It is with grim sadness that Americans’ right to privacy in medical decision-making has been taken away by the Supreme Court.

A majority of Americans support women’s right to make their own choices about the difficult issue of abortion.

Most of us realize that women do not make the decision to end a pregnancy lightly. Nevertheless, the Republican Party has pushed though justices who have conservative religious beliefs. These justices have foisted their own religious beliefs on the entire country. These same justices told bold faced lies during their confirmation hearings telling us that Roe v Wade was settled law.

Now young girls, victims of rape, and victims of incest may be forced to carry the children of those who have attacked them. Women in difficult situations will have their lives changed to conform to the religious beliefs of a minority. Women who cannot safely bear children for medical reasons will suffer.

Of course, poor women who cannot afford to travel to liberal states, who cannot get time off from work, who need to care for other family members will be affected the most. Well-off families who can easily travel will not be affected.

It is a sad day in America. Our right to privacy has been eroded. A Republican religious minority has been allowed to force its beliefs on us all. We must fight to regain our right to privacy: privacy in medical decisions, privacy about contraception, privacy in who we marry, privacy to live our lives without government intrusion.

Frank Kieliszek, Norway

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