personhood

Alabama’s IVF protection law redefines embryonic personhood

By Mark Silk — March 13, 2024
(RNS) — A process that is taking place across the country.

For infertile couples, the fate of frozen embryos is deeply personal

By Bob Smietana — March 6, 2024
(RNS) — A recent ruling in Alabama that declared frozen embryos to be children has led to fierce debates in politics and on social media. For families who have leftover embryos, the issues are more personal. And the ruling raised important ethical issues about IVF.

The real threat of AI isn’t what you think

By Charles C. Camosy — September 29, 2023
(RNS) — AI has the capacity to undermine our understanding of the human person.

50 years after Roe, many ethics questions shape the abortion debate: 4 essential reads

By Molly Jackson — January 19, 2023
(The Conversation) — Looking at the underlying philosophical and moral questions involved in abortion debates can help explain why it’s such an intensely divisive issue.

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.

SoulCycle’s Peoplehood offers a gig-economy cure for loneliness

By Tara Isabella Burton — June 4, 2022
(RNS) — Intimate connection for urban dwellers may be the modern answer to pandemic loneliness.

What is ‘personhood’? The ethics question that needs a closer look in abortion debates

By Nancy S. Jecker — May 13, 2022
(The Conversation) — The definition of personhood is a key and contested philosophical issue that has made legalized abortion such a longstanding controversy.

Voters pass wage hikes and legal pot, divide on abortion

By Greg Toppo — November 5, 2014
(RNS) Tennessee approved a constitutional amendment that will give more power to state lawmakers to regulate and restrict abortion.

COMMENTARY: When it comes to personhood, science is a ‘category error’

By Jeffrey Weiss — July 8, 2014
(RNS) Science is all but useless in arguments about personhood. Because almost everyone who takes a position does so on the basis of religious belief.

Catholic hospital under fire for saying fetuses aren’t ‘people’

By Bob Smietana — January 25, 2013
(RNS) A Catholic hospital in Colorado has argued in court documents that it is not liable for the deaths of two 7-month-old fetuses because those fetuses are not people.

Sultans of Satire aims to bridge gaps with Muslims, Arabs through comedy

By Megan Sweas — October 30, 2012

LOS ANGELES (RNS) The Sultans of Satire stand-up comedy show aims to challenge stereotypes and sensitivities about Muslims and Arabs while bringing people together through a few laughs -- even though much of the material couldn't be printed by a family-friendly newspaper. By Megan Sweas.

Middle East riots fueled by competition between radicals, moderates as new democracies emerge

By Oren Dorell — September 17, 2012

(RNS) Whether U.S. foreign policy has helped create a political environment where radicals are struggling to remain relevant, or emboldened extremists to act out, is a matter of disagreement. By Oren Dorell.

The ‘maverick’ Egyptian-American Copt behind the anti-Muslim film

By Daniel Burke — September 13, 2012

(RNS) The man who circulated the trailer of an obscure anti-Islam film, promoted it on his website and posted it on social media was a little known Egyptian-American Coptic Christian activist who lives near Washington and proudly touts his ties to Quran-burner Terry Jones. By Daniel Burke. 

How the Lord’s Prayer saved a 9/11 survivor

By Kay Campbell — September 11, 2012

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (RNS) For John Mahony, a retired U.S. Army colonel who was managing projects for Blue Cross/Blue Shield, instinct came before analysis as he fought to stay on his feet the morning of Sept. 11, 2001. By Kay Campbell. 

Concerts and controversial opera bring faiths together in St. Louis

By Tim Townsend — September 10, 2012

ST. LOUIS (RNS) Terrorism stories are rarely happy stories, and yet the path Timothy O'Leary has taken -- from bringing the controversial opera ``The Death of Klinghoffer'' to St. Louis last year to the Sheldon's second annual Sept. 11 memorial concert this Sunday -- ends with a hopeful, permanent pairing of faith and the arts in St. Louis. By Tim Townsend.

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