Section 1—"Equality of rights under the law Shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex."
Section 2—"The Congress shall have power to enforce
by appropriate
legislation the provisions of the article."
Section 3—"This amendment shall take effect two years after the date of ratification."
United States Senator Sam Ervin of North Carolina, one of the most respected constitutional lawyers in America, has said Section two of this amendment "will come near to abolishing the state of this union as viable governmental bodies...(that) it will
"You've come a LONG way, Baby!"______
virtually reduce the state of this union to MEANINGLESS ZEROES ON THE NATION’S MAP.... It will transfer virtually all the legislative power of government from the states to Congress..." and that "the Federal system which contemplates an indestructible union composed of indestructible states, as it is now established by all the provisions of the Constitution will be SUBSTANTIALLY DESTROYED...." A great majority of informed lawyers agree with him. He has called it "the most destructive measure in Senate history."
WHY?
First, if you are married, you may now choose to work outside your home But, you may choose to remain at home, to rear your children, to be supported by your husband. The ERA will abolish this right. It will invalidate all laws which require the husband he support his family, and will make the wife equally responsible for support, You could be forced to supply half the family support, or all of it, if you are a better wage earner, -Yale Law Journal, pp. 944, 945. This was also inserted in the Congressional Record by Senator Birch Bayh.
Second, under ERA, if a wife fails to support her husband, he can use it as grounds for divorce. -Yale Law Journal, p. 951.
Third, Professor Paul Freund of Harvard Law School, has testified ERA would require that there be no segregation of the sexes in prison, reform schools, public restrooms, and other public facilities." This would include public schools, dormitories of state-supported colleges and hospital rooms.
Fourth, the ERA would abolish for women the right not to be drafted into the Armed Forces. All women would be required to register for the draft at age eighteen and of subject to all military duties. If they have small children, "whichever parent was called first might be eligible for service; the remaining parent, male or female, would be deferred." -Yale Law Journal, p. 973
Fifth, the ERA would abolish "seduction laws, statutory rape laws, laws prohibiting obscene language in the presence of women, prostitution, and ’manifest danger’ laws." This would include the abolition of all laws forcing women into prostitution. -Yale Law Journal, pp. 954, 964.
Sixth, Professor Charles Rice of Notre Dame has pointed out, ERA would serve to Validate the Supreme Court’s pro-abortion decision, and invalidate any remaining authority that state now has left to prohibit abortions, or to regulate and punish those involved in abortions, or to regulate and punish those involved in abortions committed after the Supreme Court’s permitted trimester period of pregnancy.
Now, it is a fact that a woman in Russia must put her children in a state-operated child care unit. She, as well as men, can be jailed for refusing to engage in "socially useful labor" or for leading a "parasitic way of life." Is it not strange that childcare centers are suddenly springing up in so many areas of our cities! And, does it not appear that there are some who are actively engaged in stretching our freedoms to the absurd, and who are intent on cramming them down our throats?
What be done? Professor Charles L. Black, Jr., of Yale University Law School, cited in the Congressional Record of May 8, 1973, page 8522, "Clearly a state can change its mind either way before the amendment is officially declared ratified."
May God look upon us in His mercy, and not reward us according as we deserve!
1, 1814 ---A Wesleyan Methodist Missionary meeting is held for the first time and gathers in the City Road Chapel, London. Adam Clarke is President of the Conference this year.
4, 1861 --On account of the War Between the States, southern Presbyterians organize the Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the Confederate States of America. Baptists and Methodists will likewise be separated one from another.
5, 1702 – The Camisard (Huguenot) headquarters has been discovered and a strong force of soldiers and militia is dispatched. They take with them a herdsman to act as their guide not knowing he is confederate with the Huguenots. The Royalists are hoping to surprise the Christians in their sleep, and are not aware they are already concealed in the forest at hand. Suddenly, singing the 68th Psalm, the Camisards furiously charge the enemy. The commander turns and flees with such of his soldiers and militia as can follow him. Not many succeed in making their escape. After a complete victory, Cavalier, the leader of the Camisard Huguenots, returns with his men to the field of battle and gives thanks to Almighty God for His extraordinary assistance.
1933 --Prohibition is abolished.
8, 1691 --This Tuesday, Richard Baxter dies at nearly 4 o’clock in the morning. He is reputed to be the greatest preacher in England in his day. He prays, "0, I thank Him, I thank Him! The Lord teach you to die!" and leaves behind him his Reformed Pastor, The Saint’s Everlasting Rest, and A Call to the Unconverted.
1807 --William Carey’s wife is removed by death. "She had been in a state the most distressing for the past 12 years.... She was attacked with a fever which terminated in about a fortnight."
9, 1608 --On Bread Street, in Cheapside, London, John Milton is born. Early in life he will go blind but this will not keep him from being Secretary to Oliver Cromwell, or to writing Paradise Lost, Paradise Regained, Sampson Agonistes, etc.
1905--France passes a law separating Church and State.
12, 1665 --John Richardson in England writes to Increase Mather in New England, "It is a sorrowful time with Dissenters; their ministers are much persecuted with much violence on the Act of 40 pounds per month and other acts –Mr. Baxter’s house is broken open, and his person
seized. (He will be released). Mr. Mead’s goods seized, but he escaped. Mr. Cockraine, Mr. Partridge, their goods seized, and Mr. James imprisoned and Mr. Wise. Others sought after fain to conceal themselves, and convey their very household stuff out of the way. Yet many continue to preach on the Lord’s Day, and some lecture. How far they will proceed, is to be feared." A month later, he will write, "Dr. Owen is very ill, and it is feared will not recover. Mr. Vincent, a London minister convicted on the 35th Elizabeth, lies a prisoner these three months. Many must leave the King’s dominions, or suffer death."
13, 1545 ---in Germany, the Council of Trent convenes.