JAMA editor defends article...sorta

Friday, August 26, 2005

BY LINDSEY TANNER

Associated Press

CHICAGO -- Catherine DeAngelis is a staunch Roman Catholic, used to give Holy Communion to her patients and says she strongly opposes abortion.

So the Journal of the American Medical Association's editor in chief says she had to take a walk around the block after receiving dozens of "horrible, vindictive" e-mails condemning her for publishing an article that says fetuses likely don't feel pain until late pregnancy.

"One woman said she would pray for my soul," DeAngelis said yesterday. "I could use all the prayers I can get."

Starts out pretty good...gee, maybe I was wrong. Except for this (it's pretty close to the end of the article)"

DeAngelis said she attends Mass at least weekly and also is a Eucharistic minister, which allows her to administer Communion to fellow Catholics. She said that while she opposes abortion, she also supports a woman's right to choose.

Uh-huh. Got it.