Conscience and "No Choice"

1. Sen. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma presented an amendment to a budget bill that would offer clear conscience protection to health care workers. The forces of "choice" defeated the amendment (56-41), and a majority of "Catholic" senators voted against it (16-9), including our own Sen. Gillibrand.

2. So the Administration is held a conference call to discuss abortion reduction strategies. See here and here. The Administration was represented by two ardently pro-abortion staff members (Tina Tchen, formerly of NOW, and Emily Barnes, formerly of Emily's List and Planned Parenthood), and we have no idea what pro-life folks were on the call. So, you can pretty much guess that this discussion will be focused not on limiting or regulating abortion or on offering alternatives to women (e.g., funding crisis pregnancy centers), but on the usual nonsense -- expanding "family planning" programs (i.e., contraceptives) to reduce "unplanned pregnancies".

3. Outstanding article by George Weigel, responding to an editorial from Chicago critical of Cardinal George's statement on NDU. At some point, "respect for the President" seems to have become one of the highest values of our culture. I must have missed that lesson during the last Administration, or, perhaps, during the coronation ceremony.

4. In Illinois, pro-lifers have defeated a state FOCA (like our New York State RHAPP bill). Constant vigilance.

5. Here's the classic inversion of values that is emblematic of our contemporary culture. Parenthood, instead of being about the generous gift of self by procreating and nurturing new life, instead is all about me, and how it makes me feel. Me, me, me, me, me, me. Selfishness is a self-fulfilling circle -- it will never make you happy, it will only make you more and more dissatisfied with yourself and your lack of satisfaction. It is also the pathway to the abortion clinic, the "family planning" clinic, and the divorce court. And to the Times Magazine.

6. Gov. Kathleen Sebelius sailed through her confirmation hearing without breaking a sweat -- and without hearing the word "abortion". Thanks guys. There's "advice and consent" for you, creampuff style.

7. As we try to figure out what to do about the economic situation, perhaps it would be worthwhile to listen to the Holy Father who, although not an economist, does know a thing our two about society and the human person.

8. Here in the United States, "liberal Catholicism" is pretty much an "exhausted project", in the words of Cardinal George. For a glimpse at what might have been, read this disturbing account of the state of the Church in Austria, where it appears that the inmates have taken over the asylum, and "liberal Catholicism" (i.e., Protestantism) is far from exhausted.

9. I'm glad somebody's thinking about how to defend the Earth against asteroids. I just hope it will work against aliens.

10. Blogged over the weekend on the disgraceful Iowa Supreme Court decision, and the egregious lie at the heart of the decision. Check it out.