The Way of Mary: Equality!

 Good Wednesday morning, good Advent pilgrims journeying on The Way of Mary, and those who may be along because you're curious.

This morning, as I was considering the life of Mary, the Theotokos, and what spiritual lessons she might also bear for us, I was beset by the reminder of the Equal Rights Amendment.

The word 'equality' came to mind.

I'm not sure what Mary would have thought about equality. Was it possible for a woman in antiquity to even conceive of such a status for herself or other women? If the soul of a "lowly servant" is able to "magnify the Lord," if she is able to bear the child of God, isn't everything possible, even equality for women?

Well, apparently, it's difficult for modern men and women to imagine full equal status for women under the law. But, in the next 40 days before January 20th, President Joe Biden has the opportunity to change.

To say that the ERA is long overdue is to make an understatement. Twentieth-century suffragists Alice Paul and Crystal Eastman authored the ERA; it was first introduced in Congress in 1923. It didn’t pass Congress until 1972 when it then began its journey through the states.

With Virginia becoming the 38th and final state needed to ratify the ERA in 2020, the amendment has met all requirements of Article 5 to become an amendment and is now at a critical juncture in its history.

Here's the problem In a bureaucratic quirk, no amendment can be added to the Constitution until the Archivist of the United States certifies it as valid and publishes it in the Federal Register.

No one on either side of the issue will be surprised to know that President Trump’s Justice Department blocked this, citing the fact that Congress in 1972 imposed deadlines (first seven years, then three years) for ratification that expired before the needed final states signed up.

What is amazing is that Joe Biden's administration also went to court to block publication. This is as confounding to me as he is on record as having apologized to Anita Hill for his "leadership" as the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, when he presided over the confirmation hearings in which she accused Clarence Thomas, President George Bush’s nominee to the Supreme Court, of sexual harassment.

Reportedly, Ms. Hill thanked Joe for his long overdue apology but says the call from Mr. Biden left her feeling deeply unsatisfied.

She declined to characterize Mr. Biden’s words to her as an apology and said she was not convinced that he has taken full responsibility for his conduct at the hearings — or for the harm he caused other victims of sexual harassment and gender violence.

I can't imagine the appointment of Brett Kavanaugh to the SCOTUS if the ERA had been in place.

Had the ERA been added four years ago, it might have prevented the Supreme Court’s 2022 Dobbs judgment, which gave state legislatures the final say on the reproductive rights of women.

The amendment would prevent attempts by states such as Texas, which has outlawed abortion, to track pregnant women to prevent them from traveling to obtain a legal abortion elsewhere. An amendment would be far more stable and permanent than a gender equality law which could, at any time, be repealed.

When my grandmother had a special prayer petition, she would pray to a specific saint. St. Gerard was her go-to for anything to do with her kids. Unless, of course, one of them had frustrated her beyond reason and then she would appeal directly to St. Jude.

But, it was "Mother Mary" she turned to when she wanted to be sure to get the ear of Jesus, especially in situations of injustice. We would make novenas to Mary during labor union strikes. If social unrest or war were threatened, the beads were out and whirling for Mary's intervention.

Indeed, I don't think I ever saw a statue of Mary around the house that didn't have a vigil candle burning.

So, I suspect Mary would approve of the ERA. Indeed, I have no doubt in my mind that she would support the movement to have Joe instruct the Archivist of the United States to certify the ERA as valid and publish it in the Federal Register. It would then be enshrined in the Constitution as the 28th Amendment.

“So God created humans in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them” ( Gen. 1:27 ).

Mary knows this. So does Joe.

Biden, that is.

Let's finish the job, Joe. Publish the ERA. Give women full protection under The Constitution from the whims of one of the most conservative and corrupt Supreme Courts in our history, most of whom were appointed by the most corrupt POTUS in history, who is about to take office again.

Mary would expect nothing less of you.

I hope something good happens to you today.

Bom dia.

PB: Shattering Glass is an organization that has been working for the ERA. It has published some ideas about how we might accomplish this movement toward full equality under the laws in the next 40 days. I encourage you to click on the link and take some action.

See also: Mary would expect nothing less of you.