BLACKMUN AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM

                          by Dr. Thomas Droleskey

Well, they're all gone now. Three of the U.S. Supreme Court justices who
voted to declare baby-killing a protected constitutional "right" are dead
(William O. Douglas, Potter Stewart, Thurgood Marshall). Three are retired
(William Brennan, Lewis Powell, Warren Burger). The last, the proud author
of the Court's opinion in the case of Roe v. Wade, Harry Blackmun, has
announced his retirement (to become effective at the end of the Court's
current term in June). In fact, Chief Justice William Rehnquist, one of
the two dissenters in Roe (the retired Byron White was the other), will be
the only justice on the Court in the next term who participated in that
infamous case.

Blackmun was hailed by President Bill Clinton as a champion of justice,
specifically citing the Court's senior associate justice's commitment to
"women's reproductive rights." In what is becoming a hyperbolic style
similar to that employed by President Richard M. Nixon, Clinton said that
"everyone" in the nation was grateful to Blackmun for his years of service
to the country. (Nixon called the manned lunar landing in 1969 the
"greatest event since Genesis." His good friend Billy Graham gently
reminded our 37th president that the Resurrection of Jesus Christ was
perhaps a bit more important event.) Evoking a bit of pathos, Blackmun
reminded Clinton that "not everyone" agreed with the president's words of
praise. And, defiant to the end, Blackmun reiterated, when asked, that Roe
was the right decision as "America moved down the road" in her history.

We know what's "down the road" from the positivists who sit on the Court.
Legalized euthanasia. Homosexual and lesbian "marriages." Possibly sharp
restrictions on the activities of Operation Rescue--and other courageous
pro-life activists.  Possible restrictions on the number of children
couples can "legally" have without being taxed (or losing tax-exemptions).

More and more government control of education. Oh, yes, we know the road
that Blackmun and his ilk have taken us down only too well. It is the road
not only of legal positivism and the abuse of the whole concept of
judicial review, hut also the road of social engineering.

Blackmun has been a major player in the misuse of judicial power. He has
been an instrument of the most fundamental injustice in the history of
this country: the denial of the right to live to a whole category of
citizens.

As pernicious as slavery was, for example, the slaves were not denied life
en masse as a result of Dred Scott v. Sanford in 1857.  As horrible as
legalized segregation was, justified by the Court in Plessy v. Ferguson in
1896, the Court did not decree that states could permit blacks to be put
to death legally for merely being black. Little babies, however, can be
summarily executed.

Blackmun pointed out in his press conference with Clinton that the vote to
legalize abortion in the Roe case was 7-2, as though this obviated his own
responsibility. While it is true that he did not seek to write the Court's
opinion, Blackmun bears his share of moral responsibility for providing
the constitutional "justification" for baby-killing. He helped to
participate in a process which has made every human being, born and
preborn, more susceptible to violence. He helped to turn the Supreme Court
into a literal Temple of Doom.

The constitutional protection of our preborn brothers and sisters will not
be restored by the denizens of the Temple of Doom.  While pro-life
attorneys should and must litigate every case they can to put a stop to
the contraception and abortion juggernaut, while we continue various
activities to stop the killing, we have to proclaim our commitment to
innocent preborn life in word and in deed. We cannot shrink from the
responsibility we have to help defend the defenseless. We have to help all
people to understand that life is a gift from God--and that eternal life
has been won for us by His Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the Holy Cross.

Dr. Droleskey is a freelance writer. This article appeared in the April
21, 1994 issue of the Arlington Catholic Herald.

   -------------------------------------------------------------------
   The electronic form of this document is copyrighted.
   Copyright (c) Trinity Communications 1994.
   Provided courtesy of:

        The Catholic Resource Network
        Trinity Communications
        PO Box 3610
        Manassas, VA 22110
        Voice: 703-791-2576
        Fax: 703-791-4250
        Data: 703-791-4336

   The Catholic Resource Network is a Catholic online information and
   service system. To browse CRNET or join, set your modem to 8 data
   bits, 1 stop bit and no parity, and call 1-703-791-4336.
   -------------------------------------------------------------------