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The 2004 March for Women’s Lives

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is a Wake Up Call!

By Chelsea Bahash

 

 

          CNN reported on a story, on May 8, 2004, regarding a Rochester, NY couple, who were ordered by a judge to not conceive any more children, until the children they already have no longer need foster care.  Judge Marilyn O’Conner made her ruling on March 31, 2004 that the parent will be found in contempt of court if they are to become pregnant, because the child will have to be cared for at the public’s expense.  The rational is that their constitutional rights are no longer valid when their actions impede on other American’s rights by creating financial burdens. 

 

          The judge did not force any kind of contraception, nor is she making an abortion mandatory, if the woman were to become pregnant.  She has offered sterilization at no expense to the couple.  She leaves they method of contraception up to their discretion.

 

          The parents already have four children, ages 1,2,4 and 5.  A case worker claimed that all four children were neglected and improperly cared for.  Tests showed that all children had tested positive for cocaine.  Both parents have a history of drug abuse. 

 

          The controversy over this case is much debated.  On the one hand, people can argue that the parents are causing hardships on their children, by not allowing them to have a comfortable, safe, home environment.  As a result, the children are put in foster care, paid by tax payer’s money, which is a burden to the government’s budget; therefore, the judge had every right to make the ruling she did based on the fact that their decisions are causing hardship on other citizens.  On the other hand, some people, especially the attorney for Reproductive Rights Project, feel that the decision, made by the judge, is not supported by the Federal or State of New York Constitution.  Attorney Chris Affronti, who chairs the family law section of the Monroe County Bar Association, said “I think what the judge is trying to do is kind of have a wake-up call for society.”  Whether people agree or disagree with the ruling, it is definitely a wake-up call for society!

 

 

 

1.  Get the low down on the digits!

2.  A Contemporary Definition of Marriage

3. Partners for Life

4.  This is a Wake Up Call!