Letters

It seems that the entire country was appalled by the Alabama Supreme Court’s decision holding that frozen embryos are children, thus thwarting couples seeking to start a family by in vitro fertilization. The court, citing the Alabama Constitution and an 1872 law, declared through Chief Justice Tom Parker: “Human life cannot be wrongfully destroyed without incurring the wrath of a holy God, who views the destruction of His image as an affront to Himself.”

With that statement Judge Parker elevated Christianity above other religions that hold different beginning-of-life beliefs. This seems to be a classic case of violating the 1st Amendment’s Establishment Clause, which provides that “Congress make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”

In defending his decision to end 50 years of reproductive freedom by his vote to override Roe vs Wade, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito cited religious liberty as a basis: “There’s also growing hostility to religion, or at least the traditional religious beliefs that are contrary to the new moral code that is ascendant in some sectors.”

The Dobbs decision was made possible by Samuel Alito’s allies on the court, three of whom were appointed by Donald Trump, and all of whom stated at their Senate confirmation hearings that Roe vs Wade, though flawed in their estimation, was settled law. Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett misled members of the Senate’s Judiciary Committee and gaslighted America when they answered questions about their position on Roe vs Wade.

In January 2023, House Republicans introduced HR 431 — Life at Conception Act. This proposed piece of legislation is supported by 124 co-sponsors — all Republicans. Most importantly, the current U.S. House speaker, Mike Johnson, is one of those co-sponsors. The speaker of the House controls the house’s agenda. Should this bill become law, abortion and other forms of birth control would be outlawed in all 50 states, as would in vitro fertilization.

From the courthouse to the halls of government, reproductive freedom is under assault by those seeking to elevate personal religious beliefs above all other considerations, and they will lie in service to their brand of Christianity.

If you are alarmed by the threat — as this former altar boy is — then you should consider voting straight Democratic.

The House of Representatives is narrowly controlled by Republicans. We are one Republican House and Senate and one Republican president (Trump) away from a gradual withering away of our pluralistic and democratic society.

Mike Anthony

Westhampton

Anthony is the former chair of the Southampton Democratic Party — Ed.