Free Republic

The underlying red-blue issue involves the current state of bioethics. Many of the founders of this relatively new field were religiously motivated. Daniel Callahan, a former colleague of mine at the Catholic magazine Commonweal, cofounded the Hastings Center. Sargent Shriver and the Kennedy family launched the Kennedy Institute of Ethics at Georgetown University. But the bioethics world turned rigorously secular and veered sharply to the blue section of the color spectrum. A key factor in the rise of bioethics, Callahan wrote, was the "emergence ideologically of a form of bioethics that dovetailed nicely with the reigning political liberalism of the...

During the presidential campaign last year, George W. Bush talked about the need to promote a "culture of life." Anyone who dismissed such talk as just a way to spin antiabortion views without scaring pro-choice voters should pay closer attention. Today the Terri Schiavo case is revealing that protecting life is much broader than that single issue, and that it is a central component of Mr. Bush's governing philosophy. With Congress passing and President Bush signing legislation early yesterday morning that may end up saving Mrs. Schiavo's life, some are now accusing Republicans of crass political motives. That misses the...

Republic Fr. Frank Pavone National Director, Priests for Life "Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There never was a democracy yet that did not commit suicide." That quote is not from an anarchist or a totalitarian leader. It is, perhaps surprisingly, from John Adams, the second President of the United States, and a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Similar quotes can be found in the writings of other Founding Fathers of our nation, because although they had the opportunity to do so, they did not establish a democracy. What they established for America,...

The good news is that scientific testing is getting more and more sensitive; the bad news is that humans remain as insensitive as ever. Between modern medicine and mod language, we're now able to describe feticide - never call it that! - as peace of mind. The story, on Page 2 of the morning paper, caught my attention. ("New testing method spots Down's Syndrome earlier") How's that for good news? The opening paragraph of the AP story sounds as sunny as a spring day, as therapeutic as modern medicine, as cheering as a baby's first smile: "A new combination of...

Date:    October 27, 2003 To:       Attorney General John Ashcroft             Delegate Bob Marshall Ref:      Continuation for Request of Intervention on behalf of Terri Schiavo (October 21st)  As in previous letters dated October 21st, 22nd and 23rd, this letter serves as our request for urgent action on behalf of Terri Schiavo by Federal officials.  We are asking for: An immediate criminal investigation of Michael Schiavo, Judge George Greer and the Federally funded Woodside Hospice Center in Pinellas Park Fl, all who have grossly violated Terri Schiavo’s rights under both State and Federal statutes. We further request an immediate intervention to...