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Today’s Contents:

A. Editorial: Freedom and the Higher Law

B. Featured Articles

1. Study: Notification law cut teen abortions

2. 'Mom,' 'dad' to be axed from school textbooks?

3. Gov. Romney shifts on adoption by gays

4. Surprising Study: Perfect marriage? A mix of old, new

5. Maryland Lawmaker Calls for Removal of Activist Judge

6. Canada “Not Ready” for Assisted Suicide Debate

Related Article: Holland to Allow Baby Euthanasia

B. Coming Events:

• World Congress of Families IV - Warsaw, Poland

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Editorial:

Periodically since 9/11 many in the west have asked why there has been so little Muslim denunciation of terrorism—as a political tool or as a simple act of hatred. By the same token, many in the Muslim world now wonder why there has been so little denunciation of the now infamous cartoons defaming the Prophet Mohammed that have led to such unrest of late. While we understand that in the western view of law legal censorship is greatly restricted out of deference for the fundamental freedom of speech, so also, by virtue of that same freedom of speech, do we assert that the publication of those cartoons was nevertheless wrong, morally wrong, even though entirely legal. Those who published the cartoons should have exercised greater respect for the beliefs of Muslims and refused to publish what others consider blasphemy. This kind of respect should be shown for all religions. Perhaps this example will help us remember the difference between legal right and moral right, and realize that any civilization that relies solely on legal law to preserve civil order, without any reference to higher moral laws and standards of behavior, is flirting with chaos. No free democracy can long resist falling into chaos if there is not a significant portion of the population that exercises self-control, living a higher law than written legal codes can demand. Family is where each generation should learn the higher law essential to good citizenship.

—A. Scott Loveless

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FEATURED ARTICLES

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1. Study: Notification law cut teen abortions

CNN

March 8, 2006

(AP) -- Abortion rates declined significantly among Texas girls -- though some got riskier abortions later in pregnancy -- after the state enacted a parental notification law, researchers say.

The findings could have a strong influence on the abortion debate. Texas is the biggest of 35 states that require minors to notify their parents or get their consent before obtaining an abortion, although a judge can usually grant a waiver.

Researchers at Baruch College at City University of New York studied the records of teen abortions and births for the two years before the Texas law took effect on January 1, 2000, and for three years afterward.

Abortion rates dropped for girls ages 15 through 18, even though the 18-year-olds were not subject to the law. But the drop was more pronounced among the younger girls. Their rates fell 11 percent to 20 percent more than the rate among the 18-year-olds did.

"The law has definite behavioral effects," said lead researcher Ted Joyce, a Baruch professor of economics.

To read entire article:

http://www.cnn.com/2006/HEALTH/03/08/abortion.parental.ap/index.html

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2. 'Mom,' 'dad' to be axed from school textbooks?

March 9, 2006

WorldNetDaily.com

A traditional-values organization in California is warning the state's residents that a bill pending in the Legislature, if approved, could remove all references to gender in public schools – threatening even references to "mom" or "dad" in textbooks.

If the bill, SB 1437, were to become law, warns the Capitol Resource Institute, "it could potentially require gender-neutral bathrooms in our schools and all references to 'husband' and 'wife' or 'mom and dad' removed from school textbooks as the norm."

Sponsored by Democratic Sen. Sheila Kuehl – a lesbian actress best known for playing Zelda in "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis" in the '60s – the legislation would add "gender" (actual or perceived) and "sexual orientation" to the law that prohibits California public schools from having textbooks, teaching materials, instruction or "school-sponsored activities" that reflect adversely upon people based on characteristics like race, creed and handicap.

States Capitol Resource Institute on its website: "The reason this is such an outrageous bill is because it is the most extreme effort thus far to transform our public schools into institutions that disregard all notions of the traditional family unit. SB 1437 seeks to eliminate all 'stereotypes' of the traditional family so that young children are brainwashed into believing that families with moms and dads are irrelevant.

To read entire article:

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=49171

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3. Gov. Romney shifts on adoption by gays

By Patricia Wen and Frank Phillips

Boston Globe

March 1, 2006

Governor Mitt Romney signaled new openness yesterday to considering a request by Catholic bishops to ban gay couples from adopting children from Catholic social service agencies, a shift from earlier comments in which he said he had no authority in the matter.

''We respect and honor the free practice of religion, and we look forward to meeting with representatives from the Catholic Church to discuss this issue," Romney said through a spokesman.

The governor's shift occurred on the same day that three members of the board of Catholic Charities of Boston resigned over the bishops' decision to seek the exemption from the state antidiscrimination policy, according to a board member. The 42-member board, which is dominated by lay people, has gone on record unanimously in favor of continuing to allow gays to adopt. The member declined to name the three members who resigned.

The state's four bishops released a statement yesterday saying they face ''a serious problem in which our religious freedom is challenged" because of the state requirement that they consider gays as adoptive parents. The Vatican has called such adoptions ''gravely immoral."

''Because of the Church's teaching, Catholic agencies may not provide adoptions to same-sex couples," the statement said. ''Hence we intend to seek relief from the regulatory requirements of the Commonwealth on this issue. We do this in the hope that we will be able to continue focusing our attention on serving children in need of adoption."

To read entire article:

http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2006/03/01/romney_shifts_on_adoption_by_gays/

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4. Surprising Study: Perfect marriage? A mix of old, new

By Brooke Adams

The Salt Lake Tribune

February 28, 2006

For women, a happy marriage may involve something old and something new - and we're not talking mother's pearls and a wedding dress.

A new study suggests women are happiest in marriages that include traditional breadwinner/homemaker roles and a "New Age" husband who is emotionally invested.

The controversial conclusions challenge other studies that suggest for women equality is paramount and that love trumps commitment.

