On Monday night, following the leak of a Supreme Court draft indicating the Court would act to overturn Roe v. Wade, Democrats reacted by ranting that abortion was a “sacred” right, triggering fierce condemnation.
John Fetterman, the Democratic lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania, tweeted that “the right to an abortion is sacred.”
Let's be clear: The right to an abortion is sacred.
Democrats have to act quickly – get rid of the filibuster to pass the Women's Health Protection Act + finally codify Roe into law.
We cannot afford to wait.
— John Fetterman (@JohnFetterman) May 3, 2022
Fetterman was echoed one hour later by the Nevada Democratic Party, which ranted, “The right to choice is sacred. The right to privacy is sacred. The right to control your own body is sacred. Abortion is healthcare. We will never stop fighting for the rights of women – in Nevada and across America.”
The right to choice is sacred. The right to privacy is sacred. The right to control your own body is sacred. Abortion is healthcare.
We will never stop fighting for the rights of women – in Nevada and across America.
Read our full statement below:https://t.co/LytNileN2A
— NV Dems (@nvdems) May 3, 2022
The claim that abortion is a “sacred” right sparked harsh criticism.
Ed Whelan, deputy assistant attorney general for former President George W. Bush, snapped, “‘Sacred’ if Moloch is your god.”
"Sacred" if Moloch is your god. https://t.co/tQFUXJdGYi
— Ed Whelan (@EdWhelanEPPC) May 3, 2022
The Encyclopedia Britannica notes that Moloch was “a Canaanite deity associated in biblical sources with the practice of child sacrifice.”
Writer Delano Squires fired, “Can you be clear about how the intentional destruction of human life is a ‘sacred right’?”
Can you be clear about how the the intentional destruction of human life is a "sacred right"? https://t.co/Xt1e9rT0MX
— Delano Squires (@DelanoSquires) May 3, 2022
GOP consultant Matt Whitlock reacted, “This bill would legalize abortion through all 9 months of pregnancy. What an absolutely insane position to take.”
This bill would legalize abortion through all 9 months of pregnancy.
What an absolutely insane position to take. https://t.co/VHDk8gpsjo
— Matt Whitlock (@mattdizwhitlock) May 3, 2022
National Review’s John McCormack pointed out, “Fetterman, frontrunner for Pennsylvania Dem Senate nomination, was asked last week: ‘Are there any limits on abortion you would find appropriate?’ ‘I don’t believe so, no,’ he replied.”
Fetterman, frontrunner for Pennsylvania Dem Senate nomination, was asked last week: “Are there any limits on abortion you would find appropriate?”
“I don’t believe so, no,” he replied. https://t.co/2WFDwDMqvEhttps://t.co/1qGXX24apz
— John McCormack (@McCormackJohn) May 3, 2022
Oxford Languages defines “sacred” as follows: “Connected with God (or the gods) or dedicated to a religious purpose and so deserving veneration.”
The notion that abortion is a “sacred” right has been peddled by its supporters for years. In December 2021, the Planned Parenthood of Illinois website featured an article titled, “Abortion is sacred. And the Supreme Court can’t take that away from us.” The article argued, “No one should be forced to stay pregnant if they don’t want to.”
A 2019 article supporting abortion argued, “One’s life doesn’t need to be part of some god’s plan to be sacred. On the contrary, to be sacred something needs to be part of the plan of a living, mortal being …”