In 2013 twenty-two states passed 70 abortion restrictions, second only to the single year total in 2011 (135 pro-life laws in 36 states).
Part of this success comes from the work of Americans United for Life, the premiere group fighting abortion state by state.
Clark Forsythe served as president of A.U.L. for ten years. Now he is their senior counsel. But his recent emphasis has been research and writing. On Tuesday of Holy Week, April 15, he was traveling in California talking about the work of A.U.L. and his latest book, Abuse of Discretion: the Inside Story of Roe v. Wade, published by Encounter Books in 2013.
The top blurb on he book jacket comes from Mary Ann Glendon, Harvard law professor: “When Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton were first decided, leading constitutional scholars such as Paul Freund, John Hart Ely, and Archibald Cox were severely critical. Now Clarke Forsythe has proved that the worst fears of these legal titans were more than justified. Abuse of Discretion not only exposes the legal and factual errors the Court made in 1972 but also meticulously documents the far-reaching and deleterious effects of the Court’s rush to judgement.”
From the last chapter in the book: “One of the great urban legends about the abortion decisions has been that they were considered with ‘great care.’ That defense was raised by some Justices in the 1980s and 1990s. That notion cannot be squared with the record we now have…. The Justices seriously misread public opinion, and their expansion of the decision over several months, pressured by the 4-3 bloc of Justices, gradually produced a decision that went far beyond what the public supported. By so doing, the Court isolated the United States as one of only four nations out of 195 – with China, North Korea, and Canada – that allow abortion for any reason after fetal viability.”
Abuse of Discretion is available on the website of Encounter Books for $19.59,
I cannot express adequately how long I have prayed and hoped for the final overthrow of Roe V. Wade, and I still remember the night in 1973 when I heard that it passed the SCOTUS by, I believe, a 5-4 decision. I was shocked and stunned beyond belief, for I thought “surely this proposition cannot pass,” even though I’d lived through the 1967 California abortion decision from Gov. Reagan, which was one of Roe’s progenitors. “Surely,” I thought, “the SCOTUS of 1973 wouldn’t compound the error and make it nationwide.” Of course the rest became history on 1-22-73, and the gigantic error WAS repeated. But I think there’s a light in the monstrous tunnel; For with the miraculous rebirth through the workings of the Holy Spirit, of common sense re the beginnings of human life and all the pro-life legislation passed within the last 5 years, I finally think that Roe V. Wade’s days are numbered. Thanks be to Our Almighty God and His Blessed Mother. Viva Cristo Rey, markrite
Governor Reagan lived to regret that decision and made a turn around after talking to Pope John Paul II.
Why there were only men in the picture above of the Supreme Court?
Has it made the least difference to have women on the court, Jenny? If anything, women have caused the greatest changes to laws that have protected families and children for generations. Where does this gaga attitude of about having women rule everything come from? Certainly not from experience , tradition or common sense. It has been my experience throughout life that women are to be no more trusted than men and when choosing a candidate for any post, it should be based on having the best qualifications and NOT on sex, race or charm. The idea of filling posts to fill quotas is not just absurd but dangerous.
Also, of the three women on the high court, there are three men I would MUCH rather see there. I see these women as traitors to families and their sex.
Dana, you are so absolutely right. I have known and heard about more women who stabbed their so-called “sisters” in the back by having affairs with their husbands than I can count. Some of our politicians and presidents were and are black mailing each other because of all these “wonderful” women who just “love” the “sisterhood”. It is all such garbage as anyone with half a brain knows. That kind of “sisterhood” I can do without.
By the way, sooner of later it comes around to those who do it. We all eventually reap what we sow.
How is it? It is because the Catholic hierarchy was basically silent, and did nothing when the Court made its infamous decision. The outrageous statements by the episcopacy, especially Cardinal Bernardine with his ‘seamless garment’ phrase only made matters worse, and confused the faithful. The still strong bond between the Catholic Church and the democrat party also has contributed to the abortion industry in the United States. And the fact that Holy Communion is still given to most pro death politicians has aided the pro death mentality. By supporting earth day in most Catholic institutions ( which is also the birthday of Lenin), the Church is quickly becoming another religion, who along with most Protestant churches, cares very little about God’s laws, as there is now VERY little difference between Catholics and Protestants in regard to morality and in what they believe.
Spot on. It all starts at the top. And, when that top is voting Democratic, allowing abortionist “Catholic” politicians – and those “Catholics” who vote for them – to receive Holy Communion, and issuing documents suggesting “Catholics” can vote for abortionist politicians, it’s not a wonder that 54 million babies have been butchered.
As a Church leader of the US Bishop’s Conference – – – Cardinal Joseph Bernardin (of Chicago) not only promoted his own seamless garment theory to give cover to his pro-abortion Democratic buddies so they could get elected; –
he also dishonestly gave us the standing and in the hand method of Holy Communion in the USA:
and purposely hid information from the Civil Authorities and Parents regarding child abusive Priests.
https://www.renewamerica.com/columns/abbott/060818
and
https://cnsnews.com/news/article/chicago-archdiocese-hid-decades-child-sex-abuse
Bernardin’s evil influence is still felt in parts of the USA and parts of the USCCB.
