Cheryl Wetzstein
Articles by Cheryl Wetzstein
Philadelphia abortion doctor film needs another $500K
The producers of a movie about convicted abortion doctor Kermit Gosnell of Philadelphia are seeking another $500,000 from the public to pay salaries and production costs. Published December 9, 2014
CDC circumcision proposal getting thumbs down
In the first week of public comments on a federal proposal to encourage male circumcision in the U.S., most people are telling Uncle Sam to leave the foreskins alone. Published December 9, 2014
Plan to trim census marriage questions blasted
A government proposal to trim five marriage-related questions from a key Census Bureau survey is attracting blowback from scholars and research groups who say the data are essential to tracking changes in the American family, including patterns in same-sex marriage. Published December 4, 2014
Opponents weigh lawsuit against D.C. measure banning conversion therapy
Opponents are weighing a lawsuit against a recently passed bill in the District that would ban therapies aimed at steering children and teens out of their unwanted same-sex attractions. Published December 4, 2014
11th Circuit denies stay in Fla. gay marriage cases
A three-judge panel of a federal appellate court has denied Florida's request to keep its marriage law while two gay marriage cases are heard. The ruling by the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals means same-sex marriages can commence after Jan. 5 unless another judicial intervention occurs. Published December 3, 2014
FDA ponders change to gay blood donation policy
The hotly debated blood-donor policy for gay and bisexual men was discussed by a federal advisory panel Tuesday, but no votes were taken and no official recommendations were made. Published December 2, 2014
Blood bank organizations urge against policy change on gay donors
Eleven organizations that represent users of blood plasma and related products will urge a federal panel on Tuesday not to change the donor policy for gay and bisexual men unless a “robust” blood-monitoring system is also put in place. Published November 30, 2014
Abortions in U.S. fall to record lows, report shows
The number of reported abortions fell to a historic low in 2011, the federal government said this week in its annual tally of most of the nation's states. Published November 27, 2014
Women’s ‘utopian’ joy of cooking slammed in survey
As millions of American households prepare to enjoy the delectable smells of Thanksgiving turkey and pumpkin pie, some social scientists say it's time to loosen belts and lower expectations. Women, who prepare the overwhelming majority of Thanksgiving repasts, need a break from expectations about "utopian" family meals. Published November 26, 2014
Smoking among adults hits historical low: CDC
The U.S. adult smoking rate fell to its lowest recorded point in 2013, although cigarette smoking remains high in certain groups, the federal government said Wednesday. Published November 26, 2014
Many HIV sufferers untreated: CDC
Some 70 percent of people — nearly 840,000 — believed to be living with HIV in 2011 have not successfully treated their dangerous infections, the federal government said Tuesday. Published November 25, 2014
Kenya tetanus vaccines void of anti-pregnancy hormones, Catholic group says
A Catholic health care group says tetanus vaccines used in Kenya are not secretly laced with anti-pregnancy hormones, but it is urging the government and public health officials to conduct more tests to confirm it. Published November 24, 2014
Family-values groups object to Obama’s orders on immigration
President Obama is selling his unilateral immigration package unveiled last week as, in part, a way to keep millions of families from breaking up. But family-values groups, many of which focus heavily on keeping families together on matters such as refugee and asylum cases for home-schoolers, are rallying around one position: White House usurpation of the issue is wrong. Published November 23, 2014
Website exposes insurance plans’ abortion coverage
Decrying the lack of "transparency" about abortion coverage in health care plans, pro-life groups are asking consumers to visit a new, privately operated website to see which insurance plans cover abortion, which do not, and which are "unknown" on the issue. Published November 20, 2014
Supreme Court rejects South Carolina stay on gay marriage
A bid to maintain South Carolina's man-woman marriage law ended Thursday when the Supreme Court declined to continue a stay blocking same-sex nuptials. Published November 20, 2014
Groups push for openness on subsidized abortions
In response to evidence that hundreds of taxpayer-subsidized health care plans under Obamacare include abortion coverage, pro-life groups are using a Capitol Hill press briefing Thursday to launch a new website aimed at making clear which plans will pay for the procedure. Published November 19, 2014
Proposed gay blood-donor policy change endorsed by Bloomberg News
A federal plan to permit gay and bisexual men to donate blood — after a year of sexual abstinence — is panned by many groups, but was endorsed Tuesday by news editors at one media company. Published November 18, 2014
Author sees growing religious censorship in U.S.
America's religious believers are facing a growing movement to censor expressions of faith and should prepare both to put up a fight and to suffer in the struggle, a prominent Christian leader and author told the Family Research Council Tuesday. Published November 18, 2014
Pope Francis: Man-woman union at ‘root of marriage’
Pope Francis said Tuesday that the union of a man and a woman is "at the root of marriage," dashing hopes among gay rights supporters that he might open the door to acceptance of same-sex unions by the Catholic Church. Published November 18, 2014
TIME magazine slapped over proposed ban of ‘feminist’
A light-hearted effort by TIME magazine to possibly ban the word "feminist" in 2015 drew hisses from women's groups and a mea culpa from an editor. Published November 17, 2014