Cheryl Wetzstein
Articles by Cheryl Wetzstein
Born this way? Five court cases will put focus on gay identity
Lady Gaga may belt out that gays are "born this way," but questions about the origin and unchangeability of homosexuality are central to at least five lawsuits, including two before the Supreme Court next month. Published February 25, 2013
Lawmakers ask if taxes fund abortion; Planned Parenthood targeted in inquiry
A group of 72 lawmakers have revived an effort to ask the government's watchdog agency to scrutinize taxpayer dollars going to Planned Parenthood and five other organizations who provide family-planning services. Published February 25, 2013
Gov’t watchdog asked to look again at Planned Parenthood finances
A group of 72 lawmakers have revived an effort to ask the government's watchdog agency to scrutinize taxpayer dollars going to Planned Parenthood and five other organizations who provide family-planning services. Published February 25, 2013
Report: Time for U.S. to ‘relinquish’ control in global AIDS fight
A U.S. program that has generated hopes around the world that the AIDS pandemic can be defeated should start "relinquishing" more control to its partner countries, according to an independent evaluation prepared for Congress. Published February 20, 2013
Oscar Pistorius arrest underscores scope of relationship abuse: Experts
Domestic-violence opponents say the apparent murder of a South African model by her world-famous athlete boyfriend shows that dating violence can happen to anyone, anywhere. Published February 14, 2013
Amputee Olympian charged in girlfriend’s death
Published February 14, 2013
Condoms reign supreme for birth control; pill second most popular
In the world of American birth control, the condom is still king, according to a federal report released Thursday. Published February 14, 2013
U.S. church still facing questions as Benedict departs
America's 77 million Catholics generally gave Pope Benedict XVI high marks, but his surprise decision to step down after just eight years comes as the U.S. church confronts a string of unanswered questions, on issues ranging from divisions with the Obama administration on birth control and gay marriage to political activism by U.S. nuns and the continuing fallout from the sexual-abuse scandals in dioceses across the country. Published February 11, 2013
A Saudi-inspired all-faiths hub
The underappreciated power of prayer is a prime motivating force behind a new Saudi-inspired interfaith center in Austria that seeks to become the place for world religious leaders to meet, solve problems and melt the "mountain of fears" that exists between religious people, says the Saudi official who is championing the ambitious project. Published February 11, 2013
No delays from gays on Boy Scouts decision
Traditional-values groups thanked the Boy Scouts of America on Wednesday for delaying a decision on whether to change their membership policy on gays, saying it will permit more voices to be heard on the white-hot social issue. Published February 6, 2013
Boy Scouts leader pleads for patience
Boy Scout executives should delay making any decision about changing the national membership policy on gays until the organization's councils have had a chance to speak on the issue, a Boy Scouts of America council leader said Tuesday. Published February 5, 2013
Boy Scouts urged not to ease restriction on gays
Traditional-values groups are urging their supporters to tell the Boy Scouts of America to stand by its policy of not letting "avowed" homosexuals join the organization. Published January 30, 2013
Activists urge gay-marriage truce to save institution
Some 74 family and marriage specialists appealed Tuesday for an end to the fighting over gay marriage, saying both gay and straight marriage-supporters are needed to address the breakdown in America's marriage culture. Published January 29, 2013
Boy Scouts may allow local troops to set policy on gays
Gay-rights groups were elated Monday after the Boy Scouts of America announced that it was considering dropping its long-standing national policy of disallowing open homosexuals from participating in its activities, but traditional-family groups were quick to condemn the shift. Published January 28, 2013
‘Pro-life generation’: Abortion opponents take reins of record-breaking March for Life
In a rally described as "a turning point" on the abortion issue, hundreds of thousands of pro-life supporters, most of whom were college-age or younger, marched for an end to abortion in the United States. Published January 25, 2013
Roe foes add up 55 million legalized abortions
With a slogan created especially for the 40th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision, hundreds of thousands of pro-life activists are expected to swarm the Mall on Friday for the annual March for Life. Published January 23, 2013
Two sides of Roe: Activists weigh in on ruling’s past, present, future
Marking the 40th anniversary this week of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court ruling, The Washington Times asked leading advocates on both sides of the issue to discuss the ruling, the present state of the abortion debate and where American attitudes on abortion are heading in the coming years. Published January 22, 2013
A lot happened on one day, but only Roe decision remains relevant
The day abortion was legalized was a blockbuster for news. Published January 21, 2013
Abortion battle rages 40 years after Roe decision
Forty years ago, a poor, anonymous, pregnant woman called "Jane Roe" stepped forward to attack a Texas state law banning abortion. She and her attorneys succeeded beyond their wildest imaginations. Published January 21, 2013
Treaty on mercury would not affect vaccines with thimerosal
A global treaty to reduce toxic mercury in the environment has been completed and will be presented to countries for their ratification as part of a worldwide bid to control and reduce ways in which mercury is used, released or emitted. Published January 19, 2013