Abortion activists change tactics

This front-page story in the Washington Post describes a schism in the pro-life movement, with some pastors and conservative activists shifting focus from trying to overturn Roe v Wade to trying to reduce abortions by providing more services to pregnant women.

The article is particularly enlightening about the rift forming in the Catholic church between church authorities, who are staunchly pro-life and lay groups that are seeing other options to reduce abortions in America.

Mormons blamed for failure of Prop. 8, focus of protests

There have been news reports of protests against Mormons since it was reported that Mormon support for Proposition 8 turned the tide and let the measure pass.

Mormon facilities have been vandalized, and some congregations have added security to deal with increased threats. Protests have been held in large California cities as well as in Salt Lake City, . There have been calls for boycotts of the state of Utah as a tourist destination, which might threaten the Sundance Film Festival.

Religion angle sparse in coverage of mass removal of girls from Texas ranch

Here in Texas, we have been aware of the plans for Warren Jeffs's group to move to a compound in the western part of the state for years, thanks to an article in Texas Monthly in November of 2004 (Sects with Strangers). Sorry there is no link, but the magazine doesn't have searchable archives. Its articles are available full-text from Academic Search Complete.

Now, years later, 52 girls have been removed under suspicion of abuse, according to this article in the New York Times.

The article focuses on the government action rather than the history, but does include a reference to the group's beliefs and the fact that they are in contrast to those of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Would some religious explanation be appropriate, or would it be better for a follow-up article?