LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY sunfell)

This AlterNet article by Esther Kaplan talks about how religious morality is killing people.

Since George W. Bush's first day in office, Republicans in Washington have come up with creative ways to attach puritanical restrictions to U.S. foreign aid, often at a tremendous cost to public health.

First came Bush's revival of Reagan's Mexico City Policy, which canceled funds for any family planning organization that advocates for abortion rights, a measure that pulled tens of millions of dollars from International Planned Parenthood and others on the far right's enemies list. Then came a State Department missive to USAID missions that all funded programs, publications, even websites had to fall in line with Bush's social conservative worldview on everything from abortion to drug use. Then Congress used the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, or PEPFAR, to set aside $1 billion for abstinence-only education, which bars discussion of condoms and safer sex. Most recently, Republican congressmen introduced a series of anti-prostitution loyalty oaths, requiring any organization receiving U.S. funds to combat AIDS or human trafficking to condemn prostitution in word and in deed.

Read the whole article.

LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY cheap_laugh)

Don't think of evangelicals and others who are anti-choice as "Pro-Life" think of them as being in favor of FORCED CHILDBIRTH. and why? they are, for the most in favor of War and the Death Penalty.

of Course they are in favor of Forced Childbirth, because the wars of old need young men to die,and the jails must be filled.

LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY britzkrieg)

On Monday the Georgia House will consider a bill to allow pharmacists to refuse to dispense birth control, emergency contraception, and possibly other needed medications. From the text of the bill:

Any pharmacist who states in writing an objection to any abortion or all abortions on moral or religious grounds shall not be required to fill a prescription for a drug which purpose is believed by the pharmacist to have the effect or possible effect of terminating a pregnancy; and the refusal of the person to fill such prescription shall not form the basis of any claim for damages on account of such refusal or for any disciplinary or recriminatory action against the person or his or her employer; provided, however, that the pharmacist shall make all reasonable efforts to locate another pharmacist who is willing to fill such prescription or shall immediately return the prescription to the prescription holder. The written objection shall remain in effect until the person revokes it or terminates his or her association with the facility with which it is filed."

(Emphasis mine.) In other words, the pharmacist can't lose his/her job for not doing his/her job, nor can a customer harmed by the pharmacist's "conscience" sue for damages.

A little background: the Georgia General Assembly is a bunch of luny misfits, and the Republicans and Democrats alike, I believe, are eager to advance a theocratic agenda. I shudder whenever the General Assembly is in session because of all the asinine crap they're going to do. Whether you live in Georgia or not, you may recall a little tiff over the state flag a few years ago. That was the key issue of the day!

I'm going to try to contact my representative, but I don't know if I'll be able to in time. I wonder whether it's a waste of effort anyway. I feel that "the avalanche has already started, and it's too late for the pebbles to vote."

LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY bluemoontide)

I stole this article from nonfluffypagans because I thought it might create an interesting discussion on this list about how the rise in Dominionism (which of course is patriarchal in nature) will influence population and global power issues in the United States. Enjoy! (or freak out, whatever)

( Read more... )

LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY cheap_laugh)

I thought the guy on DKOS was joking....

LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY catvincent)

The recent thread about Bill Napoli & the South Dakota cause celebre - or at least the same source material - caught the eye of Warren Ellis, noted writer and creator of Transmetropolitan.

( His comments here - cut for the same possible rape triggers as original post )

LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY jaded_journeys)

I posted this in my journal, but figured I'd mention it here in a somewhat more civilized manner. OK, at least it has fewer naughty words than the post in my journal.

I know y'all might be sick of hearing about South Dakota's abortion ban, but I find this transcript of a news report on The News Hour with Jim Lehrer sickening. I'm only including a few quotes in this entry, but the whole thing is an interesting read. ( I'm cutting this for possible rape triggers. It's mild, but it might be there. )

LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY vanar_en_daeor)

Well, the governor signed the damn bill.

=====================

South Dakota governor signs abortion ban
Nearly all operations outlawed in direct challenge to Roe v. Wade

BREAKING NEWS
Updated: 2:26 p.m. ET March 6, 2006

PIERRE, S.D. - Gov. Mike Rounds signed legislation Monday banning nearly all abortions in South Dakota, setting up a court fight aimed at challenging the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion.

