Rapid expansion and mergers of Catholic hospitals with public and other non-profit institutions has resulted in a health care system in which religious dictates often overrule women's reproductive health care needs and choices.
State attorneys general have had a free, even arbitrary, hand to award $34 million in a legal settlement to women's groups for health, education, safety and vocation. Some states had a selection process; others appeared to have done very little.
Rebuffed in no uncertain terms by the Republican Party, her life-long political home, pro-choice leader Susan Cullman is talking about more pro-choice candidates, delegates and chapters in hopes that some day the GOP will listen to women.
The only surprise at the Republican National Convention may be the determination of the pro-choice Republicans not to give up. They are pressing on, offering delegates pizza, polls, pamphlets and pieces of their minds.
An Oklahoma Congressman's amendment, designed to discourage non-monogamous sex, has passed the House. It requires warnings about a usually harmless virus to be placed on condom packages and could require physicians to report infection in women.
The Supreme Court next week is expected to deliver two major rulings on abortion: one on the vague criminal laws that advocates say would bar virtually all abortions; the other, on the “bubble” laws that provide safety zones for abortion clinics.
Women leaders issue statement calling for the U.N. to stand by its prior commitment to women's rights. Advocates worry that conservative governments will sway delegates to approve a document that will roll back women's reproductive rights.
The drugs that could change the terms of the abortion debate by permitting women to end pregnancies early still have not been approved by
the Food and Drug Administration. A bill barring their approval is in Congress. Bush says he opposes them, too.
Panelists agreed that the female electorate does not vote as one. Women do care more about education and health care than male voters, they explain, but they differ dramatically about policy preferences and priorities.