Verdict in Pro-Lifers’ Trial
The trial of five pro-life activists, including Rehumanize International Executive Director Herb Geraghty (pictured), ended Tuesday, August 29th. The defendants were convicted of violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act and face the possibility of up to 11 years in prison.
They were ushered out of the courtroom in handcuffs. They’re jailed until sentencing, and the date for that isn’t yet set.
Pro-life observers thought that the pro-abortion bias of the judge was unambiguous, and defendants weren’t allowed to enter crucial points into evidence, including the gruesome reality of the very late-term abortions done at that facility.
Those wishing to support Herb can give to this fund. Updates on the case are available from Progressive Anti-Abortion Uprising.
Notes on the Republican Presidential Debate
As is common, neither the death penalty nor euthanasia came up at all, and any discussion of poverty and racism wasn’t substantive.
For war, there was argument between those who find it a necessary practice and those that are happy to allow the injustices that led to war to fester and go unaddressed. The idea that there are alternative nonviolent methods that could address the injustice and avoid wars wasn’t a concept any appeared to understand. Hence, candidates who nominally were asserting an anti-war view for specific wars weren’t helping the cause of ending war in general.
Abortion was explicitly addressed, and all candidates would have benefited greatly from greater coaching in the consistent life ethic and/or pro-life feminism. They did emphasize the extremism of common Democratic views by speaking of late-term abortions up to birth.
As per custom, much of the media points out that “only” 1.3% of abortions are over 20 weeks gestation. That translates to between 10,000 to 15,000 every year.
These figures are comparable to gun-related homicides in the entire United States. Few people think such homicides are “rare.”
Our Latest Blog Post
We’ve always puzzled over what to make of a liberal/conservative or right-wing/left-wing way of setting up opposing philosophies – as we commonly said early on, the dove needs both wings to fly. The academic folks in political psychology have come up with a new proposal for what the distinguishing characteristic is that splits them. Rachel MacNair considers this in The Left / Right Divide: A New Approach.
Quotation of the Week
Anonymous, from an email
Like anyone with bipolar disorder, I've struggled with depressive episodes throughout my life, many of which have been accompanied by suicidal thoughts, sometimes, very intense ones . . .
Through treatment and therapy, I've come a long way and don't believe I would ever attempt again. I have my moments, but most of the time, I am happy to still be here. My life is worth living. I understand the nature of my illness and the fact that the depressive episodes are temporary and treatable.
I did not have that perspective 20 years ago. I am certain that had I run into a medical professional then who validated my suicidal feelings instead of treating them, I wouldn't be here now . . .
How many people like me won't be so lucky?