The principal of Canyon High School in Canyon, Texas, quickly reacting to a demand letter from the THOMAS MORE LAW CENTER, rescinded his earlier decision prohibiting John Denton from wearing his pro-life sweatshirt at school. Denton, a junior student, was told on April 22, 2002, that he could no longer wear his sweatshirt that displayed the message "ABORTION IS HOMICIDE." As a result, Denton contacted the Law Center, a national public interest law firm based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, which defends the religious freedom of Christians and the sanctity of human life. THOMAS MORE LAW CENTER Associate Counsel Edward White sent a demand letter to the Canyon school officials explaining Denton’s constitutional right to wear his pro-life clothing and demanding that the school immediately provide written assurance that Denton would be permitted to wear his pro-life sweatshirt to school. The Center requested an answer from the school district by May 10th. On May 9th, the School District’s attorney sent the Center a letter explaining that the principal had changed his decision and that Denton may again wear his pro-life sweatshirt to school. The "ABORTION IS HOMICIDE" sweatshirt worn by Denton was distributed by ROCK FOR LIFE, a division of the AMERICAN LIFE LEAGUE (www.rockforlife.org). to allow students to voice their pro-life views.

Mark Crutcher, head of LIFE DYNAMICS, has just published "CHILD PREDATORS," an expose of how adult males are sexually exploiting teenage girls. The expose shows the connection between PLANNED PARENTHOOD and THE NATIONAL ABORTION FEDERATION and how these groups are concealing sex crimes against girls. Both of these groups profit from the unplanned pregnancies resulting from girls being sexually assaulted by adult males.

(www.traditionalvalues.org)

Almost one in four women who gave birth last year had a Caesarean section, the highest rate in 13 years - an increase fueled by repeat operations and also women who schedule C-sections for convenience. C-sections had dropped in the early 1990s after an outcry that American women were getting too many. But in 1997, they started inching back up again. Last year brought the biggest jump yet, a 7 percent increase that "was certainly a surprise," said Joyce Martin, co-author of a CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION birth report that was released in June, 2002. Women’s risk of death, although small, is three to seven times higher than during vaginal delivery, according to the AMERICAN COLLEGE OF OBSTETRICIANS AND GYNECOLOGISTS. They also have longer hospital stays, a higher risk of post-delivery infection and increased pain.

(Associated Press)

During its annual meeting, the Presbyterian Church (USA), the nation’s largest Presbyterian denomination, okayed a woman’s right to abort her child. They said abortion was acceptable as long as an unborn child is not "viable," meaning that it could not survive outside the mother’s womb, even with medical help. Even after that, however, delegates said a woman could still abort her child after what it calls "prayer and pastoral consultation. The decision, passed by an overwhelming 394-112 margin, took place at the Presbyterian Church USA’s annual General Assembly, held in Columbus, Ohio. Judy L. Woods, moderator of the Presbyterian Church USA’s advisory committee on litigation, told The Columbus Dispatch (Ohio): "WE AFFIRMED THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT TO (ABORTION) PRIOR TO VIABILITY. BUT AFTER VIABILITY, WE HAVE SAID THAT ALTHOUGH THERE IS STILL A RIGHT TO CHOOSE (ABORTION), THAT CHOICE HAS TO BE UNDERTAKEN AFTER PRAYER AND PASTORAL CONSULTATION...AND ONLY IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES." However, Terry Schlossberg, executive director of Presbyterians Pro-Life, said those "certain circumstances" listed in the decision essentially allowed abortion under any circumstances. "THIS ALLOWS FOR SO MANY EXCEPTIONS; THERE’S NO WAY FOR THE CHURCH TO COUNSEL THAT ANY LATE-TERM ABORTION WOULD BE OBJECTIONABLE." he said. The Columbus Dispatch reported that the delegates also voted to retain payment for late-term abortions in the denomination’s medical benefits plan.

(The Columbus Dispatch, 6/22/02; AFR News, 6/25/02)

The Alan Guttmacher Institute, an arm of PLANNED PARENTHOOD, has just posted a nationwide survey of abortion rates in the United States. It also lists how many pro-abortion clinics are in each congressional district and how many are owned by PLANNED PARENTHOOD. The statistics show, for example, that 19 percent of all babies in Pennsylvania are aborted; 50% in Washington, D. C. Utah and South Dakota have the lowest abortion percentages with 7% and 9% respectively.

(www.traditionalvalues.org)

British toy retailer Gary Grant believes in something greater than the HARRY POTTER phenomenon: HIS FAITH. Grant, co-owner of the country’s largest independent chain of toy stores, The Entertainer, will not stock merchandise tied to the (recently released) HARRY POTTER film. . .because the Christian owner is concerned that children will be drawn into the occult, the (London) Daily Telegraph reported. "I AM NOT HAPPY TO TURN WHAT IS GOOD READING INTO ROLE PLAY," said Grant, 43, whose stance could cost the company’s 28 stores thousands in lost sales. "MY CONCERN IS THAT CHILDREN START OFF WITH SOMETHING QUITE INNOCENT WHICH CAN GET OUT OF HAND. AS A PARENT I DO NOT WANT THEM DRAWN INTO OUIJA BOARDS AND THE OCCULT. I HAVE TO BE HAPPY WITH WHAT I STOCK. I HAVE TO UPHOLD MY CHRISTIAN VALUES IN MY PRIVATE AND MY PUBLIC LIFE. JESUS FOR ME IS NOT JUST SUNDAYS."

