Department Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (July 2002).
• House passes abortion ban legislation (July 24, 2002).
• Announcement made by administration that approximately $900,000 available for financial assistance and applications for embryo "adoption" (July 25, 2002).
• The U.S. Department of Justice does an about-face and withdraws support for women's rights treaty, maintaining U.S. as only industrialized nation not to ratify the Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) (July 26, 2002).
• House passes the so-called "Abortion Non-Discrimination Act" (ANDA), a sweeping refusal clause that allows any health care entity to discriminate against any provider who provides or even gives information about abortion (September 25, 2002).
• HHS Web sites remove medically accurate information about condom effectiveness and the lack of a proven link between abortion and breast cancer (October 2002).
• HHS Secretary's Advisory Committee on Human Research Protection Charter gives embryos new status as "human subjects" (October 2002).
• House passes Bankruptcy Bill HR 333. without Freedom of Access to Clinics (FACE) provisions that would have prevented violent anti-choice protesters from avoiding debts by declaring bankruptcy (November 14, 2002).
• U.S. delegation advances position that life begins at conception at population conference for the Asia and Pacific region (December 11-17, 2002).
• The administration supports anti-choice Sen. Bill First (R-TN) to take the helm of the U.S. Senate after Trent Lott (R-MS) steps down (December 23, 2002).
• Anti-choice and religious extremist doctors opposed to contraception, mifepristone, and reproductive rights appointed to the Reproductive Health Drugs Advisory Committee of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) (December 24, 2002).
• The Presidents FY 2004 budget fails family planning programs and denies women access to abortion services (February 3, 2003).
• House passes ban on therapeutic cloning (February 28, 2003).
• Politics trump women's health, Senate passes abortion ban, S.3 (March 13, 2003).
• Senate and House defeat Department of Defense (DOD) amendments that would have allowed access to abortion for women in the military who use their own funds (May 22, 2003).
• Abortion Ban H.R. 760 passes the House of Representatives (June 4, 2003)
• Abortion ban, S.3, is sent to conference with the House of Representatives (September 17, 2003).
• Congress passes S.3, dangerous ban on abortion, endangering women's lives for political gain (October 22, 2003).
• The president signs abortion ban, the first federal legislation since Roe v. Wade to criminalize abortion, imperiling women's health (November 5, 2003).
• Congress aims to suspend FDA approval of mifepristone and restrict access to medical abortion — a safe and medically established procedure (November 21, 2003).
• House passes so-called "Unborn Victims of Violence Act" giving zygote, embryo, or fetus the same legal rights as a person and further undermining a woman's right to an abortion (February 26, 2004).
• Federal District Judge Phyllis Hamilton Protects Patients' Privacy by Denying DOJ's Request for Planned Parenthood Medical Records in Course of Federal Abortion Ban Trial (March 5, 2004).
• U.S. Delegation to Economic Commission of Latin America and the Caribbean stands alone in refusing to join a declaration reaffirming the Cairo consensus on population development because it objects to the use of phrases like "reproductive rights," "reproductive health," and families "in all their various forms" (March 11, 2004).
• Federal judge in San Francisco strikes down federal abortion ban as unconstitutional; decision in Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) v. Ashcroft a victory for women's rights (June 1, 2004).
• Justice Department Files appeal in Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) v. Ashcroft; Continues to pursue unconstitutional Abortion Ban (August 2, 2004).
• Federal judge in New York strikes down unconstitutional federal abortion ban; ruling in National Abortion Federation (NAF) v. Ashcroft echoes June 1 decision in Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) v. Ashcroft (August 26, 2004).
• Third federal court rules federal abortion ban is unconstitutional; decision in Carhart v. Ashcroft echoes rulings in San Francisco and New York (September 8, 2004).
• Justice Department files appeal of Nebraska and New York Abortion Ban rulings; Continues to pursue unconstitutional law (September 27, 2004).

