Family issues

Republicans and some staunch pro-life Democrats in Congress are threatening to derail current health care reform efforts over the issue of abortion funding as Congress heads toward a final showdown on the contentious legislation.

But amid the uproar, some outside experts are insisting that there is no government funding of abortion in the Senate bill.

Timothy Jost, co-author of the casebook Health Law, which is widely used throughout the United States in teaching health law at law schools, insists that no tax dollars can go toward funding of abortions under the Senate bill. more >>

Tens of thousands of people took to the streets of multiple cities in Spain on Sunday to protest a new law that would allow abortion on demand.

Carrying banners and balloons and chanting, “No to abortion! Yes to life!,” pro-lifers demonstrated against the law that would allow a woman to have an abortion up to 14 weeks into her pregnancy.

Prior to the legislation, which passed in late February, women could only legally have an abortion in the cases of rape, fetal abnormality, or when the mother’s physical or mental health is at risk. more >>

Don Wildmon, founder of the American Family Association, on Wednesday announced that he has resigned as chairman of the pro-family activist group.

After heading AFA for more than 30 years, Wildmon decided to step down from the leadership role because of health reasons. He spent extensive amount of time in the hospital over the past few months after he was bitten by a mosquito carrying the encephalitis virus.

Encephalitis is inflammation of the brain and usually produces flu-like symptoms. But in more severe cases it can cause confusion and hallucinations, double vision, seizures, muscle weakness, and loss of consciousness. more >>

The Ohio judge overseeing the case of Rifqa Bary, the teen who ran away from her Muslim parents citing fear that she would be harmed for converting to Christianity, has urged the broken family to continue counseling with the aim of reconciliation.

During a court hearing Tuesday, Franklin County Juvenile Court Judge Elizabeth Gill rejected Mohamed and Aysha Bary’s request to cancel a reconciliation plan developed in January, which includes counseling.

The plan was created by the county child welfare agency, which has custody of Rifqa. The parents are upset that the agency has allowed their daughter to contact the Florida pastor who sheltered her after she ran away to Orlando. The parents believe her contact with Pastor Blake and Beverly Lorenz would hurt their chances of reconciliation. more >>

Grammy-winning, country music superstar Carrie Underwood said she shares a deep Christian bond with her new fiancé, whom she credits for improving her faith.

“Mike has improved my walk with God,” Underwood told People magazine in its latest issue. “It’s important to me, because down the road, I want someone who will help shape our kids into people who make the world a better place.”

The winner of the fourth season of “American Idol” became engaged to Canadian NFL hockey player Mike Fisher of the Ottawa Senators in December. more >>