Month in review

A majority of Americans believe that abortion is "morally wrong," according to the most recent Gallup poll. 53 per cent of Americans said abortion was "morally wrong", up from 45 per cent last year. Only 38 per cent of respondents thought that abortion was "morally acceptable." ... Palm Beach Post reports that pro-life actor Martin Sheen will stump for Florida Democratic gubernatorial candidate Janet Reno in her bid to oust pro-life Republican Governor Jeb Bush. Reno was the pro-abortion attorney general under former President Bill Clinton ... Since Florida began offering Choose Life licence plates, the state has raised more than $1 million for pregnancy counselling centres. ... Louisiana budget allots $1.5 million to fund abortion alternative services, such as crisis pregnancy centres, maternity homes and adoption centres. ... Alaska Gov. Tony Knowles (D) vetoed a bill that would restrict taxpayer funding of abortion, saying if the bill passed, government would be "playing doctor and invading the privacy of women." ... June was Abortion Awareness Month in the black community. Although the black community makes up just 12 per cent of America's population, black women account for one-third of all U.S. abortions as almost 13 million unborn black babies have been killed in the last 20 years making it the number one cause of death in the black community. ... Lawyer for Virginia abortionist Rodger A. Fraser admits client committed 22 abortions after the state's medical board suspended his licence to practise medicine.

It is estimated that the one millionth baby conceived by in vitro-fertilization has been born. The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children noted that since the birth of the first IVF baby, Louise Brown, in 1978, tens of millions of IVF babies have "perished in a process which puts early unborn lives at an enormously disproportionate risk of death." Millions more are kept in cold storage. ... Saudi Arabia announces intention to begin embryonic stem cell research by September, in hopes of becoming biotechnology leader in the Middle East. ... South African Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang complains too few of the country's doctors are committing abortions. ... China says it will deport pregnant North Korean refugees who say they will be forced to abort their unborn children if returned to their homeland. ... Swiss Catholic bishops conference deplored an overwhelming decision by voters to legalize abortion, saying it opened the door to euthanasia: "The fact that from now on it is possible to end unborn life during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy without punishment opens the door for further dangers to the respect of life both at the start - extension of the period for abortion, removing of a fetus with possible handicaps, etc. - and at its end - euthanasia." ... Provisional figures show that 186,200 English and Welsh babies were killed by abortion last year. The Office for National Statistics (UK) reveals that 76 per cent of abortions were funded by taxpayers through the National Health Service. ... Women's Commission of the European Parliament voted 21-11 to adopt a document calling all member nations to provide taxpayer-funded abortion and to increase access to the morning-after pill. The full European Parliament will vote on the document in July.

At Toronto conference of Lutherans, Leonard Harms, director of the 80,000-member church's social ministry service says, "There's growing concern among Lutherans across the country about life issues like embryonic stem cell research, abortion and cloning." Sandra Brown of the Lutheran Women's Caucus in Philadelphia, Penn., told Canadian Press, "Many of us believe in the right of women to have a say over their own bodies and support embryonic stem cell research as a way to save life."

Jean Augustine, who won her riding of Etobicoke-Lakeshore in 1993 after being one of the group of pro-abortion women Jean Chretien parachuted into various constituencies, was appointed to the re-established portfolio of minister for women's and multicultural affairs. The position was dropped from cabinet after Hedy Fry was dispatched in a January shuffle. ... National Post reports that Progressive Conservative leader Joe Clark confidant Harvie Andre will announce he is stepping down as party head at August convention. Clark's wife Maureen McTeer and daughter Catherine are pressuring him to take up an other career, "possibly at the United Nations." ... NDP leader Alexa McDonough stepped down as leader. MP Bill Blaikie, has already announced he will seek to replace her. MPs Svend Robinson and Lorne Nystrom and Toronto city councillor Jack Layton are expected to join Blaikie. All support legal abortion and the expansion of same-sex rights. ... Ontario Finance Minister Janet Ecker announces that tuition tax credit for parents of independent school children will not increase from 10 per cent to 20 per cent of tuition as had been scheduled.