REDEFINING THE LEGAL STATUS OF THE FETUS

• House passes "Unborn Victims of Violence Act" (April 26, 2001).
• HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson announces new rules making fetuses, but not pregnant women, eligible for prenatal care in the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) (March 5, 2002).
• Announcement made by administration that approximately $900,000 available for financial assistance and applications for embryo "adoption" (July 25, 2002).
• HHS Secretary's Advisory Committee on Human Research Protection Charter gives embryos new status as "human subjects" (October 2002).
• House passes so-called "Unborn Victims of Violence Act" giving zygote, embryo, or fetus the same legal rights as a person and further undermining a woman's right to an abortion (February 26, 2004).
• Federal District Judge Phyllis Hamilton Protects Patients' Privacy by Denying DOJ's Request for Planned Parenthood Medical Records in Course of Federal Abortion Ban Trial (March 5, 2004).
• "Unborn Victims of Violence Act" passes Senate, grants fertilized egg legal status distinct from woman, posing threat to the foundations of Roe v. Wade (March 25, 2004).
• President signs so-called "Unborn Victims of Violence Act" into law, may help lay groundwork for future effort to reverse Roe v. Wade (April 1, 2004).

PACKING THE COURTS TO OVERTURN ROE

• Anti-choice Texas Supreme Court Justice Priscilla Owens nominated to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals (May 9, 2001).
• Law Professor Michael McConnell, hardline opponent of Roe v. Wade who believes the U.S. Constitution does not protect women's right to choose, nominated to the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals (May 9, 2001).
• Anti-choice District Court Judge Dennis Shedd, with a pattern of ruling against plaintiffs in civil rights cases, nominated to the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals (May 9, 2001).
• Lavenski Smith, past executive director of the right-wing, anti-choice Rutherford Institute of Arkansas, nominated to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals (May 22, 2001).
• Anti-choice extremist Judge Carolyn Kuhl nominated to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals (May 25, 2001).
• Anti choice Federal District Court Judge D. Brooks Smith, who held a long-standing membership in a private club that excludes women, nominated to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals (September 10, 2001).
• Anti-Choice Federal District Court Judge Charles Pickering, Texas Supreme Court Justice Priscilla Owens, and Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Carolyn Kuhl, who had all been rejected by the Senate, re-nominated to Circuit Courts of Appeals ( January 7, 2003).
• Miguel Estrada, who gave evasive responses when questioned by the Senate Judiciary Committee on reproductive rights, abandons his bid for appointment to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia (September 4, 2003).
• Anti-choice, anti-civil rights hardliner Federal District Court Judge Charles Pickering appointed during congressional recess (i.e., without Senate confirmation) to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals (January 16, 2004).
• Alabama Attorney General William Pryor, who describes Roe v. Wade as "an abomination," appointed to 11th Circuit Court of Appeals during congressional recess, (i.e., without Senate confirmation) (February 20, 2004).
• Anti-choice extremist James Leon Holmes, former president of Arkansas Right to Life, appointed to U.S. District Court for Eastern District of Arkansas (July 6, 2004).