(-CNS, 10/9/01 and Morning Glory - THE BIBLE FRIEND, March 2002)

China’s population control policy which has been enforced for 21 years limits urban families to one child and allows rural families to have a second child if their first child is a girl. As a result of the nearly quarter-century policy, the widespread use of sex-selective abortions and female infanticide, China now faces a demographic imbalance of 117 boys for every 100 girls.

(From The Interim, February 2002)

One of the legacies of Bill Clinton’s affair with Monica Lewinsky is the popularization of oral sex among our nation’s teenagers. Clinton claimed not to understand that oral sex is actually sex - and many teens believe the same thing. A major story in the May 27,2002 issue of U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT discusses this dangerous new trend among teens. According to CDC statistics, kids are engaging in sex at younger and younger ages. Nearly 1 in 10 loses his or her virginity before 13, a 15% increase since 1997. Now teens are convinced that oral sex is “safe sex” and are engaging it in increasing numbers. In several surveys, as many as half of teens ages 13 to 19 say they have had oral sex - and many of them are acquiring gonorrhea of the throat as a result of this sexual behavior.

(www.traditionalvalues.org)

In another sign that Hispanics will dominate California’s future, a university study found that the ethnic group accounted for nearly half of all births in the state by the end of the last decade. Hispanic mothers had 247,796 of the 521,265 children born in California in 1998, or 47.5 percent, according to the UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA at Los Angeles study. Non-Hispanic whites had 33.9 percent, followed by Asians and Pacific Islanders with 10.7 percent. Blacks represented 6.8 percent of births and American Indians a half-percent of all births. The center’s study, based on state health department statistics confirms the ethnic shift that made 2001 the year that California officially lost its white majority. The U. S. Census showed Hispanics made up nearly a third while non-Hispanic whites slipped to less than half of the state’s total population of 33.9 million.

The chemical abortion drug RU-486, currently sold in the U.S., has been banned in China. Although manufactured in China, the Beijing Youth Daily (October 10, 2001) reported that the Chinese government recently banned pharmacies in China from dispensing RU-486. The Beijing Chembao (Beijing Morning Report) reported, "IN ORDER TO GUARANTEE PATIENTS’ SAFETY AND PROTECT THEIR HEALTH, IT IS DECIDED THAT NO MATTER WHETHER PATIENTS HAVE A DOCTOR’S PRESCRIPTION OR NOT, RETAIL DRUG STORES ARE FORBIDDEN TO SELL MIFEPRISTONE TABLETS." Some Beijing-area hospitals have reported treating women suffering dangerous side effects. Last year, the Los Angeles Times reported that Shanghai Hua Lian Pharmaceutical Co., the Chinese manufacturer of mifepristone, has been cited by the U. S. House Commerce Committee for "BRINGING MISLABELED AND IMPURE DRUGS INTO THE UNITED STATES."

(www.chinaonline.com)

The Philippine government has banned the "morning after" pill. Filipino pro-lifers had argued to the BUREAU OF FOOD AND DRUGS that because the "morning after" pill can prevent the implantation of the embryo it is an abortifacient. The pro-aborts argued that human life begins at implantation, and not at conception. - a position that is absurd on the face. (The fertilized egg - i.e., the embryo - is genetically distinct from mother and father. All the embryo does after implantation is grow bigger. Under the pro-aborts’ definition of human life, humanity depends on location and size.) Leading Philippine medical bodies, pharmaceutical bodies and various companies all agreed with the pro-lifers that human life begins at conception. Only the SWARZ PHARMA, the maker of the drug, argued for human life at implantation. Thus, the director of the BUREAU OF FOOD AND DRUGS found in favor of the pro-life position in October of 200. However, the Health Secretary had to approve the finding. Weeks passed, nothing was done, and the pill was used. Then the Philippine pro-life group ABAYFAMILYA (FAMILY FRONT) pointed out the legal consequences for failing to halt the importation of the pill. Finally, in January of this year, the Health Secretary approved a circular banning the importation, sale and use of this drug. This is only the first round. The pro-aborts are expected to bring international pressure to change the result. Chile and the Philippines are the only countries known to have prohibited the "morning after" pill.

(VOICES FOR THE UNBORN - April 2002)

School officials at HOLIDAYSBURG AREA SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL in Pennsylvania had to be threatened with a federal lawsuit before they would allow salutatorian Shannon Wray to give a graduation speech that referred to Jesus Christ. Liberty Counsel threatened to sue the school on behalf of Wray’s freedom of religion and speech. Wray gave her speech and included the following: "HE (JESUS) EVEN MORE SO THAN THE PEOPLE I LOVE, HAS BEEN THERE EVERYDAY, NEVER FORCING ME TO DO ANYTHING, BUT ALWAYS ENCOURAGING ME TO STRETCH MY LIMITS AND STRIVE FOR THE BEST HE HAS TO OFFER. HIS NAME IS JESUS. HE IS MY GREATEST FRIEND."