Medical Ethics
North Carolina clergy demonstrate against legislature’s new abortion limits
By Yonat Shimron — May 12, 2023
(RNS) — Their aim was to signal that not all Christians oppose abortion. A new state bill bans abortion after 12 weeks, down from the current 20.
Abortion pill rulings undermine religious freedom, interfaith leaders say
By Yonat Shimron — April 14, 2023
(RNS) — Multiple faith groups object to Judge Matthew J. Kacsmaryk’s ruling on mifepristone, saying it is motivated by a sectarian version of Christianity that tramples over their beliefs.
Resurrection drug? FDA approves over-the-counter Narcan amid opioid crisis
By Kathryn Post — April 6, 2023
(RNS) — ‘I’m afraid that we’re not to a resurrection era for people who use drugs,’ said one harm reduction advocate.
For many congregations, wiping out medical debt has become a popular calling
By Yonat Shimron — March 1, 2023
DURHAM, N.C. (RNS) — While donations from religious groups constitute less than 20% of RIP Medical Debt's overall revenue, they are becoming an increasingly common way for congregations to do social justice.
Poll: Support for abortion rights is strong, even among most religious groups
By Yonat Shimron — February 23, 2023
(RNS) — The outliers are white evangelicals, Jehovah's Witnesses, Latter-day Saints and Hispanic Protestants.
At Repro Shabbat, Jewish congregations try to change the narrative on abortion
By Yonat Shimron — February 16, 2023
(RNS) — At more than 1,200 synagogues this weekend, Jews will pushing back against the prevailing Christian view that abortion is religiously forbidden.
Alan Lightman’s new TV series explores where humans fit in the universe
By Yonat Shimron — January 6, 2023
(RNS) — In the new three-part series, the scientist interviews some of the brightest minds about the thorniest questions. How did life first emerge? Why are we here?
3 Jewish women file suit against Kentucky abortion bans on religious grounds
By Yonat Shimron — October 7, 2022
(RNS) — It's the third such suit brought by Jewish organizations or individuals since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, claiming the state is imposing a Christian understanding of when life begins.
On Yom Kippur, Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg explains why repentance is so important
By Yonat Shimron — October 3, 2022
(RNS) — Society often expects victims of harm to forgive their perpetrators, regardless of whether they've cleaned up their act, says Ruttenberg. Judaism offers another way.
Psychedelic salon looks to the possibility of sacred healing
By Kathryn Post — August 29, 2022
(RNS) — Against a backdrop of incense and multicolored lights, speakers shared how their lives had been transformed by plant medicine.
Kansas nuns oppose abortion-related state amendment, challenging archbishop
By Jack Jenkins — July 27, 2022
(RNS) — “A church sign said, ‘Jesus trusted women. We do too,’” reads the nuns’ letter.
Expansions on euthanasia should be sounding alarm bells for us all
By Avi Shafran — July 27, 2022
(RNS) — ‘In our utilitarian and utopian zeal, the right to die today may become the duty to die tomorrow,’ warns Toronto physician Mark D’Souza.
Catholic hospitals’ growth impacts reproductive health care
By David Crary and Susan Haigh — July 25, 2022
PUTNAM, Conn. (AP) — Concerns in blue states pertain to such services as contraception, sterilization and certain procedures for handling pregnancy emergencies.
Abortion doulas look to spiritual rituals as they brace for increased demand
By Kathryn Post — July 12, 2022
(RNS) — Abortion doulas who draw on spirituality challenge the abortion debate’s religious/secular divide.
What does it mean to be a ‘person’? Different cultures have different answers
By Robert Launay — July 12, 2022
(The Conversation) — The fundamental issue at stake in abortion debates is personhood, which is viewed differently around the world, an anthropologist writes.
