August 9, 1994

Arguing that "the future of humanity" is at stake at a coming United Nations population conference, the Vatican today made its most detailed and acerbic attack on the position endorsed by the United States and other participants, accusing them of promoting abortion on demand and homosexuality. The statement by Joaquin Navarro-Valls, the Pope's spokesman, deepened the already profound rift between the Roman Catholic Church hierarchy and a lobby of Clinton Administration officials and feminist groups that has cast the conference, next month in Cairo, as potentially one of the most significant turning points for the rights of women.

The underwear wars in Times Square and the showdown between fashion and film for the best real estate on the Sunset Strip are long running. And Calvin Klein and Donna Karan are familiar fixtures in the outdoor galaxy, as are Benetton, Bijan and the Gap. But what began in the late 80's as a bicoastal phenomenon is becoming a national movement, as fashion brands and retailers of all stripes turn to billboard and bus advertising in smaller markets from Boston to Seattle to avoid the clutter in magazines.

After decades of vain and intermittent efforts, the Senate prepared today to open formal debate on restructuring the nation's health care system, the most ambitious social legislation to face Congress since the passage of civil rights measures in the mid-1960's. The debate, scheduled to begin late Tuesday afternoon, will bring the results of months of arduous committee work to the floor of a body fractured by philosophical differences with no sure sense of where it will wind up. The Democratic leadership and President Clinton hope Congress will approve legislation by Election Day.

Ambitious plans to use medical data to make health care policy decisions may have unexpected drawbacks, experts say. Page A20. (Data Base Decision Making)

Starr Appointment Attacked Democrats stepped up their criticism of the new Whitewater counsel, Kenneth W. Starr, saying his selection "reeks of politics." Page A14. City Hall's Overtime Bill New York City spent nearly $500 million on overtime for the last fiscal year, far more than the $260 million budgeted, officials said. Page B1. Out From the Ivory Tower A growing number of scholars are trying to reach beyond the bounds of academia to speak to broader audiences on broader issues. Page B1.