REPLACING SCIENCE WITH RIGHT-WING IDEOLOGY

• The president floats possibility of nominating John Klink - an ardent opponent of birth control and spokesperson for the Vatican in its opposition to condom use - to oversee the U.S. global population program (May 23, 2001).
• House passes the "Human Cloning Prohibition Act of 2001" (July 31, 2001).
• The president prevents taxpayer funding for additional stem cells beyond existing stem cell lines, placing severe limits on stem cell research (August 9, 2001).
• The president's FY2001 budget doubles education funding for dangerous "abstinence-only" programs (October 11, 2001).
• "Abstinence-only" proponent Patricia Funderburk Ware named to head the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS (PACHA) (November 30, 2001).
• U.S. delegation to the U.N. Children's Summit, led by HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson, fights sexuality education and opposes condoms for HIV/AIDS prevention (May 2002).
• U.S. Department of Education appoints Title IX commission that threatens athletic programs for girls and women. (June 6, 2002).
• The president withholds $34 million in funding for birth control, maternal and child care and HIV/AIDS prevention from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) (July 22, 2002).
• The president withholds more then $200 million in funding for programs to support women and address HIV/AIDS in Afghanistan (August 2, 2002).
• Anti-condom "abstinence-only" proponent Dr. Freda McKissic named to the CDC Advisory Committee on HIV and STD Prevention (September 6, 2002).
• HHS Web sites remove medically accurate information about condom effectiveness and the lack of a proven link between abortion and breast cancer (October 2002).
• "Abstinence-only" proponent Dr. Alma Golden named to oversee Title X, nation's family planning program (October 7, 2002).
• The National Cancer Institute (NCI) Web site posts a "revised" fact sheet that suggests an unproved link between abortion and breast cancer (November 25, 2002).
• House passes ban on therapeutic cloning (February 28, 2003).
• State Department denies funds for refugee AIDS prevention (August 1, 2003).
• Anti-choice hardliners resort to intimidation tactics to pressure NIH scientists to abandon research on AIDS, sexuality and high-risk behavior (October 28, 2003).
• Budget released for FY 2005 funds "abstinence-only" sex education and marriage initiatives, freezes funding for Title X family planning services (February 2, 2004).
• FDA bows to political pressure and delays making decision on converting emergency contraception to over-the-counter status (February 13, 2004).
• FDA disregards recommendations of its own independent review board, and denies over-the-counter status to Barr Laboratories' Plan B® emergency contraception (May 6, 2004).
• Constitutional Amendment banning same-sex marriage fails to garner necessary votes in House; follows defeat of amendment in Senate (October 1, 2004).

CENSORING FREE SPEECH

• On his first day in office, the 28th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the president restores the Reagan-era global gag rule on international family planning assistance ( January 22, 2001).
• House passes the so-called "Abortion Non-Discrimination Act" (ANDA), a sweeping refusal clause that allows any health care entity to discriminate against any provider who provides or even gives information about abortion (September 25, 2002).
• HHS Web sites remove medically accurate information about condom effectiveness and the lack of a proven link between abortion and breast cancer (October 2002).
• U.S. delegation to U.N. regional meeting reverses U.S. position in support of 1994 global agreement affirming the right of all couples and individuals to determine freely and responsibiliy the number and spacing of their children and to have the information and means to do so (United Nations, 1994) (November 2, 2002).
• The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Web site posts "revised" fact sheet downplaying condom effectiveness (December 2, 2002).
• USAID directs USAID-funded programs to reflect the anti-choice policies of the Bush administration on their Web sites (January, 2003).
• The president extends global gag rule to all international family planning programs (August 29, 2003).
• Anti-choice hardliners resort to intimidation tactics to pressure NIH scientists to abandon research on AIDS, sexuality, and high-risk behavior (October 28, 2003).
• U.S. Delegation to Economic Commission of Latin America and the Caribbean stands alone in refusing to join a declaration reaffirming the Cairo consensus on population development because it objects to the use of phrases like "reproductive rights," "reproductive health," and families "in all their various forms" (March 11, 2004).

Contacts:

[Mr. Silverback]

See post 16.

[Mark in the Old South]

The issue of funding strikes me as false. Just as funding the UN on such matters. You see they pass a law that supporters claim denies funding for abortions. In a strict technical sense they can claim this but it is not honest. What they do is provide funding for these groups for "other" services. In a twist of logic they wish you to believe these groups are not given tax dollars to promote or provide abortion. It is a bit like giving a drunk cash for the electric bill with a public and stern warning not to buy booze with the money. Well the problem is the drunk just uses the money he would have used to pay the light bill to buy his hooch and uses your money for the electric bill.

As long as public money goes to these groups they make money and profit from this evil. They laws you site are a myth and deceive more than they correct bad behavior.