...Christian activist Janet Folger of Faith2Action believes America is at a crucial point in the fight for the unborn and that the eventual replacement of Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor has thrust the nation into a critical debate. "This is the most important issue of our generation," Folger contends. "The future of America is being decided right now. If we want to see children protected again in our lifetime, we must have judges like Scalia, just like the President promised." The Faith2Action spokeswoman says George W. Bush needs to keep that promise to appoint strict constructionists like Antonin Scalia, who will interpret the Constitution rather than attempt to legislate from the bench. Folger insists Bush must not opt instead for a moderate nominee like Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, who has said he would never vote to overturn Roe v. Wade, the decision that made abortion legal in the U.S. [Bill Fancher]

...A group of pro-life young people were threatened with arrest recently at the inauguration of Los Angeles' new mayor, Antonio Villaraigosa. Their "crime" was wearing red T-shirts that proclaimed, "You can't be Catholic and pro-abortion," a position with which the newly installed mayor could be expected to disagree. "The students held up signs and had a peaceful protest because the mayor, Villaraigosa, is a pro-abortion Catholic politician," explains Joe Starrs of the Crusade for the Defense of Our Catholic Church. However, he points out, security at the event took issue with the young demonstrators' attire. Upon their arrival, Starrs notes, "a security guard threatened them with arrest for the content of their shirt. So these kids were going to get thrown in jail because of the T-shirts they were wearing into the cathedral." However, a Los Angeles Police Department official intervened and told the guard that people cannot be arrested for what is written on their shirts; hence, the pro-life Catholic students were allowed into the inaugural Cathedral service and official swearing-in ceremony. The young demonstrators are currently in the midst of a walk along the west coast of the U.S. on behalf of the unborn. [Bill Fancher]

...Focus on the Family's Analyst for Sexual Health, Linda Klepacki, is responding with outrage to a recent report by the American Academy of Pediatrics recommending that teenagers should have easy access to all forms of contraception. Klepacki criticizes the report, called "Adolescent Pregnancy: Current Trends and Issues," because it updates recommendations to clinicians on how to address teen pregnancy but fails to reinforce the message that offers a foolproof means of preventing unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted infection. "Abstinence until marriage is the only way to be sure young people are protected," the Focus on the Family expert says. She notes that, despite acknowledging that teen sexual activity and pregnancy rates have been declining for more than a decade, the AAP insists in the report that doctors should merely advise their young patients to postpone early sexual activity. But Klepacki asks, "At what age does risky behavior become safe?" The report recommends not only that pediatricians educate adolescents about and provide access to all kinds of birth control, including emergency contraception, but that the physicians also advise pregnant teens of all options, including abortion. Klepacki asserts that the AAP's report undermines the rights of parents to direct their children's sex education and promotes "insidious 'abstinence-plus education' -- both in the schools and now in doctors' offices." [Jenni Parker]

...It is one of the more conspicuous road signs on US-27, a scenic route that meanders through Kentucky's Daniel Boone National Forest en route to a popular recreational area on Lake Cumberland. It reads" "WARNING. Jesus is coming. RU Ready?" Such proclamations, already common throughout the Bible Belt, could become more commonplace along roadsides nationwide following recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings that amounted to a split verdict on displays of the Ten Commandments on government property. Don Swarthout, head of the Kentucky-based Christians Reviving America's Values, says "People want to do something to reflect their principles, and that's one way they can legally do it." The high court ruled last month that displays of the Ten Commandments on government property must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis to ensure they do not violate the Constitution. Jimmie Greene, a retired judge-executive in southeastern Kentucky, said he put a placard of the Ten Commandments on his lawn, as did most of his neighbors, after a judge first ruled that the display in the McCreary County courthouse had to come down. He said: "You should have seen it .... The landscape was covered with Ten Commandments." [AP]

...A Kansas state lawmaker says despite what the governor tries to tell the people, legalized gambling is not the answer to the state's current budget problems. State Representative Lance Kinzer says Governor Kathleen Sebellius wants gambling in the state and is using the education budget as leverage. But the reason Kansas is facing a budget crisis, Kinzer asserts, is that the state Supreme Court recently entered a ruling requiring the state legislature to spend an additional $143 million this year and perhaps as much as $560 million next year on K-12 education. But the state legislator maintains that Sebellius is misleading Kansans by insisting that legalized gambling holds the answer to the state's economic problems. "Quite frankly, she has been a staunch gambling advocate from the time she was elected," he says. "Her campaign was heavily financed by the gaming interests, and I think that she is, unfortunately, using a situation where the Supreme Court of Kansas has abused its power as an excuse to try to make political payback to those who support gaming." Kinzer says the citizens need to know that gambling will not solve their state's budget woes because the costs of social ills associated with gaming far outweigh any temporary financial benefits. (See related commentary) [Rusty Pugh]

...A new study from the University of Chicago has found that religious beliefs are an important element in the practice of many doctors across America. The study of U.S. physicians found that 76 percent believe in God, 59 percent believe in an afterlife, and 55 percent say religion influences how they practice medicine. The high significance of religion in medicine and health care is further evidenced by the recent growth that the organizations jointly known as the Christian Medical & Dental Associations have experienced. CMDA president Dr. David Stevens points out, "We have over 17,000 members now, and we're seeing a huge surge of students and residents becoming associated with the organization, which is really encouraging as we look to the next generation of Christian doctors." The CMDA notes that most medical schools across the U.S. are now addressing the importance of religious faith in the healing process. [Bill Fancher]

...China has put on trial a minister in the country's underground Protestant church along with his wife and two relatives. The minister faces charges of running an illegal business. He was detained with 200,000 copies of unauthorized Christian publications. Lawyers for the four deny the charges, saying the books were to be given away and were not for sale. A religious group in Texas says the man was a minister for six unofficial congregations. The Chinese government allows worship only in churches run by state-monitored associations. Activists say the arrests are part of a crackdown by communist officials on independent religious activities. The trial adjourned after several hours without a verdict. It is expected to resume in several days. [AP]

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