6-3

On June 24, 2022, approximately 50 years following the Supreme Courts initial decision which ruled that the Constitution protected a woman’s right to choose to have an abortion, “Roe v. Wade” was overturned following an appeal from the state of Mississippi. The state of Mississippi’s law banning abortion after 15 weeks was struck down by the courts as unconstitutional, but the state appealed that ruling all the way up to the Supreme court and received a favorable ruling (6-3 with Chief Justice John Roberts joining the 5 conservative justices),which overturned the ruling of the lower court.

Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito wrote the majority decision on the case. He said, “We end this opinion where we began. Abortion presents a profound moral question. The Constitution does not prohibit the citizens of each State from regulating or prohibiting abortion. Roe and Casey arrogated that authority. We now overrule those decisions and return that authority to the people and their elected representatives…”

So what exactly does this mean? To put it plainly, the Supreme Court ruled that the Federal Government does not have the right to promote or restrict abortion laws from a Constitutional basis at the Federal level. They determined that that right should belong in each state’s Legislature and be a local and “decentralized” decision.

Is abortion banned in America? No. Is abortion going to be banned in certain states? Possibly. Is abortion going to increase in some states? Possibly. Will this become a rallying cry for both sides of the political aisle? Certainly. With mid-term elections coming this November, this recent ruling will be added to the list of hot-button issues and will doubtless continue to be a polarizing issue for voters.

What has been some fallout from this decision and the drama that has surrounded the initial information leak in May? At least 13 Republican states had passed “trigger laws” which would automatically take effect in the event that the Supreme Court overturned “Roe v. Wade.” These Trigger laws immediately restrict access to abortions in their states.

Four states – Georgia, Iowa, Ohio and South Carolina – all have laws banning abortions after the six-week mark, which were previously ruled unconstitutional but will certainly be revisited now that Roe v. Wade is overturned.

Some more tragic fallout from the drama surrounding the court’s decision include churches and pro-life pregnancy centers being vandalized by pro-choice activist groups as well as one man, Nicholas John Roske, who was arrested in an attempt to assassinate Justice Brett Kavanaugh before he could vote on this case.

So how should the Christian continue to respond to this issue of abortion? We need to continue to recognize the value and sanctity of life. We freely admit that the life of the unborn baby is just as valuable as the life of the mother. We cannot sacrifice caring for one party for the sake of caring for the other. Is abortion a plague on American society? Certainly. However, I would caution any Christian from allowing their emotional pendulum to swing to the opposite perspective by ignoring the significant needs that mothers, especially single mothers, face when they contemplate getting an abortion. Jesus calls his followers to care and sacrifice for those who desperately need it, and not just when it aligns with our political ideology.

What are some avenues for ministering to mothers who find themselves in a truly heartbreaking situation in which abortion looks like the only way out?

One amazing organization is “Save the Storks.” It is based in Colorado but sends “Stork Pregnancy Buses” across the nation to provides ultrasounds, medical aid, as well as education and alternative options for mothers who simply are not aware of the resources they could take advantage of. These types of organizations as well as ministries offered through local churches are a great first step in not just identifying the problem, but actively becoming part of the solution.

Every time I consider this issue my mind goes to Psalm 139:13-14 where David writes, “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.”

Let us rejoice in God’s leading through this recent Supreme Court decision but recognize that the job is not done and there are thousands of lives that need medical support yes, but also who need the lifechanging news of Jesus Christ.

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