Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Repeal DOMA

By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist

A group of House Democrats have introduced legislation aimed at overturning the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which denies recognition of gay marriage and gives states the right to refuse to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states.

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Senate Health Care Plan Includes Abortion and Rationing

By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist

Less than 24 hours after its introduction as a bi-partisan solution to the controversial health care reform plans currently under consideration, the bill introduced yesterday by Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT) includes even more abortion coverage than the House bill and would give doctors a financial incentive to reduce care to the elderly and disabled.

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Sec. Sebelius Dodges Questions about Abortion and Communion

By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Writer

Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), who is pro-choice and Catholic, dodged questions about whether or not she believes abortion should be included in health care reform, and if she continues to take Communion after being told to refrain from the Sacrament by her hometown bishop.

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Pregnant Teen Gunned Down at Bus Stop

By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Writer 

In a tragic example of the devastation wreaked on the innocent by the breakdown of the family, a 15 year-old pregnant teen in foster care, who was being molested by her 36 year–old adopted brother, was shot and killed while waiting at a school bus stop in Charlotte, North Carolina.

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Mixed Signals from White House on Abortion in Health Care

By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist

The White House is planning to meet this week with a major pro-life leader about the problem of abortion coverage in health care reform, but at the same time, it is refusing to speak with a pro-life Congressman who claims to have enough votes to derail the House bill if abortion coverage is not specifically excluded.

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Judge Protects Backers of Traditional Marriage

By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Writer

A U.S. District Court has issued a temporary order preventing the release of the names of citizens who signed a petition in support of a marriage referendum in the state of Washington after groups in favor of same-sex marriage threatened to publish the names on the internet.

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Reunification of Russian and Orthodox Churches May Happen Soon

By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist

In an interview with an Italian daily, the Catholic Archbishop of Moscow said the reunification of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches – which have been separated for more than a millennium – could be achieved “within months.”

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