Liberty Watch

Appeals Court Refuses To Reopen Roe v. Wade

The 5th U.S. District Court of Appeals rejected a move to reopen Roe v. Wade on the grounds that the motion did not “represent a live case or controversy,” the Houston Chronicle reported. The case stems from a motion filed in June 2003 by Norma McCorvey, “Jane Roe” in the 1973 case. McCorvey asked the federal courts to overturn the landmark abortion ruling, saying it is unjust and destroys a woman’s physical and mental health, the newspaper said. Two of the three judges ruled that the case was moot because Texas’ laws criminalizing abortion had been “repealed by implication.” McCorvey’s attorney said they will likely attempt to take the case to the Supreme Court, the Chronicle said.

Pro-Family Groups Urge Boycott of Tide, Crest

The American Family Association (AFA) and Focus on the Family have called for a boycott of Proctor & Gamble (P&G) products. The Ohio-based company recently extended its support for a 1993 Cincinnati law that excludes gays and lesbians from seeking protection from discrimination based on their sexual orientation to be repealed. Saying P&G tacitly supports gay marriage, the AFA has asked its supporters not to buy Tide detergent and Crest toothpaste, replacing them with non-P&G products; to call the company’s chairman; and to sign a boycott posted on AFA’s Web site.

California Domestic Partner Bill Condemned

Pro-family groups are decrying the passage of a California domestic partners bill that will require companies to extend health, life, homeowners and auto insurance to cover unmarried domestic partners. In early September, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed into law AB 2208, a bill that pro-family groups say undermines marriage. The Campaign for California Families is asking California residents to contact the governor and urge him not to sign a slew of other “anti-family” bills on his desk, including a controversial hate crimes bill that some pro-family groups say could be used to punish Christians who condemn homosexuality.