The bill would make it a crime for doctors to perform an abortion unless the procedure was necessary to save the woman’s life. It would make no exception for cases of rape or incest.

( Read more... )

========================

And one thing that irritates me even further about this:

"Rounds has said abortion opponents already are offering money to help the state pay legal bills for the anticipated court challenge. Lawmakers said an anonymous donor has pledged $1 million to defend the ban, and the Legislature set up a special account to accept donations for legal fees."

That $1 mil could be used for so many better other things (katrina victims, hungry homeless, families that need help paying their bills, etc...) No, instead they're wasting money to tie this thing up in the courts for months/years.

*snarl*

LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY wyldraven)

American Politics Journal article
( Full text of APJ article )

Church of Reality demands religious exception to South Dakota Abortion Ban Law
( Excerpt from the edict )

BTW: Per the site, "The IRS has approved the 501(C)3 tax exempt status of the Church of Reality."

LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY sunfell)

This article from Sojourners illustrates the bias that the religious right has against women's and ultimately public health:

The Religious Right's vaccination vexation
by David Batstone

When it comes to teen sex, all parents hope and pray that their children make wise choices. Children as young as 12 or 13 weigh decisions with consequences that could impact the rest of their lives in a dramatic way. At this point in the conversation our teenage children roll their eyes, but parents know the risks to be real.

Parental anxiety therefore is unavoidable, all the more so because they realize that the ultimate choices their teens make about sex are beyond their control. That begs a question: If a child violates the moral code that parents set, are those parents willing to put their child's life in mortal danger? Tragically, some Christians are willing to answer, "Yes."( Read more... )

LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY dracontias73)

Saw on my local news this morning http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060301/NEWS010504/603010357
Who's next? Very sad day indeed here in Mississippi....

LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY inkedgeekfreak)

Holy crap. Is the state of South Dakota retarded trying to ban all abortion? This is a deliberate attempt to make a law that will be challenged and go to the supreme court to test Alito and Roberts. I am so livid I can't even see straight.

Several news sources are carrying the story.

LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY ns_kumiho)

A US state legislature has approved a bill to ban most abortions, in a move aimed to force the US Supreme Court to reconsider its key ruling on the issue.

The South Dakota draft law - which needs approval by the governor, known to be against abortion - seeks jail for doctors who perform terminations.

Exceptions will be made if a woman's life is at risk, but not for rape

...

It calls for jail sentences of five years for doctors who perform abortions, even in cases where the woman has been raped, her health is threatened or she became pregnant in an incestuous relationship.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4742404.stm

LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY britzkrieg)

Wal-Mart said today it plans to start stocking and selling the emergency contraception drug Plan B at its 44 Massachusetts pharmacies after receiving a directive from state regulators.

The retailer said it is also giving serious thought to carrying the drug at all of its 3,700 pharmacies nationwide. The only other state where Wal-Mart sells the so-called morning after pill is Illinois, where a state law requires it. Elsewhere, Wal-Mart has refused to stock the drug for undisclosed "business reasons."

The state Board of Registration in Pharmacy voted unanimously this morning to require Wal-Mart to stock and dispense Plan B, a high dose of hormones that women can take three to five days after unprotected sex to prevent pregnancy.

Full Story

Plan B has been the #1 target of "activist" Christocrat pharmacists in the United States.

LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY gairid)

This is just insane. In reading this community I understand what the dominionists are doing and I know that their bleating about being persecuted is all part and parcel of the way they gather people to their cause, but Jesus Christ! Advocating murder is okay? It's sickening, it really is.



The American Family Association opened its airwaves to advocate for executing gays, adulterers, abortion doctors

Summary: Far-right Christian author and American Vision president Gary DeMar was the guest on the February 2 edition of American Family Radio's Today's Issues. In the past, DeMar has advocated the installation of a theocratic government in the United States in which homosexuals, adulterers, and abortion doctors would be executed.

Here's an excerpt of the interview:

DeMAR: The definition of Christian Reconstruction is simply this: The Bible applies to every facet of life. That means not just the judicial aspects of life, such as civil government, church government, but business, economics -- every facet of society. The Bible has something to say about each area. For example, on homosexuals: We do not believe that homosexuals ought to be executed. The Bible doesn't say that homosexuals ought to be executed. What it says is this: If two men lie together like man and woman, they are to be put to death.

