Category Archives: law

Good News From Vermont

Posted on May 25, 2013 by Andrew Stuttaford

Vermont may be a lefty sort of place, but occasionally it gets some things right. MSNBC reports: After 10 years of emotionally-charged debate, Vermont became the first state in the country to pass a doctor-assisted suicide bill through the legislative … Continue reading →

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Making Friends and Influencing People

Posted on February 23, 2013 by Andrew Stuttaford

The Indianapolis Star reports: Women obtaining an abortion-inducing drug would be required to undergo an ultrasound before and after taking the drug under a bill approved Wednesday by an Indiana Senate committee. Though the bill doesn’t specify that it be … Continue reading →

Posted in law, politics | Tagged , | 2 Comments

First Amendment, Second Amendment

Posted on January 29, 2013 by Andrew Stuttaford

The Economist picks up on this letter from 64 Roman Catholic theologians in favor of gun control. With so much talk of late of the supposed attack on religious freedom represented by Obamacare’s contraception mandate, this passage caught my eye: … Continue reading →

Posted in Church & State, debate, law, politics | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Gene Genie

Posted on January 15, 2013 by Andrew Stuttaford

Should people be allowed to see details of their own genetic information? Of course. Yet, as Reason’s Ron Bailey points out in a post linking to this article by Slate’s Virginia Hughes, “timorous and condescending bioethicists and physicians” insist on … Continue reading →

Posted in law, science | Tagged , | 1 Comment

A Good Question

Posted on January 12, 2013 by Andrew Stuttaford

This article by the British cook, writer and entrepreneur, Prue Leith, on the death of her brother is a harrowing read, but it is a reminder of the suffering that those such as Boston’s Cardinal O’Malley (a key opponent of … Continue reading →

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A World Without Guns? No Thanks.

Posted on January 12, 2013 by Andrew Stuttaford

Cross-posted on the Corner: Sam Harris is a “New Atheist” and a Second Amendment skeptic too — wait, wait – and there’s a lot to disagree with in this new piece of his (“collective psychosis”, good lord). Nevertheless, agree or … Continue reading →

Posted in debate, law, politics | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Via Dolorosa

Posted on January 1, 2013 by Andrew Stuttaford

Grim reading, I fear, for New Year’s Day, but the (London) Daily Mail has a report here on the evolution of the ‘Liverpool Pathway’, a National Health Service procedure which “involves withdrawal of lifesaving treatment, with the [terminally] sick sedated … Continue reading →

Posted in law, science | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

“Sensible Proposals”

Posted on December 26, 2012 by Andrew Stuttaford

Heather, you wrote: Anyone who was expecting Vice President Wayne LaPierre to break the NRA’s week-long silence after the Newtown massacre with an olive branch and some sensible proposals regarding better background checks, say, or restrictions on high-capacity ammo clips … Continue reading →

Posted in debate, law, politics | Tagged | 1 Comment

Social Justice and All That

Posted on December 20, 2012 by Andrew Stuttaford

The Pope, writing in the Financial Times today: Christians work for more equitable sharing of the earth’s resources out of a belief that, as stewards of God’s creation, we have a duty to care for the weakest and most vulnerable. … Continue reading →

Posted in law, Religion, Uncategorized | Tagged | 1 Comment

Leviathan vs. Behemoth

Posted on November 3, 2012 by Andrew Stuttaford

EUObserver reports: BRUSSELS – The European Commission has said that Poland’s prosecution of a rock group for “blasphemy” is against European values. It said on Wednesday (31 October) in a written statement for EUobserver that “national blasphemy laws are a … Continue reading →

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