The anniversary of the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion always sparks discussions about this hot-button issue, and the annual March for Life on the National Mall in Washington is one focus of much media attention. But this year there are a number of developments driving the abortion debate in new directions.
The pending health-care reform process, and the question of whether Congress will pass a bill allowing for abortion coverage in some form, is certainly one factor in the escalation of the debate. The election of Barack Obama, who supports abortion rights, also galvanized the anti-abortion movement, and that in turn has forced the abortion-rights movement to increase its lobbying efforts.
Added to this dynamic are the shooting death in May 2009 of George R. Tiller, a Kansas doctor who provided late-term abortions, and the September 2009 shooting death of James Pouillon, a well-known anti-abortion protester in Michigan. Also, Sen. Robert Casey Jr., a self-described pro-life Democrat from Pennsylvania, was heckled by abortion opponents in January, as was President Obama when he traveled to Massachusetts to campaign for senatorial candidate Martha Coakley.
These incidents have led some to argue that the atmosphere surrounding the abortion issue is more supercharged than usual. This edition of ReligionLink provides resources to help reporters navigate the volatile issues at stake.
Source: Religion Link
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