New York’s New Governor Should Listen to Pope Francis on Abortion

To the women of Texas, I want to say I am with you. Lady Liberty is here to welcome you with open arms.” Social media was all about Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s “Tax the Rich” dress at the Met gala. But the more important one was that of her colleague Carolyn Maloney, dressed as a suffragette. The suffragettes were against abortion. Earlier in the week, Maloney was cheering on the invitation to Texas women from Kathy Hochul, the new governor of New York, and in particular Hochul’s invitation to pregnant women in the Lone Star State. Maloney and Hochul stood flanked by a Central Park statue of Sojourner Truth, Susan B. Anthony, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton.

Stanton called abortion “infanticide,” writing that, “when we consider that women are treated as property, it is degrading to women that we should treat our children as property to be disposed of as we see fit.” Anthony said, “Sweeter even than to have had the joy of caring for children of my own has it been to me to help bring about a better state of things for mothers generally, so that their unborn little ones could not be willed away from them.” Be careful whom you use for a prop.

Contrary to the early feminists, Hochul is taking “aggressive action to cement New York State as a safe harbor for those seeking abortion care.” She’s the new governor of New York and wants pregnant women to know they can come to New York for their abortions. Same as it ever was here. She’s a graduate of the Columbus School of Law at the Catholic University of America. It takes its name “Columbus” from generous funding from the Knights of Columbus, a leader in making it possible for abortion-minded women to get ultrasounds and have a moment to pause in a crisis pregnancy to consider their options. New York has a long history of Catholic governors who have been advocates of abortion rights. The late Mario Cuomo at least seemed to struggle with it. Given the allegations against his son, Andrew, Hochul might be said to be leading the way to make sure that men can continue to use women sexually and that women can still be deluded into thinking they can and should have consequence-free sex when there is no such thing. One of Hochul’s policy aims is more telehealth abortions. “Aggressive” is the right word, because this is more of the most intimate violence, and violence in isolation when we’re talking about chemical abortion.