Ohio State Senator Introduces Bill That Will Allow Mothers To Sue Fathers Because Of An Unwanted Pregnancy

Supreme Court Chief Justice Roberts warned us.

The upholding of the Texas abortion law that allows people to sue abortion providers if they discover someone had an abortion has opened Pandora’s box.

Democratic states are using the same legal argument to propose laws that allow lawsuits against gun manufacturers for victims and family members affected by gun violence. And now, Senator Tina Maharath (D, OH) is again using the exact same legal argument for a bill that would allow an impregnated women to sue the father because of an unwanted pregnancy, even if the sex was consensual.

“The average cost of giving birth in our state is over $15,000 and can rise substantially if there are complications. Too often, this cost is solely the mother’s to bear, especially in the case of an unintended pregnancy. However, the father shares equal responsibility for the pregnancy and it is only right that he pays equally for it,” she said.

The bill would allow a person who caused a pregnancy to pay damages of not less than $5,000, as well as court costs and attorney fees.

Is this a troll in response to Roe? Undoubtedly. Will it pass? Don’t be so quick to to write it off, because here’s the problem: The evangelical church LOVES the idea.

Aaron Baer, President of Ohio’s Center for Christian Virtue, announced his support for Bill 262, saying it will tackle “hook-up culture” and hold “deadbeat dads” to account:

 

Whoa, Liberals and Evangelicals Agreeing On A Really Dumb Law – WTH Is Going On?

The thing is, and in case you haven’t noticed, evangelicals are pretty much dictating Republican policy these days. To chalk this bill off as dead on arrival would be the height of foolishness. It might not happen right away, but if evangelicals want this one or something similar, they’ll keep up the pressure until they get what they want.

Those of you who have read my political commentaries in the past have probably figured out that most of the stuff I write manages to piss-off both conservatives and liberals equally, and in this case I’ve outdone myself because now I’m calling out both liberal and conservative evangelicals as well. Offended by it? Well, I don’t know what to tell you. Parents and children are my priority, not blind loyalty to political parties or religious beliefs. If you want people to tell you what you want to hear even if it’s a misrepresentation of reality, watch political talk shows or latch on to the lies of politicians. I’ll tell you the truth as I see it because honesty and candor are better even if what you learn happens to be unpleasant – We’re all adults here.

It’s also important to note, right at the outset, that this commentary is not an argument for the rightness or wrongness of the overturning Roe. It is however, relevant to discuss the consequences of that decision as it relates to parents and children and our mission to reform family law and end parental alienation.

 

The Impact Of Overturning Roe On Parental Rights:

Currently in both state and federal legislatures, we’re not only seeing the introduction of “heartbeat bills” we’re also seeing a rash of “life at conception” bills that would criminalize the abortion after the moment of conception (i.e. no “morning after” pills allowed).

The Twitter post referenced here from the Center For Christian Virtue is packed full of information that reveals what the biases and agenda of this religious political lobby is. Specifically, you’ll notice the anger is pointed directly at fathers. Even more specifically, this Twitter post seems to take a particularly venomous view of “deadbeat dads”. In fact, nowhere in this statement is there a recognition that an unmarried dad is good for anything other than supplying mom with money, and it certainly didn’t use it as an opportunity to promote equal shared parenting. Instead the desire seems to specifically target and punish fathers for having un-marital sex that leads to a pregnancy.

Of course, I’m sure the church would prefer mom and dad wait until marriage before having sex or having children. Not a bad idea, a personal choice. I’m also sure that they’d also prefer that in the event an unmarried pregnancy, mom and dad get married and make the best of it. Possible, but statistically a relationship that is more likely to be an unhappy one ending in failure and family court.

 

Follow The Money:

By definition, the criminalization of unwanted pregnancies will result in the birth of unwanted children (by the mother, the father, or both). Fathers have NEVER had a say in whether a pregnancy is carried to term, and now in a growing number of states, neither does the mother.

The evangelical church is not clueless about the incoming consequences of Roe. And that’s because we’ve been down this rabbit hole already. Labor economists figured out in the early 90’s that the single most influential factor that produced a dramatic decrease in crime rates during the 70’s and 80’s was Roe. The fact is, criminalizing the termination of unwanted pregnancies will produce higher numbers of children born into poverty, higher rates of child abuse, and higher overall crime rates. This is not an opinion, it’s a statistical fact, and one I might add that is easily supported by a minimal amount of common sense.

Doesn’t it strike you as odd that for the last 30 years, we’ve been feeding clinical and academic research to lawmakers that makes it crystal clear equal shared parenting is in the best for families and children, and yet during that time, we’ve only had two states pass legislation that guarantees it. In fact, Ron De Santis (R- FL) just vetoed a bill that would have ended permanent alimony and required a rebuttable presumption of 50/50 child custody for split families. And yet, states seem to be signing anti-abortions laws into effect at breathtaking speed despite public opinion polls that show the majority of Americans do not approve.

Also, isn’t it a bit strange that despite a “populist movement” within conservative politics and with opinion polls strongly favoring the presumption of equal shared parenting in blue and red states alike, nothing manages to get done year, after year, after year?

Follow the money, and you’ll find the truth. Regardless of whether or not you disagree with Roe, it’s going to be an absolute gold mine for the child-support harvesters: State Title IVD incentive pools, the family court industry, and churches.

 

Churches?

Yup. Christian daycare, singe mother support, and church welfare programs. And just who do you believe they expect to pay for all this stuff?

Hint: unmarried dad = money, mom and the church = primary parent figures. This much is obvious from the twitter post referenced here.

Please understand, I’m not saying that Democrats are bad people. I’m not saying that Republicans are bad people. And I’m not saying that all Christians are bent on creating largely fatherless children for unmarried parents.

The fact of the matter is that as far as this project is concerned, I don’t care what political party you belong to, your views on Roe, or what your religion is and how strongly you incorporate its values into your life. I honestly don’t give a single, solitary crap about any of that.

What I care about is ensuring that children are able to experience the love of both parents. That’s my priority. End of story.

Over the years, I’ve made repeated appeals for us to lay aside our political differences and work together by elevating loyalty to parents and children above blind political party loyalty. Unfortunately and for the most part, when I do this I’m rewarded with the deafening sound of silent disapproval and dislike; both for me and for what I’m asking.

The bill highlighted here represents an indisputable convergence of self-interests between the left, the right, and the evangelical church; and all have put the bullseye, the burden, and the blame on unmarried dads, denying they have any right to a significant parenting role for their children once they’re born.

 

The short story version:

There has been a concerted effort to ensure unwanted children are born, BUT, almost nothing continues to be done to ensure dad has any substantive rights with those children afterward. Child custody is STILL primarily a money-harvesting operation, it’s going to get worse than it is now, and that should enrage all of us. 

Stop letting these people walk all over you and those you love. Get off your ass and let these people know none of this okay.  This is not a Roe issue per se, it’s parental rights issue and you have to decide to confront these people about it. We’ll help you any way we can, but you have to take some ownership of the problem.

If you’re an active member of a catholic or evangelical church, I would like to suggest you question your priest or pastor about their views about when life starts, father’s roles and rights, and equal shared parenting for split families. And regardless of whether you’re a Democrat or Republican, I’m also encouraging you consider that neither party has done a damn thing to reform family law and address parental alienation; presumably because of all the money that’s being harvested from preservation of the status-quo.

Actions reveal preferences, and preferences reveal people.  We’ll keep fighting for parents and children regardless, but you have to decide what your priorities are and where your loyalties ultimately lay.

Please let us know how we can help you!

~ Michael