Democratic Morality

With reference to the Democratic Party, “democratic morality” may seem oxymoronic. But even there, especially there, we witness moralities in conflict with one another, and with the larger society. The question of democratic morality, however, transcends party rivalries, as Justice Byron White pointed out in his dissent from the June 11 Supreme Court decision striking down Pennsylvania’s efforts to regulate abortion.

In that decision Justice Harry Blackmun, who seems determined to go down in history as the champion of a morally imperial judiciary, wrote for the majority. Pennsylvania’s attempts to ensure “voluntary and informed consent” to abortion would, he wrote, have a “chilling” effect upon the performance of abortion. Nothing, but absolutely nothing, must be allowed to intervene in the decision made by “the woman and her physician.” Never mind that the physician is usually an abortionist adept at selling the lethal services of that industry.

RJ

About the Author

Richard John Neuhaus

Featured Tags

With reference to the Democratic Party, “democratic morality” may seem oxymoronic. But even there, especially there, we witness moralities in conflict with one another, and with the larger society. The question of democratic morality, however, transcends party rivalries, as Justice Byron White pointed out in his dissent from the June 11 Supreme Court decision striking down Pennsylvania’s efforts to regulate abortion.

In that decision Justice Harry Blackmun, who seems determined to go down in history as the champion of a morally imperial judiciary, wrote for the majority. Pennsylvania’s attempts to ensure “voluntary and informed consent” to abortion would, he wrote, have a “chilling” effect upon the performance of abortion. Nothing, but absolutely nothing, must be allowed to intervene in the decision made by “the woman and her physician.” Never mind that the physician is usually an abortionist adept at selling the lethal services of that industry.