VIABLE FETUS IS A PERSON: In a decision that could have a bearing on the federal Partial-Birth Abortion Ban and the Unborn Victims of Violence Act, Kentucky's supreme court decided June 17 that killing a viable unborn child is homicide. After the state legislature passed a bill outlawing fetal homicide, the court jettisoned the old "born alive" rule-which meant that homicide could not take place until after a baby had been born-and adopted the new standard. Justice William Cooper argued that "the rationale for the 'born alive' rule no longer exists." But the court declined to decide if homicide could be committed against a non-viable unborn child. The fetal homicide law exempts abortion but Cooper wrote that he feared the law could be applied to "a consensual abortion of a nonviable fetus or to seek the death penalty for the double murder of a pregnant woman and her nonviable fetus."
COMBATING INDECENCY: By a vote of 99 to 1, the U.S. Senate voted June 22 to increase indecency fines on broadcasters and performers to a maximum of $3 million a day. Said Senate sponsor Sam Brownback (R.-Kan.), "People are tired of this indecent material on over-the-air public broadcast, particularly during prime time when people's families are watching. We're going to have to take action because the broadcasters won't police themselves." Retiring Sen. John Breaux (D.-La.) voted against the legislation, which applied only to broadcast TV and radio. Cable and satellite content are not regulated by the FCC for indecency. The House has also passed legislation to hike fines, but in amounts differing from the Senate's version, so a final change will have to be worked out in conference committee.
CHRISTIANS WIN: The Thomas More Law Center succeeded in winning $50,000 in attorney's fees and an apology for its clients in their lawsuit against Palm Beach, Fla. Two residents, Maureen Donnell and Fern Tailer deNarvaez, offered to donate Nativity scenes to accompany city-sponsored menorahs during the Christmas season. Said Donnell, "We won everything that we wanted." Palm Beach ignored the women's offers and did not allow Nativity scenes to go up on its property. A consent decree from a federal district judge ordered, "Should the town erect or allow the display of religious symbols on public property. . .all religious symbols will be given equal treatment." The Thomas More Law Center reports that it "is involved in numerous cases across the country dealing with the public display of Christian religious symbols, including a similar lawsuit against the New York City public school system, whose written policy permits students to display the Jewish menorah and the Islamic star and crescent, but prohibits students from displaying Christian Nativity scenes. That case is on appeal in the Second Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals."
TV BY STUDENTS: The U Network (TUN), debuting this September, will target college students in the United States, Britain, and Canada. TUN will feature programming by students themselves and include "the first national collegiate news show," it boasts. Its programming will range from politics to drama, comedy, and music. "The network already has a commitment from more than 100 campuses representing more than 11 million viewers," says TUN. TUN representatives say it will offer balanced programming-i.e., not dominated by liberals-and even have some military-themed shows.
THE FUTURE: As conservatives look ahead to the Senate vote on the Federal Marriage Amendment (FMA) this July 12, Prison Fellowship President Mark Earley noted in a June 28 "BreakPoint" radio commentary that legal equality for same-sex "marriages" will inevitably lead to their equality being taught to children: "If you're looking at the same-sex 'marriage' debate and thinking it won't affect you, allow me to bring the truth home to you-before your own children bring it home themselves. Imagine finding out that your kindergartner's teacher read the story Heather Has Two Mommies or Daddy's New Roommate before nap time. Having two daddies or two mommies is just the same as having one of each, she explains. Or perhaps you'll learn over the dinner table that a special speaker visited your middle-schooler's health class. . . . If this appalls you-and it should-you need to know that this is not fantasy, but a foretaste of what will likely become the norm in public schools across America if you and I fail to protect marriage."
