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Normally not controversial, this proclamation, recognizing the sanctity of human life, was

Posted at 11:45 am January 12, 2016
By John Huotari 30 Comments

Oak Ridge City Council on July 27, 2015

The Oak Ridge City Council on Monday, Jan. 11, 2016, approved a proclamation that recognizes Sunday, January 17, as Sanctity of Human Life Sunday. Ellen Smith, third from right, cast the only vote against the proclamation, saying it was a controversial political statement. (File photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 7:48 a.m. Jan. 13.

Proclamations by the Oak Ridge City Council are normally not controversial, but one that passed on Monday was. It was perceived by some as a controversial political statement that entered the abortion debate.

The proclamation recognizes Sunday, January 17, as Sanctity of Human Life Sunday. It says Tennessee residents “aspire to honor the dignity and worth of every person and to defend the sacredness of each human life.” Also, the proclamation says Tennessee residents care for “society’s weakest and most vulnerable, including the infirm, the elderly, and the unborn,” and no person shall be deprived of his life, liberty, or property.

The question of what rights to grant to the unborn or fetuses can be controversial because of the impact they might have on abortion rights. There is also considerable debate about when life begins.

Tim-Stallings

Tim Stallings

Tim Stallings, executive director of Choices Resource Center in Oak Ridge, requested the City Council proclamation, and he did not think it weighed in on the political debate.

“It’s not just about the unborn,” Stallings said. “It’s about people with infirmities, the elderly.”

He said the day started with former President Ronald Reagan and has been recognized by Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam. Reagan established National Sanctity of Human Life Day on Sunday, January 22, 1984, the 11th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the still-controversial Supreme Court decision that granted women the right to an abortion in 1973.

Sanctity of Human Life Sunday is on the third Sunday in January, near the anniversary of Roe v. Wade. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Churches, Community, Faith, Front Page News, Government, Government, Health, Oak Ridge, Slider, Top Stories Tagged With: abortion, abortion rights, Bill Haslam, Brent Shelton, Charlie Hensley, Choices Resource Center, Chuck Hope, Crosses for the Unborn, Ellen Smith, Kelly Callison, National Sanctity of Human Life Day, Oak Ridge City Council, proclamation, Rick Chinn, Roe v. Wade, Ronald Reagan, Sanctity of Human Life Sunday, St. Mary's Catholic Church, Tim Stallings, Trina Baughn, unborn, Warren Gooch

2014 Election: Constitutional amendments, wine in groceries, a candidate’s record

Posted at 3:21 pm November 3, 2014
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

League Women Voters Constitutional Amendment Forum

Corinne Rovetti, co-director and family nurse practitioner for the Knoxville Center for Reproductive Health, second from right, discusses Amendment 1, which is on Tuesday’s ballot, during a forum in October. Also pictured are moderator JoAnn Garrett, right; Judy Cornett, second from left, distinguished professor in the College of Law at the University of Tennessee, who discussed Amendment 2; and Sherry Davis Kasper, professor of economics at Maryville College, who discussed Amendment 3.

 

Many voters remain confused about the four proposed constitutional amendments on the ballot in Tennessee on Election Day, Tuesday, November 4.

Three of the amendments were discussed during a League of Women Voters forum in Oak Ridge in October, and you can find a guide to the four amendments here.

The first amendment, Amendment 1, is related to abortion, and it appears to be the most divisive.

Here’s the full text of the proposed amendment to the Tennessee Constitution:

“Nothing in this Constitution secures or protects a right to abortion or requires the funding of an abortion. The people retain the right through their elected state representatives and state senators to enact, amend, or repeal statutes regarding abortion, including, but not limited to, circumstances of pregnancy resulting from rape or incest or when necessary to save the life of the mother.”

[Read more…]

Filed Under: 2014 Election, Education, Government, K-12, Oak Ridge, Slider, State, Top Stories Tagged With: abortion, Amendment 1, Amendment 2, Amendment 3, Amy Rothfeldt, appellate judges, ballot, bankruptcy, College of Law, constitutional amendments, Corinne Rovetti, driving while intoxicated, DUI, earned income, election, election day, Food City, grocery stores, JoAnn Garrett, John DeClue, Judy Cornett, Knoxville Center for Reproductive Health, Kroger, Laurie Paine, League of Women Voters, League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge, liquor by the drink, lotteries, Maryville College, Melissa Eads, Oak Ridge Board of Education, payroll, regulations, Roe v. Wade, Sherry Davis Kasper, tax, Tennessee Constitution, Tennessee General Assembly, Tennessee Supreme Court, University of Tennessee, veterans organizations, Vilma DeClue, Why Yes on 1, wine

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Classifieds

Public Notice: NNSA announces no significant impact of Y-12 Development Organization operations at Horizon Center

AVAILABILITY OF THE FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE OFFSITE HOUSING OF THE Y-12 DEVELOPMENT … [Read More...]

ADFAC seeks contractors for five homes

Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties (ADFAC) is a non-profit community based agency, … [Read More...]

Public notice: Draft environmental assessment for Y-12 Development Organization at Horizon Center

AVAILABILITY OF THE DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE OFFSITE HOUSING OF THE Y-12 DEVELOPMENT … [Read More...]

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