The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom called on the U.S. government May 6 to implement additional sanctions on Iranian authorities and security officials amid their increased crackdown on women and girls for “defying” that country’s mandatory hijab laws.
Proposed abortion ballot measures in several states move closer to qualifying for November
Abortion advocates in at least 15 states are seeking to qualify ballot measures for November that would enshrine abortion protections in law or their state constitutions, and some efforts recently got a step closer.
New York attorney sues pro-life groups over abortion pill reversal process
New York Attorney General Letitia James sued Heartbeat International, an anti-abortion group, and 11 crisis pregnancy centers May 6, accusing them of misleading and potentially causing harm to women by claiming that they can provide a treatment that reverses the effect of the abortion pill mifepristone.
Fertility decline a complex trend beyond any one policy solution, economists say
The U.S. fertility rate has slowed to a new record low, according to an analysis recently published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But experts said there does not appear to be any one policy that could reverse a complex trend.
Father Greg Boyle, Nancy Pelosi among Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients
Father Greg Boyle, a Jesuit priest who is the founder and director of Homeboy Industries, and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi were among 19 Americans awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, on May 3.
Arizona governor signs measure repealing state’s near-total ban on abortion
Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs signed a measure to repeal Arizona’s near-total ban on abortions just one day after it passed in the state’s Republican-controlled Senate.
Florida law prohibiting abortion after 6 weeks gestation goes into effect
A law prohibiting elective abortions after six weeks of pregnancy went into effect May 1 in Florida, as that state also faces a ballot measure on abortion in November.
Kansas Legislature successfully overrides governor’s vetoes of 4 pro-life measures
Kansas lawmakers voted to override Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s vetoes on pro-life legislation, a victory hailed by Catholic and pro-life advocates that comes just two years after voters in Kansas rejected a push to remove abortion protections from their state constitution.
Biden administration announces new regulations on gender identity policies
The Department of Health and Human Services announced new regulations April 26 that restore Obama-era protections for patients who identify as transgender that the Trump administration rolled back in 2020. The new rule follows another controversial rule adding gender identity to Title IX protections.
High court appears skeptical of Trump’s absolute immunity claim in landmark case for U.S. presidency
The Supreme Court heard oral arguments April 25 in a case concerning claims from former President Donald Trump that he is immune from criminal prosecution in a case charging him with seeking to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election while still in office.
Arizona House votes to repeal state’s near-total protections for unborn children
Arizona’s Republican-controlled House voted April 24 to repeal the state’s 1864 law banning abortion recently upheld by that state’s Supreme Court. Republicans in the state Senate recently allowed that chamber to proceed to a repeal vote, meaning that chamber could soon follow suit.
Supreme Court weighs Idaho abortion ban against federal emergency health care law
The Supreme Court on April 24 weighed a potential conflict between Idaho’s abortion restrictions and federal law governing emergency health care.