Abortion Issues

MADRID (AFP) - Spain's ruling Socialist Party agreed on Thursday to amend the most controversial of its abortion reforms, one that would have allowed girls of 16 to end a pregnancy without parental consent. Full Story »

BERKELEY, Calif. - The Berkeley City Council has a pointed message for Democratic members of the U.S. House who voted to keep federal funds from being used to pay for abortions. Full Story »

ROME (AFP) - The sale of the RU486 abortion pill in Italy was given a final green light on Wednesday, despite protests from the Vatican and members of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's government. Full Story »

STRASBOURG (AFP) - Three women brought their case against Ireland's strict abortion law to the European Court of Human Rights on Wednesday, saying the Catholic country's legislation violates their rights. Full Story »

WASHINGTON - Sen. Harry Reid's move to scuttle a fellow Democrat's effort to toughen abortion restrictions in the health care bill was the plain pragmatism of a majority leader who knows where the votes are — and faces a tough re-election next year. Full Story »

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The US Senate on Tuesday rejected an anti-abortion amendment to a health care reform bill, splitting the Democrats and complicating the chances of getting a 60-vote majority to pass the measure. Full Story »

The 54-45 roll call Tuesday by which the Senate rejected an effort to stiffen abortion restrictions in the health care bill. Full Story »

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate rejected on Tuesday an attempt to tighten restrictions on abortion coverage in a healthcare overhaul, threatening a crucial Democrat's support for passage of the final bill. Full Story »

WASHINGTON - Senate rejects measure to toughen abortion restrictions in health care bill. Full Story »

WASHINGTON - Buoyed by a presidential pep talk and intense rounds of negotiations, Senate Democrats hope to move closer to embracing a major health care bill this week by tackling the nettlesome issue of abortion. Full Story »

NEW YORK - A New York City woman faces charges that she tricked her husband's pregnant mistress into taking a drug that would cause an abortion. Full Story »

OMAHA, Neb. - An abortion doctor said Friday that he will likely perform more late-term procedures at his Nebraska practice to meet the demand left when a Kansas physician was shot and killed earlier this year. Full Story »

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Rep. Patrick Kennedy used the language of faith Monday to rally support for expanding the nation's health insurance system in his first public appearance since escalating a public feud with Rhode Island's Roman Catholic bishop over health care and publicly financed abortion. Full Story »

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate began work on a sweeping healthcare overhaul on Monday, with senators on both sides pouncing on findings in a nonpartisan budget report on insurance premiums to bolster their arguments. Full Story »

WICHITA, Kan. - Seemingly contradicting his own public statements, an attorney for the man accused of gunning down a Kansas abortion provider has argued in court documents that his client has an "absolute right" to present a defense that argues the killing was justified to stop abortion. Full Story »

NEW YORK (AFP) - The uneasy relationship between the Kennedy clan and the Catholic Church turned into open warfare Monday after a bishop said he was refusing communion to Patrick Kennedy due to his pro-abortion stand. Full Story »

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The nephew of ex-president John F. Kennedy, a US lawmaker, has been barred from receiving communion at his Catholic church due to his support for abortion rights, a newspaper reported Sunday. Full Story »

WASHINGTON - The White House is on a collision course with Catholic bishops in an intractable dispute over abortion that could blow up the fragile political coalition behind President Barack Obama's health care overhaul. Full Story »