PORTEOUS: What the hell do you think that is?

DeMAR: Well, wait a minute. If a guy comes up to me and he says, "I'm a homosexual," that doesn't mean he's to be executed. If you understand the Scriptures, it says very clearly: If a man comes up to you and says, "I've murdered somebody," that doesn't mean that person ought to be executed.

GONZALES: Oh, so what you are saying, Gary, is, if you catch homosexuals in the act, then the Bible says to execute them.

DeMAR: The Bible lays forth the severest penalty, which would be capital punishment for two men who publicly engage in sodomy.


http://mediamatters.org/items/200602140005

LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY wyldraven)

Andrea Yates moved to mental hospital

How is this relevant? If you don't know about "quiver-full", you should.
http://www.thenewhomemaker.com/quiverfullconvicted

( Read more... )

LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY britzkrieg)

Mods, I hope this is appropriate. The article doesn't refer to dominionism directly, but Wal-Mart's motivations are certainly religious, no matter what the official statement says.

BOSTON - Backed by abortion rights groups, three Massachusetts women sued Wal-Mart on Wednesday, accusing the retail giant of violating a state regulation by failing to stock emergency contraception pills in its pharmacies.

The lawsuit, filed in state court, seeks to force the company to carry the morning-after pill in its 44 Wal-Marts and four Sam Club stores in Massachusetts. The plaintiffs argued that state policy requires pharmacies to provide all "commonly prescribed medicines."

Wal-Mart carries the morning-after pill in Illinois only, where it is required under state law, said Dan Fogleman, a spokesman for Bentonville, Ark.-based Wal-Mart.

Fogleman said the company "chooses not to carry many products for business reasons." He would not elaborate. But in a letter to a lawyer for the plaintiffs, a Wal-Mart attorney said the store chain does not regard the drug as "commonly prescribed."

CVS, the state's largest pharmacy chain, stocks the pill at all of its drugstores.

Source

Edit: CNN is running a poll on this issue. Go vote!

LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY kittynboi)

So, I never thought of it before, but how do these two square? While theres no obvious conflict when it comes to birtch control pills and stuff, what about these ones that are so broad that, for instance, someone could refuse to treat me because I'm gay, and they would be totally immune from any consequences?

What about the hippocratic oath?

Aren't there any laws that could conflict with a clause that would allow doctors not to treat a person and put their life in danger?

What are legitimate "conscience" issues? What if its in an emergency situation? Would a person just be allowed to invoce conscience clauses with no real explanation while someone is bleeding to death?

I wonder if our pitiful mainstream press with even acknowledge these questions?




This may sound odd, but if these clauses pass, are we going to need to modify medical schools and such entirely? Perhaps medical schools should start making it clear that, if you are a health provider or doctor or whatever, then you WILL encounter situations that may conflict with your beliefs, and that if you cannot put your beliefs aside for your profession, then perhaps you should look for another career?



I think there are a LOT of things that need to be addressed in this issue, but these things are being largely ignored, and the media and everyone else are letting the theocrats make it a stupid fairness issue.

LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY britzkrieg)

More than a dozen states are considering new laws to protect health workers who do not want to provide care that conflicts with their personal beliefs, a surge of legislation that reflects the intensifying tension between asserting individual religious values and defending patients' rights.

About half of the proposals would shield pharmacists who refuse to fill prescriptions for birth control and "morning-after" pills because they believe the drugs cause abortions. But many are far broader measures that would shelter a doctor, nurse, aide, technician or other employee who objects to any therapy. That might include in-vitro fertilization, physician-assisted suicide, embryonic stem cells and perhaps even providing treatment to gays and lesbians.

[...]

The swell of propositions is raising alarm among advocates for abortion rights, family planning, AIDS prevention, the right to die, gays and lesbians, and others who see the push as the latest manifestation of the growing political power of social conservatives.

Full Story

Cyborgs??? Cyborgs??? Just call me "Locutus"...

LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY njtech)

walgreen pharmacists sued walgreens after they are fired for not complying with the illinois law