Archive - Tom Strode
LIFE DIGEST: Researchers moving to reprogrammed cells from embryonic ones
Prominent scientists previously committed to stem cell research that destroys human embryos apparently are shifting their allegiance to reprogrammed stem cells that do no harm. more »
By Tom Strode - Aug 19, 2008
Topic: Life, Abortion, Cloning, Stem-Cell Research, Science, Bioethics
LIFE DIGEST: Prosecutor of Planned Parenthood loses in primary
Planned Parenthood’s primary prosecutorial adversary went down to defeat Aug. 5.
Phill Kline, who became well known for his efforts to prosecute an affiliate of the country’s leading abortion provider, lost in the Aug. more »
By Tom Strode - Aug 12, 2008
In China speech on eve of Olympics, Bush declares opposition to country’s repression
President Bush declared the United States’ “firm opposition” to China’s repression of religious liberty and other human rights on the eve of the opening ceremony of the Summer Olympics in Beijing. more »
By Tom Strode - Aug 7, 2008 - (2)
Topic: Citizenship, Human Rights, Persecution, Religious Liberty, Issues,
ERLC urges action on indecency bill
The Southern Baptist Convention’s ethics entity is urging support for legislation to reaffirm the federal government’s authority to regulate broadcast indecency. more »
By Tom Strode - Aug 5, 2008
Topic: Family, Children, Pop Culture, Citizenship,
LIFE DIGEST: Appeals court gives partial-birth ban new life
The U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals announced July 28 the full court will reconsider a decision by a three-judge panel that invalidated Virginia’s ban on partial-birth abortion, providing hope the law may survive after all. more »
By Tom Strode - Aug 5, 2008
Topic: Faith, Bible, 10 Commandments, Life, Abortion, Birth Control, End-of-Life Issues
Rep.: Bush should use ‘bully pulpit’ in China
For Republican Congressman Zach Wamp, the only successful trip by President Bush to China for the Olympics will be one in which he uses the “bully pulpit of the White House.” more »
By Tom Strode - Aug 1, 2008
Topic: Citizenship, Human Rights, Persecution, Religious Liberty
Bush urged to encourage Chinese believers
The right words from President Bush in Beijing could prove extremely helpful to many Christians suffering in China, said a leading advocate for the persecuted church in that country. more »
By Tom Strode - Aug 1, 2008
Topic: Citizenship, Human Rights, Persecution, Religious Liberty
House, Bush send signals to China on rights abuses
The U.S. House of Representatives and President Bush have signaled to China’s Communist regime its violations of religious liberty and other human rights will not be forgotten as the opening of the Summer Olympics in Beijing nears. more »
By Tom Strode - Aug 1, 2008
Topic: Life, Abortion, Citizenship, Human Rights, Persecution, Religious Liberty
House approves FDA regulation of tobacco
The House of Representatives voted convincingly July 30 to give the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authority to regulate tobacco products.
Representatives voted 326-102 for the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, H.R. 1108. A two-thirds vote was required to pass the measure under the rules of the House.
The legislation would authorize the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to control the manufacture, promotion and sale of such products as cigarettes and chewing tobacco.
Supporters of the bill hailed the House action after years of working for its passage.
“It is far past time for the lethal product of tobacco to be regulated by the Food and Drug Administration,” said Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission. “It is unconscionable that every substance that is taken to try to quit smoking is regulated by the FDA, but tobacco is not. Approximately 400,000 Americans die every year as a result of their addiction to tobacco.
“I applaud the courage of the 326 House members, Democrat and Republican, who supported this bill bringing tobacco under the regulation of the FDA in spite of the attempts at pressure brought to bear by the tobacco lobby,” Land told Baptist Press.
The measure not only would give the FDA oversight over the production, marketing and sale of tobacco products, but it would ban candy-, fruit- and spice-flavored cigarettes. Backers of the bill especially are hopeful it will result in a reduction in smoking by teenagers.
The legislation faces a more difficult challenge in the Senate, as well as at the White House.
The Bush administration released a statement July 30 expressing opposition to the bill. If Congress sends the bill to the president, he will be advised to veto it, according to the statement. The White House said it supports attempts to reduce smoking, but it said the bill would burden the FDA, conflict with the agency’s responsibility to regulate drugs and establish a regressive tax.
Some House opponents of the legislation made similar arguments during debate July 30.
Nearly all Democrats voted for the bill. The Republicans were almost evenly divided. Democrats voted 230-3 for the measure while the GOP voted 99-96 against it.
The ERLC’s Land commended a Republican leader from a tobacco-producing state for voting for the bill. “The floor speech by Eric Cantor, congressman from Richmond, Va., in support of this bill was particularly courageous,” Land said.
Cantor, who is the GOP’s chief deputy whip, said more than 6,000 jobs in his district are directly related to the production of tobacco.
The three Democratic opponents were Reps. Joe Baca of California, Lincoln Davis of Tennessee and Heath Shuler of North Carolina. Davis and Shuler are members of Southern Baptist churches.
The Southern Baptist Convention has passed tobacco-related resolutions dating to 1932. A 1984 resolution urged churches and other SBC entities to encourage Southern Baptists not to use tobacco. It also called on Southern Baptist farmers not to raise tobacco but to grow another crop when feasible. In 2005, the SBC adopted a resolution urging an increased effort to reduce sm more »
By Tom Strode - Jul 31, 2008 - (1)
Topic: Family, Addictions, Living, Health, Citizenship, Legislation
Court revisits partial-birth abortion case
A federal appeals court has provided hope that Virginia’s ban on partial-birth abortion may withstand its scrutiny after all.
The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals has decided the full court will reconsider a May decision by a three-judge panel that the state prohibition on the gruesome late-term abortion procedure is unconstitutional. more »
By Tom Strode - Jul 31, 2008
Topic: Life, Abortion, Citizenship,