One of the biggest news stories this summer has been the Supreme Court’s 5-4 decision last month in Obergefell v. Hodges which both declared gay marriage legal, and a constitutional right. Given this, both fans and opponents of the ruling have spoken of it as “legalizing” gay marriage nationwide. But it hasn’t. And it hasn’t, because it can’t, because the Supreme Court doesn’t have the power to do what it claims to have done.
Tag: politics
Do You Need God to Know That Abortion is Wrong?
The New Republic’s latest “contribution” to the abortion debate is remarkable, in that, despite getting virtually everything it says factually wrong, it still raises an interesting problem for pro-choicers and atheists. Here’s the Twitter teaser to the piece that started it all: How the anti-choice platform is fighting to stay alive: http://t.co/m8kuGANs2Q pic.twitter.com/fxTeRyj444 — The New… Continue reading Do You Need God to Know That Abortion is Wrong?
4 Things You Probably Have Wrong About the Hobby Lobby Decision
Today, the Supreme Court issued its decision in the Hobby Lobby case (Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc.), siding with Hobby Lobby. It was a 5-4 decision, with Justice Alito writing the opinion (Justice Kennedy, who joined the majority, also wrote a concurring opinion). The Court’s decision, holding that the HHS Mandate violates Hobby Lobby’s… Continue reading 4 Things You Probably Have Wrong About the Hobby Lobby Decision
Abortion, and the Undermining of Democracy
Chief Photographer’s Mate (CPHoM) Robert F. Sargent,Into the Jaws of Death (1944) Today, we commemorate the 70th anniversary of D-Day, the storming of the beaches of Normandy by Allied soldiers in World War II. There, the forces of democracy helped bravely battle back the forces of tyranny and oppression. As such, it seems a fitting… Continue reading Abortion, and the Undermining of Democracy
What Both Sides of the Abortion Debate Can Learn from “My Body, My Choice”
One of the most common slogans in defense of abortion is “My Body, My Choice.” It’s an appeal to bodily autonomy, and it’s not all wrong. In fact, I think that there’s a lot that both sides can learn from it. I. What “My Body, My Choice” Gets Right Although it’s just a slogan, “My Body,… Continue reading What Both Sides of the Abortion Debate Can Learn from “My Body, My Choice”
Bloodless Persecution: Ten Easy Steps to Marginalize and Silence Traditional Christians
Phil Robertson The latest religious freedom dust-up involves the suspension of Phil Robertson from Duck Dynasty, after A&E discovered to its shock that one of the conservative Evangelicals they’d been profiling wasn’t in favor of homosexuality (quelle horreur!). In one regard, it’s reasonable to be upset: we now live in an age in which it’s frequently… Continue reading Bloodless Persecution: Ten Easy Steps to Marginalize and Silence Traditional Christians
The Unborn Child is a Child. Literally.
When pro-lifers refer to the unborn child as a child, we get accused of playing games with language. The opposite is true, as Ramesh Ponnuru pointed out (fairly) recently. Originally the word “child” referred only to unborn children. From the Online Etymology Dictionary: child (n.) Old English cild “fetus, infant, unborn or newly born person,” from Proto-Germanic *kiltham (cf.… Continue reading The Unborn Child is a Child. Literally.
Catholic Voting and The Order of Truths
A common mistake that Catholics make is assuming that every Catholic teaching carries equal weight, and that as the faithful, we are equally bound to follow everything that the pope or a bishop says. Related to this is the idea that a politician who goes against Church “teaching” on one issue, like supporting a particular… Continue reading Catholic Voting and The Order of Truths
Debunking the “Pro-Choice” Euphemism
To no great surprise, it turns out “pro-choice” just means the choice to abort your kid, not the choice to, say, have an incandescent light bulb or drink a large soda. This reality was highlighted by a recent Reason TV video in which Democratic delegates and supporters were interviewed about “choice” at the 2012 Democratic National… Continue reading Debunking the “Pro-Choice” Euphemism
“Where Are You Going, America?” Abp. Naumann’s Challenge to the Nation
We celebrate Independence Day this year in the shadow of the Supreme Court’s recent decision affirming the constitutional authority of the individual mandate (and indeed, the ability of Congress to tax inactivity), and as the last day of the USCCB’s Fortnight for Freedom. As part of the Fortnight, I went with two buses full of… Continue reading “Where Are You Going, America?” Abp. Naumann’s Challenge to the Nation