Democratic Governor Tim Kaine of Virginia has signed a bill that blocks state funding for embryonic stem cell research. Money will not be provided to organizations or business that “research in Virginia on human cells or tissue derived from induced abortions or from stem cells obtained from human embryos.” Governor Kaine is a Catholic, and it will be interesting to see if other Catholic governors will follow his example. Also, he recently signed a bill that creates “Choose Life” license plates in Virginia.
The Spanish socialist group Solidarity has released a statement which reads: “We are socialists and we oppose abortion and its legalization. We oppose all attacks on life: the death penalty, torture, hunger, the arms race, war, slavery.” Notice that this statement actually encompasses much of the Catholic Church’s teaching on pro-life issues (as opposed to the right-wing American conservative doctrine), which extend to all stages of life.
Democratic Governor Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas, also a Catholic, signed the Women’s Right to Know Act which requires abortion providers to provide more information to women on fetal development and allows women to see an ultrasound and hear their child’s heartbeat before deciding to have an abortion. Abortion clinics will also be required to post signs inside that tell women that they cannot be forced to have an abortion. Governor Sebelius, also a Catholic, has been a stalwart in pro-choice politics. Nevertheless, her signing of this bill is certainly a positive move.
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