February 24, 2024

Meet the Alabama Supreme Court chief justice behind the embryo decision

 Media Matters - During a recent interview on the program of self-proclaimed “prophet” and QAnon conspiracy theorist Johnny Enlow, Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Tom Parker indicated that he is a proponent of the “Seven Mountain Mandate,” a theological approach that calls on Christians to impose fundamentalist values on all aspects of American life. Enlow is a pro-Trump “prophet” and leading proponent of the “Seven Mountain Mandate,” a “quasi-biblical blueprint for theocracy” that asserts that Christians must impose fundamentalist values on American society by conquering the “seven mountains” of cultural influence in U.S. life: government, education, media, religion, family, business, and entertainment... On February 16, the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos are people, with the same rights as living children, and that a person can be held liable for destroying them, imperiling in vitro fertilization treatment in the state. In a concurring opinion, Parker quoted the Bible, suggested that Alabama had adopted a “theologically based view of the sanctity of life,” and said that “human life cannot be wrongfully destroyed without incurring the wrath of a holy God.”  In the interview on Enlow’s program — which was uploaded the same day as the ruling was issued — Parker claimed that “God created government” and said it’s “heartbreaking” that “we have let it go into the possession of others.” Parker then invoked the Seven Mountain Mandate, saying, “And that's why he is calling and equipping people to step back into these mountains right now.”

1 comment:

Anonymous said...


Having tongue firmly pushed against the inside a cheek, I have made a couple comments about embryo being considered people. Not wanting to break tradition, but avoid repetition, I propose new flies for the ointment.

People really need a Name. Lets call one little Blastocyst Harley.

Is Harley an actual Citizens of the United States? Harley hasn’t yet been “born” within the friendly confines of any particular State boundaries? That is a particularly pointed question to GOP “birthers” who fixate on this issue, and even fail their own eyes when shown an actual Birth Certificate. Can Harley run for President when He / She becomes 35? Well, maybe when Harley is older, Right? But only after Harley actually exits a woman’s womb (or womb of other suitable animal possibly, as suggested in the TV program Twin Peaks), but that opens up a whole can of worms about what “natural born” means doesn’t it! Well, as long as Harley is a “Resident” of the United States for that required 14 years. And I’m assuming that would be from the Time Of Conception!

Do these embryos have any actual proof of their ‘identity’? Can we believe the word of some medical worker merely because he or she wears an ID badge, and knows the numbers to the door lock to enter the laboratory. Hey, sometimes even I have put stuff on different shelves in my refrigerator! And, I have known people to have purposely done things at work just to get somebody else in trouble! Maybe we only have an embryo’s ‘word’ as proof of their actual identity.

Assuming these embryos are actual Citizens. Can parents claim them as dependents? Heck, lots of parents have kids living away from home. I’m sure Medical Costs involved in IVF could be claimed as a Medical Deduction if they reach a certain percentage of the parents income, or at least a Deduction as a “Dependent”. But how about the Storage fee, that should come into play somehow, at least once the embryo comes old enough. In Harley’s case tax statements would show absolutely No income, yet I’m sure its Rent would share some of the burden of the Storage place’s Property Tax Bill. OK, maybe Harley’s taxes would only be a ‘Wash’, with nothing owed and nothing paid back… but Taxes should be filed, both Federal and State you know. Its important. How else would Harley have proof of actual age and “Residency” in the U.S.? Heck, these days, parents need to enroll their kids early to get them into the wonderful school they want. Parents need to begin their kids college 529 savings plan as early as possible. Is Harley a boy or girl, the GOP doesn’t appreciate any confusion here, and this must be established right away! There is absolutely no room for vacillation. Maybe there will be requirements for Pink freezers and Blue freezers, none of that ‘shared’ facilities stuff. Training must begin early in life!

Once Harley is implanted in a woman’s uterus, if that woman travels to a foreign country and gives birth, what Country is Harley a Citizen of. What if Harley is given to another women. Is that possible? Is that Legal? Would that person have to pay the original egg/sperm providers a monetary sum? That sounds like it would be illegal, as least in the U.S.A. since the 1860s! You just can’t sell a person! What if the ‘birth’ mother is not a citizen of the U.S. and actually gives birth in her own foreign country?

Ya, I'm tired too.