On January 22, 1973, the Supreme Court handed down the Roe v. Wade decision. By a 7–2 vote, the Supreme Court found that the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution guaranteed the right of privacy under its “concept of personal liberty and restrictions upon state action.” This right to privacy, the court said, guarantees a pregnant woman the right to obtain an abortion without restriction in the first trimester of a pregnancy. After that point, the state can regulate abortion, it said, “except when it is necessary to preserve the life or health of the mother.”
I feel that the Supremes decided that I was a partial citizen - like 3/5ths. They are now putting the health, life and liberties at women are at risk. I consider them murderers
I was 52 years old when I learned that my deeply Catholic mother had had an ectopic pregnancy when I was just 18 months old, and my brothers were 4 and 7. She called her friend Ruth saying she was bleeding profusely. Ruth left work, picked my mom up and took her to the emergency room at the Catholic hospital where I was born. They refused to treat my mom, saying she should go home and rest. Instead, Ruth took mom to the University Hospital (where Ruth was the Dean of the School of Nursing.) They admitted my mom, and just four hours later, my mom was in the recovery room, awake and talking with my dad.
My dad died when I was 28. My mom died when I was 51. I never heard anyone in my family discuss the "family" secret - my mom was given life-saving surgery when I was barely a toddler and hid it from everyone because she was Catholic - and my parents might have been excommunicated for their "sins." Literally, kept a secret because their community thought that the surgery performed on my mom was an abortion. And my brothers and I only learned of it because Ruth thought it was important. Well, yeah, it is!
Ectopic pregnancies are never viable. Never. All the doctors at St. Mary's did was send my mom home to die. As they do now in some states in this country. In 2024. Unbelievable.
I am grateful so many of my fellow Americans get themselves to the polls to vote for those who will protect women's access to healthcare. Period. As others have said, time for history to repeat itself! Time for the minority opinions to be put in their place. Time for women to again determine their own healthcare and family needs.
With Heather, all the dots are always connected, the I’s dotted, the T’s crossed, and in such a lucid and informative way. Thank goodness for this body of work. Its influence on the future of our society will be immeasurable.
My fervent hope is that issues like overturning Dobbs can be what galvanizes opposition to everything the GOP currently stands for as we head toward this election. As seems imminent at this point in time, the election will come down to T***p/Biden 2.0. (With DeSantis bowing out and all the GOP now seemingly capitulating to The Orange Jesus, this looks even more certain -- implausible though it still seems to be!) Though it is still really early on and a LOT can happen before November (my gut feeling tells me there are all kinds of scenarios that can happen between now and then), I sincerely WANT to believe that by November, when/if the American people are confronted with a choice between these two, the choice will be pretty obvious. More than that, though, we have to vote against the MAGA/fascist cult all the way down to local level ballots. Maybe Dobbs can be the "fire-bell in the night" that helps people realize what's at stake and what could happen if we don't stand up and fight this NOW!
Thank you, Heather. Let’s hope the majority will regain the right to rule over the radicalized minority right wing. We’ve got our work cut out for ourselves to get out the blue vote up and down the ballot in November.
“MAGA Has Devoured American Evangelicalism,” (NYTimes about a week ago)
The question has arisen for me: Could it be also said that “MAGA Has Devoured much of American Catholicism? “
Much of the writing about Trump and religion focuses on Evangelicalism, witness these two opinion pieces. But the hypothesis occurs to me that much of American Catholicism, including the majority of American Bishops, having supported former president Trump in 2016, will likely support him in the upcoming election, if he is not disqualified to run. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops recently selected abortion as its number one 2024 issue. [Why not warfare and violence as the most significant issue?] Is this a thinly veiled institutional Catholic strategy to encourage or mandate that Catholics cast their support in Trump’s direction, who during his presidency opposed abortion and successfully saw to the selection of three anti-abortion Supreme Court judges, two of them Catholic? Also, upon investigation, it turns out, not by coincidence, that numerous officials high up in Trump’s former presidential staffing graduated from elite Catholic universities and law schools. Even now, affiliated with Trump are Catholic individuals such as Chris LaCivita, currently a senior advisor to Donald Trump's 2024 presidential campaign; Leonard Leo, hugely instrumental in Trump’s selection of three anti-abortion Supreme Court Justices; and the Napa Institute, at which many Catholic bishops wine and dine with influential politicians and business leaders. Some priests have even gone so far as to state from the pulpit that it would be a mortal sin to vote for Biden, a more faithful practitioner of his faith than Trump has ever been. These same bishops and priests influence many Hispanic voters. Equal to or a close second to American Evangelicalism, does “MAGA American Catholicism” warrant more attention as a significant factor lending Trump power?
