Texas: The Handmaid's Jail
/By Don Varyu
September 2, 2021
Last night the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, a woman’s right to abortion. They didn’t say they did that. But they did.
In Texas, the only abortions now allowed are those performed during the first six weeks of a pregnancy—a time when most women don’t even realize they’re pregnant.
But I want to put aside the strict abortion stuff. Instead, let’s move to on to the one aspect of the ruling that amounts to perhaps the most shocking ruling ever made by a U.S. Supreme Court. In refusing to block the Texas law, the justices authorized vigilante justice in America. In effect, the Supreme Court ruled that they themselves don’t really matter anymore. Let the mob decide what’s right. And pay them for their trouble.
The high court affirmed the right of anyone in the country to sue anyone they suspect of having an abortion in Texas—or anyone who aided in that abortion. That means not only a doctor performing the abortion…and presumably the person who drove the woman to the airport get an abortion out of state. It’s a sweet deal for the Texas Gestapo who turn you in. If a brown shirt wins his lawsuit, he gets at least $10,000 and his court costs. If he loses, there’s no penalty. It’s the legal lottery that you can’t lose
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Well, this is enough to make the blood boil for anyone who has a remote clue as to how America is supposed to work. But to make it clear even to the nutjobs, let me take this one step further.
To begin, let’s lay out two premises that apply here:
Texas, a single state, effectively overturned established law for the whole country.
And in the process, Texas ignored its own voters--well more than half support Roe v. Wade.
So, the legislature there can’t claim they were reflecting the will of their people. And they can’t claim women who previously received abortions in their state were breaking any law. State government thus wasn't righting a wrong; they were wronging a right.
So, I’ve got a counterproposal that mirrors Texas. But mine represents the sentiments of voters where I live…and addresses a longstanding crime.
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In my state, the largest religions group is “nones”—in other words, atheists, agnostics, and those claiming no affiliation with any church. That’s 32% of us. In comparison, only 17%--about half as many—are Catholics.
Furthermore, there is no question that the Catholic church for decades (maybe centuries) ran a pedophilia sex right, helping priests play out their fantasies with young boys.
And importantly, my initiative derives directly from those smug souls in the Texas legislature.
Here’s how it works:
All Catholics—priests, nuns, and all congregants—have six weeks to turn in their rosary beads and renounce their faith.
After that, anyone in America has the right to sue anyone suspected of still being a Catholic.
You just poked your head inside the doors of the church to see if anyone iwas there?
You pay me $10,000.
I find a Christ on a cross hanging on your bedroom wall?
You pay me $10,000.
Your elderly mother thinks this is terrible--and says you should still say your prayers anyway?
She pays me $10,000 too.
And remember—that’s just me. There are millions of Americans who would love to cash in on your crime.
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Now, you may think I’m picking on Catholics. I admit, I could have chosen evangelicals or Baptists or Mormons or Jews—they’re all smaller than “nones” where I live, too.
But the Catholics get special recognition here because four of the six Supreme Court justices who voted to blaspheme the Constitution by upholding the Texas travesty are devout Catholics. (As, in fairness, are John Roberts and Sonya Sotomayor, who voted against it.) This raises the question of how much influence the teachings of the church can have on the lowest minds on our highest court. Could they rationalize setting aside both established law and the very idea of personal liberties…in favor of the papal pap coming from Rome? You tell me.
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At this moment, opponents seem set on finding ways to appeal this ruling…or how to reinforce efforts to fight upcoming abortion rights battles.
I say that’s wrong. Instead, fight fire with fire. Find a state whose legislature and governor are willing to pass legislation turning the tables on these crazed theocrats. Make the Supreme Court uphold their ruling that whatever states want is OK with them—rights be damned.
We either take the steps to fix this country…or the handmaids in Texas keep getting pushed further down the road to Gilead.
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