Pro-Life News: UCLA Abortion Survey, Embryonic Stem Cell Research Factory 
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by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
January 22, 2007
UCLA Survey Finds Incoming College Students Split on Abortion
Los Angeles, CA (LifeNews.com) — UCLA’s annual survey of the nation’s entering undergraduates finds incoming college students more divided on politics and abortion. As more freshmen report that they discussed politics frequently as high school seniors 43.1 percent identified themselves as "middle-of-the-road," the lowest mark since first measured by the research program in 1970. Additionally, the percentage of students identifying as "liberal" (28.4 percent) is at its highest level since 1975 (30.7 percent), and those identifying as "conservative" (23.9 percent) is at its highest level in the history of the Freshman Survey, now in its 40th year. While 78.4 percent of liberal freshmen support legalized abortion, only 31.8 percent of conservative students do. Middle-of-the-road freshmen come in at 56.3 percent. The 2006 freshman norms are based on the responses of 271,441 first-time, full-time students at 393 of the nation’s baccalaureate colleges and universities.
Sweden Company Wants to Start First Stem Cell Research Factory
Gothenburg, Sweden (LifeNews.com) — Swedish company Cellartis is set to build the world’s first factory to produce large volumes of stem cells taken by destroying human embryos. The factory will be located in Dundee in Scotland and is a collaboration between Cellartis, the Scottish government and the University of Glasgow. The factory will supply large volumes of stem cell lines to the global pharmaceutical and biotech industry. It is located close to the location where Dolly the sheep was cloned. Around 100 stem cell experts are expected to work at the plant when it is up and running. It was not possible to receive such a large sum of money in Sweden, which is one of the reasons why we are establishing the factory in Scotland, Anders Vedin, Cellartis’ Chairman, said. "Many of the large pharmaceutical companies like Glaxosmithkline, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Merck and Astrazeneca are also located in this neighborhood." The Swedish company will maintain its headquarters in Gothenburg but will also work with the Scottish stem cell community to explore new business opportunities.
Girl With Genetic Defect Lives Seven Years After Parents Refuse Abortion
Billings, MT (LifeNews.com) — Hope Ann Webb lost her battle against trisomy 18 or Edward’s syndrome when her parents had her taken off life support last week. But she lived seven years and brought joy to everyone around her. Doctors had urged Hope’s mother, Teri Webb, to have an abortion after prenatal tests revealed her baby had a severely disabling genetic abnormality. "They told me it would be the humane thing, that there was absolutely no hope," Webb told the Billings Gazette. "They were wrong. Had I listened to them, we wouldn’t have had seven years of pure joy." Seven years of Hope, that is — and of hope. "The life she had was beautiful," said Webb’s fiance, Kevin Sparrow. "There were some rough times for sure. She had to struggle. But she had a chance to live. She had a chance to live." Most babies born with the condition die within a few days, and fewer than 10 percent live for a year. She said she knows some people think the public money used for Hope’s care was wasted, but she disagrees. "We pay our taxes. We pay into a system that should be there when somebody, especially a child, is in need," she said. "As a world power, don’t we have the responsibility to give our children a chance? Here we are the richest country in the world, and we say we can’t help a child live?"
Missouri Filibuster Against Embryonic Stem Cell Research Candidate Dies
Jefferson City, MO (LifeNews.com) — A filibuster by pro-life Sen. Matt Bartle against the appointment of a new member of the University of Missouri Board of Curators failed despite a 17-hour effort. Bartle took to the Senate floor Thursday morning in a lone effort to oppose the appointment of Warren Erdman as a curator. Erdman supported the passage of Amendment 2, which promoted the controversial research and promotes human cloning for research purposes. Bartle was an opponent of the amendment, and he doesn’t want someone who favors the research deciding how to spend university funds. "It would be impossible for him to separate this issue in running the University of Missouri system," he said. Once Bartle finally tired early Friday morning, the legislature approved the appointment.
Pro-Life Song Wins Annual Pop Music Contest in the Philippines
Manilla, Philippines (LifeNews.com) — "Bakho sa Anghel," a song that condemns abortion, topped 11 other songs to capture the top prize for composer Frederick Villarojo. He won the grand prize at the Cebu Pop Music Festival on Friday. This is the second year that lyricist Gwendolyn Suico- Crescencio penned the lyrics of the grand prize-winning song, after last year’s "Tatay, Pauli Na," a ballad for a father working overseas. It seemed a fitting ending to a night that began with the observation that "the highest form of praise for the Holy Child" is that offered through song.