The 7 justices in the majority were nominated by FDR (Douglas), Eisenhower (Brennan, Stewart), LBJ (Marshall), and Nixon (Burger, Blackmun, Powell). The 2 dissenting justices were nominated by Kennedy (White) and Nixon (Rehnquist). It seems amazing now that 5 of the 7 justices in the majority were nominated by Republican Presidents. Then, as now, only 3 justices were nominated by Democratic Presidents. I WANT the Dems to be more strategic and play hardball. For example, RBG should have retired in 2012, so a DEM could appoint a 40-something successor. If either Kagan (age 63) or Sotomayor (age 69) have even the slightest health concern, they should retire now so Biden and the Dem majority in the Senate can approve her successor. We have probably already seen the last time a Republican majority will approve a Dem-nominated Supreme Court Justice. If Biden is reelected and faces a Republican majority in the Senate (possible or likely), he will be unable to nominate ANY Justices. The Senate will stonewall him, regardless of the time remaining in his next term. And by the way, a Dem majority in the Senate (also possible) should stonewall anyone nominated by a Republican President. Fight fire with fire.
I have a question as a retired ICU nurse. How can a politician or judge or anyone other than a physician or nurse, with OB/GYN education, experience and license, make any medical decision for a pregnant woman? They are not qualified. They are practicing medicine without a license. It is illegal. I am serious about this. Name me another medical decision about medical care that a lay person can legally make and force on the patient.
God, I hope so….that opposition to DOBB`S will rid us of Trump….the history that Heather detailed for us demonstrated just how precious personal freedoms are and how fragile….and ‘keeping the Republic’ is a full time ongoing consuming project!
An absolutely Stellar letter tonight. I hope history will repeat itself.
I feel that the Supremes decided that I was a partial citizen - like 3/5ths. They are now putting the health, life and liberties at women are at risk. I consider them murderers
I was 52 years old when I learned that my deeply Catholic mother had had an ectopic pregnancy when I was just 18 months old, and my brothers were 4 and 7. She called her friend Ruth saying she was bleeding profusely. Ruth left work, picked my mom up and took her to the emergency room at the Catholic hospital where I was born. They refused to treat my mom, saying she should go home and rest. Instead, Ruth took mom to the University Hospital (where Ruth was the Dean of the School of Nursing.) They admitted my mom, and just four hours later, my mom was in the recovery room, awake and talking with my dad.
My dad died when I was 28. My mom died when I was 51. I never heard anyone in my family discuss the "family" secret - my mom was given life-saving surgery when I was barely a toddler and hid it from everyone because she was Catholic - and my parents might have been excommunicated for their "sins." Literally, kept a secret because their community thought that the surgery performed on my mom was an abortion. And my brothers and I only learned of it because Ruth thought it was important. Well, yeah, it is!
Ectopic pregnancies are never viable. Never. All the doctors at St. Mary's did was send my mom home to die. As they do now in some states in this country. In 2024. Unbelievable.
I am grateful so many of my fellow Americans get themselves to the polls to vote for those who will protect women's access to healthcare. Period. As others have said, time for history to repeat itself! Time for the minority opinions to be put in their place. Time for women to again determine their own healthcare and family needs.
With Heather, all the dots are always connected, the I’s dotted, the T’s crossed, and in such a lucid and informative way. Thank goodness for this body of work. Its influence on the future of our society will be immeasurable.
My fervent hope is that issues like overturning Dobbs can be what galvanizes opposition to everything the GOP currently stands for as we head toward this election. As seems imminent at this point in time, the election will come down to T***p/Biden 2.0. (With DeSantis bowing out and all the GOP now seemingly capitulating to The Orange Jesus, this looks even more certain -- implausible though it still seems to be!) Though it is still really early on and a LOT can happen before November (my gut feeling tells me there are all kinds of scenarios that can happen between now and then), I sincerely WANT to believe that by November, when/if the American people are confronted with a choice between these two, the choice will be pretty obvious. More than that, though, we have to vote against the MAGA/fascist cult all the way down to local level ballots. Maybe Dobbs can be the "fire-bell in the night" that helps people realize what's at stake and what could happen if we don't stand up and fight this NOW!
