Cheryl Wetzstein
Articles by Cheryl Wetzstein
Catholic Salesian Missions affirms pro-abstinence stance in HIV/AIDS education
An international Catholic charity has affirmed its dedication to abstinence education in HIV/AIDS prevention, noting that recent claims about it distributing condoms are "absurd" and "malicious." Published November 11, 2015
U.S. birth-control use stable, except for increase in use of IUDs: study
American women of child-bearing age continue to use birth control at high rates, with the pill, condoms and sterilization remaining the most common methods of avoiding pregnancy. However, use of the intrauterine device has steadily grown, the National Center for Health Statistics said Tuesday. Published November 10, 2015
New journal looks at ‘American and Christian duty’ in foreign affairs
A new quarterly journal, Providence, seeks to offer "vibrant and robust thinking" about Christian options, Mark Tooley, president of the Institute on Religion and Democracy, told a briefing Friday at the Newseum. Published November 6, 2015
Rep. Louise Slaughter gets lifetime Feminist Majority award
A New York congresswoman is being honored Thursday with a first-of-its-kind award from a leading feminist group. Published November 5, 2015
Annual pro-life march gets more young support
Uplifted by a swelling public outcry over the undercover Planned Parenthood videos, the pro-life movement's marquee event is taking aim -- again -- at the idea that opposing abortion is pro-women. Published November 4, 2015
Wes Modder, Navy chaplain, resumes ministry after fight over beliefs
Lt. Commander Wesley J. "Wes" Modder, a decorated Navy chaplain with nearly 20 years of unblemished service, remembers vividly the moment he told his wife he could go back to the calling he loved, having been reinstated after a bitter battle that pitted religious freedom and individual conscience against the mandate to respect gay and women's rights. Published November 4, 2015
Muppets in rewrite: New show to be under new leadership: report
It may always be a bit "froggy" why the new Muppets television show is being overhauled, but columns and reports decrying the adult content on the show can't have helped. Published November 4, 2015
Chick-fil-A, Hobby Lobby lead in new ‘Faith Equality Index’
Taking a page out of numerous groups' playbooks, a marketing company has issued its first annual index on how welcoming more than 100 companies are to the 41 million-strong consumer base of devout Christians. Published November 2, 2015
Joe Kennedy, Bremerton High School football coach, put on leave over postgame prayer
A Washington state football coach who likes to offer a postgame prayer on the 50-yard line has been officially sent to the lockers, and a Satan-worshipping group has promised to suit up to offer its own postgame incantations. Published October 29, 2015
World Congress of Families in Utah attracts protest from gay rights groups
An international conference on marriage and family is set to open in Utah on Tuesday despite criticism from gay rights groups that oppose its promotion of the "natural family." Published October 26, 2015
Science, religion not in conflict for most Americans
Two-thirds of American adults have no problem reconciling their religious faith with the facts of science, but 59 percent think "other people" have a problem, according to a new Pew Research Center study. Published October 22, 2015
Reconciling faith and science: Pew study
Two-thirds of American adults have no problem reconciling their religious faith with the facts of science, but 59 percent think "other people" have a problem, according to a new Pew Research Center study. Published October 22, 2015
Planned Parenthood funding sustained in Louisiana, stopped in Texas
A Planned Parenthood affiliate received both good news and bad news Monday in its Medicaid funding battles, with a federal judge temporarily requiring Louisiana to fund the abortion provider while a Texas inspector general's office decided to cut off the group. Published October 19, 2015
‘Conversion therapy’ for LGBTQ children now deemed harmful
The federal government took sides Thursday in the battle over therapy aimed at helping youths deal with same-sex attractions as a powerful agency released a report condemning "conversion therapy" as harmful, calling for its end, and recommending that government regulators and professional associations ban it. Published October 15, 2015
Playboy’s ‘less-nude’ policy a nod to cultural shift
Playboy's recent announcement that its magazine will no longer depict fully naked women in its pages is a significant culture shift -- showing that people now crave extreme or "fetishized" images and acts, says an anti-exploitation organization. Published October 14, 2015
Attorneys for Kelvin Cochran tell court he was wrongfully terminated
Atlanta's former fire chief was in federal court Wednesday, arguing he was wrongfully fired for his Christian beliefs. Published October 14, 2015
Planned Parenthood to stop taking money for fetal-tissue donation
After having spent months saying that its officials were doing nothing unethical in undercover videos showing them haggling over the price for aborted fetal organs, Planned Parenthood's leader said Tuesday the group will no longer accept any payment for the parts. Published October 13, 2015
Planned Parenthood hearing veers between talk of ‘gruesome’ abortions and gun control
The latest House hearing on Planned Parenthood Thursday frequently devolved into passionate speeches as Democrats sought to shift the hearing's focus to issues like gun violence, voting rights or immigration, and Republicans recounted the "gruesome" practice of aborting unborn children -- and selling their body parts to researchers. Published October 8, 2015
Groups urge Amnesty International to abandon sex-work proposal
Anti-exploitation groups Thursday urged Amnesty International to abandon its efforts to adopt a policy decriminalizing sex work, warning that it will only lead to more abuse of people, especially women and children. Published October 8, 2015
Pope Francis ‘effect’ seen mostly among Catholics, Democrats, liberals: survey
Pope Francis' recent visit to America boosted the favorability ratings of the Catholic Church among many American adults -- especially Catholics, Democrats and liberals, a new survey says. Published October 7, 2015