American Morning
Nun excommunicated for approving life-saving abortion
By Carol Costello, CNN
(CNN) – It was an agonizing decision for all involved. A 27-year-old pregnant patient at St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona became gravely ill.
Doctors told her unless she aborted her 11-week-old fetus she would likely die. The problem: St. Joseph's is a Catholic hospital and abortions are largely prohibited.
Sister Margaret McBride was part of an ethics panel that included doctors that consulted with the young woman. The woman had the procedure and survived. But Sister McBride took some heat. The Phoenix Catholic Diocese, led by Bishop Thomas Olmsted, automatically excommunicated the nun, effectively banning her from participating in the church. Bishop Olmsted said, in a statement:
"An unborn child is not a disease. While medical professionals should certainly try to save a pregnant mother's life, the means by which they do it can never be by directly killing her unborn child."
Minn. father, son refuse chemo treatments
(CNN) – There's an update on the Minnesota couple caught up in a court drama for refusing to treat their son's cancer with chemotherapy. The teenager's father is now facing his own battle with the disease and says he has no intention using chemo. Our Jason Carroll talked to the family about their controversial decision.
Black farmers wait to settle discrimination claims
(CNN) – The president has promised his help to resolve an historic grievance and get black farmers the money they're owed from years of government discrimination. But the farmers are concerned the White House isn't pushing Congress hard enough and they say the reason may be race. Our Ed Henry has the report.
Gut Check: Should athletes play politics?
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/05/06/phoenix.suns.gi.art.jpg caption="The Phoenix Suns wear 'Los Suns' jerseys on Cinco de Mayo in response to an immigration law recently passed in Arizona."]
By Carol Costello, CNN
(CNN) – The world of politics is colliding with the world of sports over Arizona’s controversial new immigration law.
Last night, there were more protests at the Arizona Diamondbacks game and the Phoenix Suns took to the court wearing jerseys reading “Los Suns” to show team solidarity with Latinos.
Politicians, like New Mexico’s Governor Bill Richardson, are debating the law, not just on CNN, but on ESPN too.
Time for a Gut Check: Should basketball or baseball or any other pro sports team get involved in politics?
Steve Nash, who plays for the Phoenix Suns, says yes. “We have a lot of love. Latino fans. We have Latino players on both teams. And unfortunately that's the group that seems to be targeted by this bill. And it's a shame.”
The Arizona law is designed to identify, prosecute and deport illegal immigrants. It allows police officers to ask people "for papers" proving legal residency. Critics say it will lead to racial profiling.
Auto-enroll organ donors?
(CNN) – Every year in New York, 500 people die waiting for an organ transplant. Willie Brodsky is lucky she wasn't one of them. She was saved not once, but twice by donors. Her father, Assemblyman Richard Brodsky, hopes to save more lives by proposing a bill in the state assembly that would switch the organ donor system from "opt-in" to "opt-out." They joined us on Wednesday's American Morning.
Sound off: Are you an organ donor? What do you think of the proposed bill?
N.J. principal wants to keep students offline
(CNN) – Kids and technology can be a tricky balance, but now one educator says when it comes to Facebook, he wants students offline.
This week, the principal of Benjamin Franklin Middle School in Ridgewood, New Jersey told parents, "It's time for every single member of the Benjamin Franklin community to take a stand. There is absolutely, positively no reason for any middle school student to be a part of a social networking site. None." Principal Anthony Orsini joined us Friday's American Morning.
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