on 06-Mar-2024 (Wed)

In Feb- ruary 1994, Mother Teresa of Calcutta filed an amicus curiae brief with the Supreme Court of the United States in the matter of State of New Jersey v. Alexander Loce. The brief was filed in support of Loce’s contention that the life of the unborn child is entitled to protection under the Due Process Clause of the 14th Amendment, a contention arising out of his conviction for criminal trespass handed down by the Morristown, New Jersey, Municipal Court in April 1992. Loce had unsuccessfully attempted to halt the abortion of his unborn child by occupying the clinic at which the abortion had been scheduled; subse- quently, he was prosecuted and convicted. The argument taken to the Supreme Court was that his removal from the premises by the Morristown police had in fact allowed the abortion to take place, making the removal a violation of his unborn child’s Due Process right to life and also providing Loce with a defense against the prosecution.

She posited the possibility of a unified nation—one in fidelity with these founding principles—against a nation divided against itself—one adopting the social and moral logic that produced Roe v. Wade.

Each mission is devoted solely to caring for those most in need, the “poorest of the poor.” Among those were young mothers victimized by “despair” and “neglect.” Mother Teresa learned how these environments, coupled with philosophies and governmental policies promoting the “dehuman- ization” of human life, resulted in the wholesale “sacrifice” of a portion of hu- manity particularly relevant to the Loce decision, the unborn.