Cheryl Wetzstein
Articles by Cheryl Wetzstein
Arrested minister faces court date in bitter lesbian custody battle
A Christian minister has been arrested and ordered to appear in a Vermont court to answer questions about the parental kidnapping case of a little girl who was born to two women who were once in a Vermont civil union. Published April 22, 2011
Drive grows for states to recognize ‘personhood’
Mississippi voters are likely to be the first in the nation to add to their state constitution "personhood" language that declares unborn children to be persons, effectively outlawing abortion and setting up a potential Supreme Court showdown — if they get a chance to vote on it in November. Published April 21, 2011
GOP steps up defense of law on marriage
The Republican leadership in the House stepped up its efforts Monday to defend the federal government's marriage law, which is already under attack or implicated in as many as 10 lawsuits. Published April 18, 2011
Gay adoptive dads lose birth-certificate appeal
A federal appellate court decision in Louisiana this week on a birth-certificate dispute may catapult the issue of gay adoption before the U.S. Supreme Court. Published April 14, 2011
Men’s ‘apology’ video to women touching, ‘creepy’
An eight-minute video on YouTube in which "conscious men" apologize to the women of the world is drawing tears and praise — as well as verbal brickbats — from around the world. Published April 10, 2011
Abortion fight looms large in spending debate endgame
Some House Republicans say de-funding the reproductive health care organization Planned Parenthood is so important that it is worth risking a government shutdown, to try to force Democrats hand as the two sides try to reach an agreement on a budget for the remainder of 2011. Published April 8, 2011
Ark. high court finds adoption law biased against gay couples
An Arkansas voter-passed law that limits foster care and adoption to married couples and single persons violates people's right to privacy and is unconstitutional, the state's high court said. Published April 7, 2011
Faith groups cheer halt to adoption requirement
Virginia Gov. Robert F. McDonnell's office has confirmed that it is taking steps to block proposed rules that would compel private agencies to place foster children with unmarried couples, including gay couples. Published April 6, 2011
Hearing: Welfare programs a confusing ‘labyrinth’
The federal government's patchwork welfare system still contains dozens of programs that are too costly, redundant and hard to use, according to testimony at a congressional hearing Tuesday. Published April 5, 2011
Virginia measure highlights battle over gays’ adopting
A "sleeper measure" that would prevent Virginia child-welfare agencies from considering sexual orientation or religion in their placements has drawn hundreds of complaints — and the attention of an outraged Republican state lawmaker. Published April 4, 2011
Polygamy’s wrongs traced in testimony
Canada's ban on polygamy should be upheld because it protects women and children, attorneys said Friday in a landmark case to decide whether the ban violates religious freedom. Published April 3, 2011
Pro-life laws seen as factor in drop in abortions
Pro-life laws are part of the reason abortion rates have declined over the past two decades, a study says. Published March 29, 2011
Republicans out to trim welfare again
Just as they did the last time the party captured the House of Representatives, Republicans are pushing a major overhaul of the nation's welfare system. Published March 23, 2011
Despite objections, .xxx OK’d for Internet domain names
The red-light district got a green light Friday when the international group that oversees Internet names voted to include ".xxx" as a top-level domain. Published March 20, 2011
Group to include ‘.xxx’ as top-level domain
The red-light district got a green light Friday when the international group that oversees Internet names voted to include ".xxx" as a top-level domain. Published March 18, 2011
Child placement law contested
Children in foster care deserve the best parents possible and thus the state can pick and choose what type of families they should be raised in, attorneys told the Arkansas Supreme Court on Thursday. Published March 17, 2011
Life spans up, death rates down
The Grim Reaper seems to be taking a few more holidays: The U.S. mortality rate has fallen for the 10th year in a row, a new federal report says, as Americans are living longer. Published March 16, 2011
Japanese ‘understand’ radiation effects, prepared to deal with poisoning woes
The Japanese people could well be the world's most prepared people in coping with a nuclear power plant accident, a U.S. expert on radiation poisoning said Tuesday. Published March 15, 2011
WETZSTEIN: Charlie Sheen’s disorder should open eyes
Are you "Sheened" out yet? I hope not. It's time to stop laughing and talk about mental health. Published March 14, 2011
Suit says Guatemalans purposely infected with syphilis
Attorneys for seven Guatemalan nationals are suing top U.S. public health officials, accusing them of "intentionally" infecting the Guatemalans or their family members with syphilis in a 1940s "Tuskegee-style" experiment. Published March 14, 2011
