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Around Wisconsin
... La Crosse County gives domestic partner benefits to some employees
... Wisconsin Right to Life campaign finance case to be heard by US Supreme Court
... Activists' celebration of 25th anniversary of gay rights legislation somewhat muted
Around the Nation
... US Senate passes bill that would require destruction of human embryos; studies show promise of adult stem cells
... Michigan anti-bullying bill raises concerns
Around the World
... France's high court affirms traditional marriage
... World Congress of Families to meet in Warsaw
Around Wisconsin Family Council
... Wisconsin Family Council announces its Family Bulletin Board
... Updated list of legislation Wisconsin Family Council is tracking
Around Wisconsin
... La Crosse County gives domestic partner benefits to some employees
Earlier this week the La Crosse County Board approved medical and dental insurance for unmarried heterosexual or homosexual partners of certain employees. Board Chairman Steve Doyle said that the domestic partner benefits will save taxpayers money because the labor unions involved settled for less money for raises to get the benefits. Read more...
... Wisconsin Right to Life campaign finance case to be heard by US Supreme Court
The US Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on two campaign finance reform cases involving Wisconsin Right to Life on April 25, 2007. The District Court for the District of Columbia ruled in December 2006 that Wisconsin Right to Life's ads in 2004 were genuine grassroots lobbying and that it was unconstitutional to prohibit them under the terms of the McCain/Feingold campaign finance blackout periods prior to an election. The Federal Elections Commission and Sen. McCain appealed the decision to the US Supreme Court. Read more... (Click on Wisconsin Right to Life's McCain-Feingold Challenge on left side bar.)
... Activists' celebration of 25th anniversary of gay rights legislation somewhat muted
The Madison gay activist community's celebration of the 25th anniversary of gay rights legislation has been dampened by the passage of Wisconsin's Marriage Protection Amendment in November 2006. Read more...
Around the Nation
... US Senate passes bill that would require destruction of human embryos; studies show promise of adult stem cells
The US Senate has passed S.5, the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2007, a bill that would extend taxpayer-funded research to embryos supposedly left over from in vitro fertilization, on a vote of 63 to 34, just three votes shy of the 66 votes needed to override a presidential veto. President Bush has promised to veto the bill. Wisconsin Senators Russell Feingold (D-Middleton) and Herb Kohl (D-Milwaukee) were co-sponsors of S.5. Supporters of the bill seem to be deliberately ignoring studies showing the promise of adult stem cell research.
Just this week the Journal of Cell Biology published a study showing that stem cells from adult female mice are able to regenerate muscle fiber in mice with muscular dystrophy.
In addition, the Journal of the American Medical Association published an article this week showing that insulin-dependent Type I diabetics can be freed from reliance on injections by an injection of their own stem cells. Read more...
... Michigan anti-bullying bill raises concerns
The Michigan legislature has passed an amended anti-bullying bill (HB-4162) that gives the power of law to the Michigan Board of Education model bullying policy. That policy defines harassment or bullying as any action that is "reasonably perceived as being motivated either by any actual or perceived characteristic, such as race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression; or a mental, physical, or sensory disability or impairment; or by any other distinguishing characteristic. Such behavior is considererd harassment or bullying whether it takes place on or off school property, at any school-sponsored function, or in a school vehicle." American Family Association of Michigan President Gary Glenn says the current language of the bill should be replaced with "language that protects all students from bullying by prohibiting bullying against any student for any reason." Read more... [ED Note: Wisconsin's anti-bullying bill (SB 42) directs the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) to develop a model anti-bullying policy. DPI started working on anti-bullying guidelines in the fall of 2006 after a bill similar to SB 42 failed to become law last legislative session. The work group included DPI personnel and representatives from several educational and administrative organizations. However, from what we can tell, only one student group was represented during the formation of the policy, and that was, interestingly, the Gay-Straight Alliance for Safe Schools. SB 42 is not only unnecessary but potentially dangerous. We agree with Gary Glenn: Any anti-bullying policy should protect all students for any reason.] Radio commentary
Around the World
... France's high court affirms traditional marriage
Last month France's highest court upheld the decision of a lower court that rejected the 2004 "marriage" of two homosexual men. The court declared that "under French law, marriage is a union between a man and a woman." A 2006 report of Information Mission, a commission formed by the president of the French National Assembly to investigate whether French law should be updated to better protect rights of children and reflect changes in the French family, concluded that natural marriage must be preserved. "This corresponds to a biological reality, that same-sex couples are naturally infertile, and to an imperative, that of helping the child develop his/her identity as necessarily coming from the union of a man and a woman." The commission's ultimate decision to oppose gay marriage and adoption was "to affirm and protect children's rights and the primacy of those rights over adults' aspirations." Read more...
... World Congress of Families to meet in Warsaw
The World Congress of Families (WCF) was started by Dr. Allan Carlson, president of the Howard Center for Family, Religion and Society, in 1997 to affirm the essential role of the natural family in civilized society through networking with like-minded international activists, thinkers, leaders and legislators. The fourth WCF will convene in Warsaw, Poland May 11-13, 2007. Previous congresses have been held in Prague in 1997 (at the founding of WCF); Geneva in 1999 and Mexico City in 2004. Issues for discussion include Gender Rights or Family Rights, The Family Home as the Center of Upbringing and Education, The Effects of Marital Fidelity and Harmony on the Family, How Abortion Undermines the Family, and The Harm of Same-Sex Marriage.
Around Wisconsin Family Council
... Wisconsin Family Council announces its Family Bulletin Board
Starting April 24, Wisconsin Family Council will post announcements about upcoming pro-family events around the state and include them in each Family E-Connection.
Email the article to familyeconnection@wifamilycouncil.org at least two weeks in advance. Please include the name, phone number and email address (if available) of a contact person. You may also fax the information to 608-256-3370.
All submissions are subject to editing and will be posted at the discretion of Wisconsin Family Council. Posting on WFC's Family Bulletin Board does not necessarily imply endorsement of events.
Here's our first post:
On Sunday evening, April 22, the Medical Focus Group of Elmbrook Church is hosting a Bioethics seminar entitled "Artificial Reproductive Technolgogies: An Introductory Bioethics Seminar for Christians." The event will be held at Elmbrook Church from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Elmbrook Church is located at 777 S Barker Rd, Brookfield, WI. For more information, contact Ellen Klandrud at 262-784-9495 or via e-mail at eklandrud@wi.rr.com.
... Updated list of legislation Wisconsin Family Council is tracking
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