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IT MAKES SENSE TO ME
By Larry Peterson
We have all heard of Roe vs. Wade, the Supreme Court decision
that, to date, has LEGALLY allowed for the termination of more than 60,000,000 children
in utero. But many of us are not aware that on the very same day that decision
was handed down, the very same court by the very same vote also handed down a
decision called Doe
vs. Bolton.
The Doe vs. Bolton ruling created the proverbial “double
whammy” to the abortion issue. If Roe vs. Wade ever failed or was overturned,
Doe vs. Bolton could immediately take its place. In fact, it would not only
take its place, it legalizes abortion up to and including a full-term
pregnancy. This should be a cause of significant concern to all those who
respect life but rarely is this decision ever mentioned. The fact of the matter
is, on January 22, 1973, the US Supreme Court had given birth to the "Roe &
Doe" twins.
The ruling in the Doe vs. Bolton case is summed up here: : (The link supplies the details:
·
The Court's opinion
in Doe vs.
Bolton stated that a woman may obtain an abortion
after viability, if necessary, to protect her health. The Court defined
"health," as follows:
"Whether in the words of the Georgia statute, "an
abortion is necessary" is a professional judgment that the Georgia
physician will be called upon to make routinely. We agree with the District
Court, 319 F. Supp., at 1058, that the medical judgment may be exercised in the
light of all factors-physical, emotional, psychological, familial, and the
woman's age-relevant to the well being of the patient. All these factors may
relate to health."
Incredible as it is, if Roe vs.
Wade was ever overturned, Doe vs. Bolton would take its place. Doe vs. Bolton
allows for abortion "after viability" for almost any conceivable
reason. According to Doe vs. Bolton, an abortion could be permitted at full
term because the baby's crying when born might cause too much stress for
someone in the house who has a psychological problem. Far fetched? Not really.
Just get a doctor to sign off on it.
Ironically, the pseudonym “Mary
Doe” was used by her attorney to protect her identity. The attorney general of
Georgia at the time was Arthur Bolton so the case became known as “Doe
vs. Bolton.” The name of the plaintiff was actually Sandra Cano who, years
later, claimed to be pro-life and sued because she claimed she never knew her
attorney had used her as the anonymous plaintiff in the case. The case eventually
returned to the Supreme Court where her claim was rejected. Sandra Cano passed
away in 2014.
Five years after Roe vs.Wade
and Doe vs. Bolton were approved by SCOTUS, my wife gave birth to a daughter. She
was born prematurely at 24 weeks (six months). She was born alive and fully
formed but just needed more time to develop. She was baptized and given the name
Theresa Mary. There was never a positive reason given as to why she was premature.
The closest explanation we received was, “Sometimes things happen that we do
not understand.” The bottom line to that is she was a real person who lived and
died. She is buried with my parents, and her name is on a tombstone. It
simply reads; Theresa Mary Peterson.
September 6, 1978---September 6,1978.
Having had the experience and burying
our pre-mature child heightened the sadness and dismay, both of us felt toward abortion.
The blindness, the disregard, and the callousness that is shown by so many to
the most vulnerable of all the living are beyond understanding. How many future
doctors, scientists, carpenters, artists, priests, firemen, police officers,
letter-carriers, and so forth had never lived to see the light of day,
eradicated before their very first breath was inhaled?
God help us today and tomorrow.
Copyright©Larry Peterson2020
