Amy Coney Barrett’s Harmful Effects on Reproductive Rights
On September 18, 2020, we lost Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. As the second woman appointed to the court, she has paved the way for gender equality while co-founding the Women’s Rights Project at the ACLU. Most importantly, she continuously fought for reproductive rights. The ACLU states, “Writing in dissent in Gonzales v. Carhart, a case in which the court upheld a federal restriction on abortion, Justice Ginsburg plainly stated: “[L]egal challenges to undue restrictions on abortion procedures do not seek to vindicate some generalized notion of privacy; rather, they center on a woman’s autonomy to determine her life’s course, and thus to enjoy equal citizenship stature.”
Amy Coney Barrett’s Stance on Reproductive Rights
Everything that RGB has worked for will be gone once Amy Coney Barrett gets confirmed as the new Supreme Court Justice. Amy Coney Barrett has praised RBG’s work, but she openly professes contradictory views. Notably, Barrett’s campaign foundation is on being the “model Catholic.” Before her time on the federal bench, she has openly expressed how she plans to reverse the decision of Roe v. Wade. Additionally, she signed off on a pro-life advertisement that stated, “It’s time to put an end to the barbaric legacy of Roe v. Wade and restore law that protects the lives of unborn children.”
Her conservative views extend past being pro-life and into basic reproductive health too. In 2012, she signed an opposition to the Affordable Care Act’s requirement, which stated that employers should allow contraceptives to be included in health insurance plans. The statement she agrees with states, “The reason for the original bipartisan uproar was the administration’s insistence that religious employers, be they institutions or individuals, provide insurance that covered services they regard as gravely immoral and unjust.” Not only is the right to choose at stake, but so is our access to affordable healthcare.
Amy’s Role in “People Of Praise”
Barrett even has involvement in “People of Praise”, a “charismatic” Christian community where men are the “Head” of the organization while women are the “Handmaids.” The group disguises their mission as dedicating their life to God, while further pushing the notion that women are subservient to men. The dangers of this unhealthily engulfing organization is seen in what women have to endure, in addition to multiple reported cases of abuse. For example, if you are a single female member, you have to ask your “Head” for permission to date. Coral Anika Theill, an ex-member, stated, “I suffered two miscarriages back to back, I wasn’t allowed contraceptives, that was something that I had no control of. I had no privacy. I lived like The Handmaid’s Tale, and it was very painful.” Amy is a prime example of why religion and politics should not mix.
“No Confirmation Before Inauguration” and Why it Matters
In 2016, during a presidential debate, Trump promised to appoint justices who would vote the reversal of the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion nationwide. He said, “That will happen automatically, in my opinion, because I am putting pro-life justices on the court.” A rushed SCOTUS decision, especially when Trump’s intentions are clear, put reproductive rights in danger. This fundamental lifetime position will affect gun laws, women’s freedoms, and the LGBTQ+’s freedoms. Reproductive rights are not only about abortion; they include STD testing, preventative cancer screenings, infertility services, hormone treatments, and affordable contraceptives too. A fundamental right to healthcare should not be continuously threatened because of religious affiliations. Unfortunately, we are almost at the point where we are actually living “The Handmaid’s Tale.”
Defunding Planned Parenthood and forcing Pro-Life on the population will increase unwanted pregnancies, which would also spike the amount of abortions, even some done in an unsafe manner. To make a change, you can send a letter to your senator or donate to Planned Parenthood. Legislation has no place in a woman’s body.