Bioethics Public Policy Report: Jannuary 7, 2025
STATE By State
Texas has filed suit against a New York state abortionist for mailing abortion-inducing drugs to a Texas resident. State Attorney General Ken Paxton noted that the patient who was prescribed the pills via telemedicine had to go to the hospital for serious medical complications associated with the drug, and Texas is seeking $100,000 in fines for each violation. For further information, click here.
In Oklahoma, Rep. Jim Olsen has proposed House Bill 1008 to increase protections for the unborn in the state. The bill, if passed, would make it a felony to perform an abortion, with exceptions to save the mother’s life. For further information, click here and here.
In Missouri, a judge has blocked the enforcement of the state ban on abortion following the passage of a state constitutional amendment to provide a “right” to abortion. It is, however, uncertain when abortions will resume in the state. For further information, click here.
Federal Courts
The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case challenging a 2018 South Carolina executive order to defund Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood claims that the state violated federal law by denying Medicaid patients a right to coverage at a qualified provider. The Alliance Defending Freedom is representing South Carolina and asserts that Congress did not create any such right as Planned Parenthood asserts. For further information, click here.
An Ohio school district agreed to a $450,000 settlement after forcing a teacher to resign two years ago for refusing to participate in the “social transition” of students expressing “gender identity” different from biological sex. The teacher had objected on religious grounds, believing such “social transitioning” is untrue and harmful. For further information, click here.
A woman in Florida was convicted under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act for her role in a conspiracy targeting pro-life pregnancy centers. She and her co-conspirators had spray painted threatening messages on the facilities. For further information, click here.
national
Republican senators expressed relief that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. indicated willingness to pursue pro-life policies while leading the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) after many had expressed fears about his past stances on abortion. For further information, click here.
Republicans of the House Energy and Commerce Committee have requested an investigation into HHS’s promotion of transgender procedures for children under the Biden administration. For further information, click here and here.
international
The pro-life president of Argentina’s Chamber of Deputies has indicated that he intends to attempt to repeal Argentina’s abortion law in the coming year. He indicated confidence that President Javier Milei would support the effort. For further information, click here.
The British Columbia Civil Liberties Association, which led the campaign for Canada’s Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) program, is now calling for safeguards, citing instances of abuse. MAID was responsible for approximately 1 in 20 deaths in Canada in 2023. For further information, click here.
A pro-life Canadian woman was acquitted of “criminal mischief to property” in connection with a protest outside of Toronto Abortion Clinic. The judge found a lack of evidence that the woman blocked access or harassed anyone outside. For further information, click here.
The Spanish supreme court ruled that surrogacy violates “the dignity proper to the human being” of both the pregnant woman and the child. Accordingly, the court invalidated a surrogacy contract as “contrary to public order.” For further information, click here.
In Nigeria, a Christian mother of five children was acquitted after a two-year long legal battle over a charge of blasphemy after the mother had allegedly shared a video condemning the lynching of a Christian. Nigerian Christians comprised over 90% of Christians killed for their faith in 2022. For further information, click here.
In Syria, Christians remain uncertain about the future following the overthrow of the Assad regime. Father Rami Elias, SJ, after meeting with the new government, said, “There are no guarantees, and we remain in limbo.” In Maaloula, tensions are rising between the resident Christians and Muslims who had been expelled under the previous regime. For further information, click here and here.
of note
The Vatican has officially opened the beatification process for King Baudouin of Belgium, who abdicated rather than sign into law a bill decriminalizing abortion in 1990. For further information, click here and here.
On Christmas Eve, Pope Francis launched the Jubilee of Hope by opening the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica. For further information, click here.
Bishop Timothy Senior of the Diocese of Harrisburg issued a pastoral letter on combating human trafficking, entitled Setting Captives Free. To read the letter, click here.
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The National Catholic Bioethics Center website is a significant resource for bioethics information. NCBC bioethicists are also on call for consultation twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, at 215-877-2660.
Justin Corman
Justin Corman is a guest editor at the NCBC, and a student at Ave Maria School of Law.