Heather Cox Richardson thank you.
Polarization in these cases is born when citizen's rights are curtailed.
We demand our rights of autonomy. NOW!
Your history lesson is perfect for today, Professor ⭐
A Sunday letter, and what a history lesson
Thank you, Heather. Let’s hope the majority will regain the right to rule over the radicalized minority right wing. We’ve got our work cut out for ourselves to get out the blue vote up and down the ballot in November.
“MAGA Has Devoured American Evangelicalism,” (NYTimes about a week ago)
The question has arisen for me: Could it be also said that “MAGA Has Devoured much of American Catholicism? “
Much of the writing about Trump and religion focuses on Evangelicalism, witness these two opinion pieces. But the hypothesis occurs to me that much of American Catholicism, including the majority of American Bishops, having supported former president Trump in 2016, will likely support him in the upcoming election, if he is not disqualified to run. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops recently selected abortion as its number one 2024 issue. [Why not warfare and violence as the most significant issue?] Is this a thinly veiled institutional Catholic strategy to encourage or mandate that Catholics cast their support in Trump’s direction, who during his presidency opposed abortion and successfully saw to the selection of three anti-abortion Supreme Court judges, two of them Catholic? Also, upon investigation, it turns out, not by coincidence, that numerous officials high up in Trump’s former presidential staffing graduated from elite Catholic universities and law schools. Even now, affiliated with Trump are Catholic individuals such as Chris LaCivita, currently a senior advisor to Donald Trump's 2024 presidential campaign; Leonard Leo, hugely instrumental in Trump’s selection of three anti-abortion Supreme Court Justices; and the Napa Institute, at which many Catholic bishops wine and dine with influential politicians and business leaders. Some priests have even gone so far as to state from the pulpit that it would be a mortal sin to vote for Biden, a more faithful practitioner of his faith than Trump has ever been. These same bishops and priests influence many Hispanic voters. Equal to or a close second to American Evangelicalism, does “MAGA American Catholicism” warrant more attention as a significant factor lending Trump power?
I certainly hope Dobbs gets the votes out!
The 7 justices in the majority were nominated by FDR (Douglas), Eisenhower (Brennan, Stewart), LBJ (Marshall), and Nixon (Burger, Blackmun, Powell). The 2 dissenting justices were nominated by Kennedy (White) and Nixon (Rehnquist). It seems amazing now that 5 of the 7 justices in the majority were nominated by Republican Presidents. Then, as now, only 3 justices were nominated by Democratic Presidents. I WANT the Dems to be more strategic and play hardball. For example, RBG should have retired in 2012, so a DEM could appoint a 40-something successor. If either Kagan (age 63) or Sotomayor (age 69) have even the slightest health concern, they should retire now so Biden and the Dem majority in the Senate can approve her successor. We have probably already seen the last time a Republican majority will approve a Dem-nominated Supreme Court Justice. If Biden is reelected and faces a Republican majority in the Senate (possible or likely), he will be unable to nominate ANY Justices. The Senate will stonewall him, regardless of the time remaining in his next term. And by the way, a Dem majority in the Senate (also possible) should stonewall anyone nominated by a Republican President. Fight fire with fire.
I have a question as a retired ICU nurse. How can a politician or judge or anyone other than a physician or nurse, with OB/GYN education, experience and license, make any medical decision for a pregnant woman? They are not qualified. They are practicing medicine without a license. It is illegal. I am serious about this. Name me another medical decision about medical care that a lay person can legally make and force on the patient.
denigrating the roles of wife and mother and were demanding rights they didn’t need or deserve.
1978 - women able to get own credit cards, open bank accounts without their husbands
All of this was not that long ago.
Excellent letter and so timely. Thank you.
Let's hope it doesn't take a repeat of the Civil War to restore sanity and preserve democracy and equality.
God, I hope so….that opposition to DOBB`S will rid us of Trump….the history that Heather detailed for us demonstrated just how precious personal freedoms are and how fragile….and ‘keeping the Republic’ is a full time ongoing consuming project!