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I’ve written before about the plight of pro-life protestors who were arrested by the University of Notre Dame leading up to Barack Obama’s commencement speech there last year.

I thought it especially ironic that, despite all the words from ND’s president Fr. John Jenkins about “understanding” and “working together”, Notre Dame has been completely without mercy when it comes to prosecuting those who were arrested simply for holding pro-life signs and images on the campus.

One thing that especially annoyed me was that fact that the Judge hearing the case of the “Notre Dame 88″ is married to a high-profile pro-abortion professor at the University – a clear conflict of interest which has been finally righted, but only after constant appeal by the attornys working on behalf of the accused:

The judge in the case concerning the pro-life protesters arrested on the campus of Notre Dame University expressing their opposition to the Catholic college giving an award to pro-abortion President Barack Obama has recused herself after an appeal was filed suggesting a conflict of interest.

Judge Jenny Pitts Manier, assigned to the ND88 case, is married to pro-abortion Notre Dame professor Edward Manier.

Attorney Tom Dixon, who is representing the dozens of pro-life advocates involved, filed two motions asking Judge Manier to step down.

His claim of bias was based on the judge’s prior rulings in abortion protest litigation, her husband’s outspoken criticism of Catholic pro-life teachings while serving as a tenured philosophy professor at Notre Dame, and other factors.

When she refused, Dixon and other Thomas More Society attorneys filed papers in Indianapolis with the Appellate Court to secure a ruling that Judge Manier should be required to step down from hearing the case.

Now, Judge Manier has recused herself just days after those papers were filed. (Life News)

It’s about time.

In case you missed this news item last week, a poll in Nebraska showed a major drop in support for Senator Ben Nelson.

You’ll remember that Nelson was the once proud pro-life Democrat who cast his principles aside for a $100 million annual Medicaid giveaway (the Cornhusker Kickback) to become the decisive 60th vote for a pro-abortion healthcare reform bill.

From Politico.com:

A new poll suggests that Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) seriously endangered his political prospects by becoming the decisive 60th vote allowing health care legislation to pass through the Senate.

The Rasmussen survey shows Nelson, who isn’t up for reelection until 2012, badly trailing Gov. Dave Heineman by 31 points in a hypothetical matchup, 61 percent to 30 percent. A 55 percent majority of Nebraska voters now hold an unfavorable view of the two-term senator, with 40 percent viewing him favorably.

The health care bill is currently very unpopular in Nebraska, according to the Rasmussen poll. Nearly two-thirds of voters (64 percent) oppose the legislation, while just 17 percent approve.

Senator Nelson should correct course and stop this horrendous bill. It’s quite clear what the people of Nebraska want.

I want to encourage everyone to please keep up your prayers and support for Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE). It could well turn out, when all is said and done, that Senator Nelson will have single-handedly stopped the largest expansion of so-called abortion rights since Roe v. Wade.

I can’t help, but think of how lonely it is to be the sole Democrat to stand up for what is right and just. If you have a moment, please consider dropping Senator Nelson’s office a call and tell him you support him and that you are praying for him.

Click here to call his office.

Click here to read more about his latest stand for Life!