Here is a link regarding Bernardin’s deceitful but successful work regarding Communion in hand and not kneeling when receiving the Lord.
– https://cal-catholic.com/wordpress/2012/08/09/communion-in-the-hand/
btw – Bernardin was a close buddy of heretical and schismatic Abp of Detroit John Francis Dearden – who founded and is still a member of “Call to Action”.
https://www.catholicmediacoalition.org/cta%20orlando.htm
This is what happens folks when Laity accept the words of Cardinals and Bishops who unknownst to the Laity are heretics and schismatics.
This is why those who tell you to purchase the “Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition” and read it are telling you the truth. This is how you will know if you are being taught the truth or lies.
Bad Bishops will not want you to know the truth of the Faith. They want you to believe them instead.
VATICAN confirms excommunication of members of “Call to Action” –
https://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0606995.htm
You have stated the root of the problem so well.
Better to ask the question: how is it that America, founded on principles of individual freedom, religious liberty, and the “unalienable Rights” right to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness” (Declaration of Independence) could permit the murder of 54 million pre-born souls (and growing) by their own mothers? The answer: Satan. Until the primacy of Lucifer’s overwhelmingly superior intellect is recognized, along with Mankind’s need for the power of Christ to overcome Man’s deficit, then this slaughter will continue. There is no other way.
You have pointed out the exact problem. America was founded on the principles of individual freedom. That is why people feel free to kill their unborn and resent anyone who says that they should not have that freedom. Inspired by Satan? Yep.
Anonymous, America was NOT founded on the principles of UNLIMITED freedom!
Sometimes it’s almost impossible to take it all in! For those of us who remember when abortion was a word too terrible to even mention, seeing it become as commonplace as pregnancy used to be is like living in a nightmare. When I get together with old school friends I find I’m the only pro-life person in the group! Killing babies has actually become blasé …even a social good! Is it any wonder that all the other forbidden behaviors are now acceptable? The only thing saving us from becoming cannibals and putting those we hate in gas ovens is the tenuous thread of prayers of faithful Christians…hence, the incessant attacks against the Church. Don’t let those who have already succumbed to satan’s wiles weaken your efforts or still your voice. God bless all of you who risk ridicule and condemnation and are not ashamed to say “Jesus Christ is Lord!”
It became possible because women demanded that their babies be killed legally and so emasculated their men that they have also agreed to the deal. It became possible to kill over 50 million babies per year globally because we have lost sight and respect and honour for life. It is my hope and prayer that hte Lord intervenes and brings this slaughter to an end.
Hannah – Men also benefited from the availability of contraception. I would emphasize that by creating a society where sexual union (really sexual utilization!) outside of marriage was possible, our society came apart at the seams. I am part of a Catholic women’s group that is reading JP II’s Theology of the Body (1979…). It is a tragedy that this important work was never trumpeted from the pulpit and most Catholics are unaware of its beautiful message. We have just started reading a few sections a month, but I can tell you I am awestruck by its message. Surely this is the work of the Holy Spirit in John Paul II. Again, the clergy is silent and has been for decades. Where are our leaders?
Patricia if women didnt take “the pill” men would not have benefitted. It was women who decided that they wanted to be free to do as men did so wild something other. I ave read TOB many many times and yes its a beautiful work and pity that it was not trumpeted from pulpit. But then again Patricia I am of the age wen from pulpit we were told that if my conscience told me it was ok to take pill then it was ok. nothing was spoken about sin, aftereffects, barrier to their intimacy between usband and wife just that if my conscience feels ok about it ten the church has no right to tell me what to do in bedroom. Of course the men “benefitted” and women (Im reminded of Genesis 3 here) loosened their own restraints. And once “the pill” became a norm then the abortion mentality slowly evolved.
Leaders? who would listen to them speak about holiness of the body in a climate of abortion, euthansia, ss mariage demands, chemical ingestion all anti life demands
Abortion = the murder of an innocent human being for the convenience of another.
Judges have no authority to “Legislate from the Bench”.
Roe was built on faulty logic.
Basically, the court said that it could not determine when consciousness began, and thus shifted the decision to “privacy rights”.
Yet, that “lack of knowledge” should have been the centerpiece of the decision. Since we DON’T know precisely when life begins, we should protect life from the earliest point when it could POSSIBLY exist: very much like we talk about imposing criminal penalties on murder suspects.
Yet, I hope we do not waste terrible lesson of Roe.
Roe came about, among other reasons, because of the stigma and ridicule so-called “good and moral” people heaped upon unwed mothers.
Treating such people with shame, stigma, and ridicule made them feel justified in getting abortions. And, most often, the intent had nothing to do with God, or the well-being of others. Instead, this social more was driven the pathetic and mean need of gossips to raise their own social status by tearing down others.
People of faith need to remember that this satanic behavior must be attacked if we succeed in overtturning Roe, or else we will recreate they cycle and the terrible lesson of Roe will be for naught.