"One key finding is that what matters most is not who does the dishes or who cooks the meals but how emotionally engaged the husband is - how attentive, affectionate - that predicts happiness in their marriages," said W. Bradford Wilcox, a University of Virginia assistant professor of sociology and study co-author. "It literally blows everything we can throw into the model out of the water, it is so important in today's marriages."

Wives who said they are happily married also have husbands who earn more money than they do, are homemakers and share a lifelong commitment to marriage, often religiously based.

To read entire article:

http://www.sltrib.com/search/ci_3554089

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5. Maryland Lawmaker Calls for Removal of Activist Judge

by Pete Winn

CitizenLink

March 7, 2006

Judge who nullified marriage law in favor of same-sex marriage, faces charges of misbehavior in office.

A Maryland legislator undertook an action this morning that pro-family lawmakers in other states only dream of doing — he struck a blow against judicial tyranny.

Del. Don Dwyer, a member of the Maryland House of Delegates, called for the removal of the judge who single-handedly nullified Maryland's marriage law and demanded same-sex marriage.

"Today on the floor of the House," Dwyer told CitizenLink, "I stood and announced an 'Address for the Removal' of Judge M. Brooke Murdock, for violating her oath of office, for violating the public trust. As the guardians of the trust of the public, I believe it is incumbent upon us, as legislators, to hold the court accountable."

Bruce Hausknecht, judicial analyst for Focus on the Family Action, applauded the delegate's action.

"It takes a lot of courage for a lawmaker to call for the impeachment of a judge," Hausknecht said. "For too long, legislatures and Congress have shied away from the constitutional tools given to them to rein in out-of-control activist courts. I can only hope that his bold example will catch on elsewhere in the country, where courts and judges have become super-legislatures dictating social policy against the wishes of the electorate."

To read entire article:

http://www.family.org/cforum/news/a0039758.cfm

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6. Canada “Not Ready” for Assisted Suicide Debate

by Hilary White

LifeSiteNews

March 7, 2006

TORONTO, March 7, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Senator Sharon Carstairs, a Chretien appointee, spoke at St. Michael’s College at the University of Toronto on Friday on the situation of palliative care in Canada.

Senator Carstairs, once considered one of Canada’s most enthusiastic supporters of euthanasia and assisted suicide, seems to be softening her views. Speaking at the invitation of the Canadian Catholic Bioethics Institute, Carstairs said that Canada is “not ready” for a debate on assisted suicide or euthanasia until there is a comprehensive and quality end of life care available to all Canadians.

Regarding the push to establish an assisted suicide law in Canada, she responded, “I say we should change the tenor of the debate.”

“Unless every single Canadian can be guaranteed quality end of life care in which they have a legitimate choice to make, then I would suggest that we cannot start that other debate. We aren’t there yet. We are a long way from being there yet,” Carstairs continued.

In her reports on palliative care in Canada, Carstairs maintains that universal standards of care at the end of life must be established before assisted suicide can even be discussed. These standards, however, are the subject of much debate and in professional bioethics circles, even in Catholic institutions, support for euthanasia by dehydration and starvation is strong.

“If a person says to me, ‘I want to commit suicide,’ I would ask him what his needs are.” She said, people fear unbearable pain and loss of personal dignity and that the real challenge is to change public attitudes towards illness and dying. “Why have they lost their dignity? Is it because we have made them feel undignified?”

To read entire article:

http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2006/mar/06030709.html

Related Article: Holland to Allow Baby Euthanasia

By Gudrun Schultz

LifeSiteNews

March 6,2006

GRONINGEN, Holland, March 6, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) – It will be legal to euthanize children in Holland within a few weeks. Doctors will now be able to collaborate openly with parents for the death of severely handicapped or suffering children, without risking charges of murder.

The country has set up a committee to regulate the illicit killing of seriously ill infants by doctors. The Groningen Protocol, drafted by euthanist Dr. Verhagen of the Groningen hospital and adopted by the committee, will allow doctors to kill children who are suffering extreme pain from terminal illness, with no hope of recovery. The parents must give consent, and two doctors must agree on the child’s diagnosis.

Adult euthanasia has been legal in Holland since 2001, but this is the first time a country has allowed parents and doctors to kill a child.

Doctors in Holland already “help to die” at least 15 babies every year, with no legal consequences.

The suffering caused by bizarre genetic disorders is frequently used to justify child euthanasia. In fact, a more frequent cause for euthanasia has been the more commonly occurring disorder spina bifida. Between 2002 and 2004, Groningen hospital began reporting cases of infant euthanasia to authorities—all deaths were of infants with spina bifida, according to the Times.

To read entire article:

http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2006/mar/06030601.html

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COMING EVENTS

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WORLD CONGRESS OF FAMILIES IV

Warsaw, Poland - 2007

Meeting in Rockford, Illinois (October 23-25), a planning committee of the World Congress of Families chose Warsaw, Poland as the site of the 4th World Congress. The Warsaw Congress will be held in May, 2007.

The Polish Federation of Pro-Life Movements, an organization with over 130 affiliates throughout the nation, will serve as the local host for WCF IV.

For more information: http://www.profam.org/press/thc.pr.051027.htm

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Note: The Featured Articles excerpts are highlights of current events and

do not necessarily represent the views of the World Family Policy Center

or Brigham Young University.

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Newsletter created and distributed by:

World Family Policy Center

J. Reuben Clark Law School

Brigham Young University

Acting Director: A. Scott Loveless

Newsletter Editors: Joy S. Lundberg and Gary B. Lundberg

If you have any articles, editorials, or papers you would like

circulated through the WFPC News network, you may submit them to

lundberg@lawgate.byu.edu

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