The following are pro-life news briefs from across the country and around the world.
Mitt Romney May Skip Iowa Caucuses to Focus on New Hampshire
Des Moines, IA — As presidential candidates jockey for position ahead of next year’s nominating contests, Republicans in New Hampshire believe that the race will come down to former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney—and the rest. If Romney is to be defeated, both friends and foes say, someone will have to emerge as the anti-Romney consensus. At least, that’s the conventional wisdom among the Granite State’s political class. But what has them scratching their heads is a more fundamental question: Where, exactly, has Romney gone? (National Journal)
Arizona Bill Would Ban Sex-Selection, Race-Based Abortions
Phoenix, AZ — Women who want to have an abortion would have to justify they’re not doing it because they want a child of a different sex or race under the terms of new legislation. HB 2443, crafted by Rep. Steve Montenegro, R-Litchfield Park, would require a woman to sign an affidavit that she is not seeking an abortion because of the child’s sex or race. Montenegro has a separate measure, HB 2442, dealing only with abortions based on sex selection. (East Valley Tribune)
UK: Catholic Worker Bullied by NHS over Pro-Life View Can Return
London, England — A Christian health worker who faced the sack after giving an NHS colleague a booklet about the potential dangers of abortion has been allowed to return to work. Margaret Forrester, 39, claimed to have been ‘bullied’ and ‘treated like a criminal’ for expressing her religious views, but said yesterday that she has now been offered a better job at the same NHS trust. Christian campaigners yesterday hailed it as a ‘victory for freedom of conscience and freedom of speech’. (London Daily Mail)
Rhode Island Pro-Life Group Unhappy Chafee Pick on Pro-Abortion Group
Providence, RI — The Senate has confirmed a former member of its own ranks — onetime state senator, lieutenant governor and U.S. Senate candidate Richard A. Licht — as Governor Chafee’s new $149,511-a-year director of the Department of Administration. The only controversy surrounding his confirmation bubbled up after a Senate committee confirmation hearing last week, when Barth Bracy, executive director of the Rhode Island State Right to Life Committee, raised concerns about Licht’s intent to remain chairman of one of the leading voices on the other side of the national abortion debate: NARAL. (Providence Journal)
Catholic Pharmacy in Illinois to Close, Won’t Distribute Contraception
Galesburg, IL — The Hy-Vee run pharmacy at the OSF Galesburg Clinic will almost certainly close in March because of an argument over the sale of contraceptives. Because of an existing agreement, if the lease is terminated OSF would not be allowed to bring a new pharmacy into the clinic for the next two years. A notice of termination has been given to Hy-Vee. OSF recently took control of the Galesburg Clinic, which includes a pharmacy run by Hy-Vee. Jon McKee, a spokesman for OSF, said Hy-Vee’s corporate office had not responded to efforts to negotiate a new agreement. McKee said OSF would like to see the Hy-Vee pharmacy remain in its current location. (Galesburg Register-Mail)
