Are you a body part?
By Phil Lawler ( bio - articles - email ) | May 08, 2003
Under US law, a pregnant woman can procure an abortion regardless of the father's wishes. But what if the father wants the abortion, and the woman resists? That's where the law gets complicated.
For a classic example, look at the gymnastic feats performed by Connecticut's Supreme Court, in a case involving a man who tried to make his girlfriend miscarry their child.
The court was in a quandary. If the baby is recognized as a baby, then the crime of abortion is obvious. If the baby isn't recognized as a baby, then what crime did the man commit?
The court's decision: The baby is a "body part," and the man's crime is akin to an unauthorized haircut.
Absurd? Absolutely! But if you start with an absurd premise-- that a baby is not a baby-- what other sort of conclusion can you reach?
Phil Lawler has been a Catholic journalist for more than 30 years. He has edited several Catholic magazines and written eight books. Founder of Catholic World News, he is the news director and lead analyst at CatholicCulture.org. See full bio.
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