By Chris Hughes
President, Citizens for America Foundation
At-will abortion on demand could become a thing of the past in the near future, and if it does, Christians must stand ready to continue the pro-life effort through elections and legislation. The United States Supreme Court heard oral arguments, Dec. 1, in the case of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. Since the Court ruled in Roe v. Wade in 1973, the only other major abortion case considered by the Court was Casey v. Planned Parenthood.
In 1973, when the Court decided that abortion was a Constitutional issue, abortion was only legal in four states. Sixteen states allowed an abortion in limited circumstances such as rape, incest or to save the life of a mother. In the remaining 30 states, abortion was not allowed at all for pregnant women.
The Dobbs case comes in response to a law passed by the Mississippi State Legislature which prohibits abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy. Mississippi lawmakers determined that the science is clear: Unborn babies are unique, living creatures who have innate value as human beings.
Many holding liberal positions frequently advise others to “follow the science.” Well, science reveals that the bodies of unborn babies at 15 weeks are nearly completely formed. Their hearts beat. They have brain waves. All of their organs have developed, and they even have unique fingerprints. If you “follow the science,” there is no disputing the fact the unborn babies are living, breathing individual human beings – already practicing respiration by inhaling and exhaling amniotic fluid in the womb.
The Biden Administration and their henchmen at Planned Parenthood are doing all that they can to overturn the Mississippi law. Since 1973, more than 62 million babies have been brutally murdered through abortion in the United States. Our federal government has also funded abortions around the world. Our nation has done many great things in its history, but I am embarrassed to report to you that the United States is one of only seven countries in the world that allows elective abortion on demand after 20 weeks of pregnancy.
So, what will happen as a result of the Court hearing oral arguments in the Dobbs case last week? First, I think that it is important for us to note that, because the United States Supreme Court revisited this issue, there is a great chance that the Court’s decision will affect the previous precedent set by Roe v. Wade.
If the Court does rule favorably toward the pro-life movement, the issue will be sent back to the states, and state legislatures could pass laws that prevent abortions from the moment of conception, once a heartbeat is detected, or after the first trimester. You will see different laws popping up in different states.
Elections matter, and they will matter even more if the Court decides that abortion is not a Constitutional right, but a state issue. Men and women need to be elected to state legislatures who will defend the right to life. State attorneys general will need to be elected who will enforce the laws as written. Judges and state supreme court justices will need to be elected who will defend the laws as written and not legislate from the bench.
Abortion as a Constitutional right could become a thing of the past in the United States of America in just few months. We need to be ready to elect men and women who will make sure that it stays that way.
###
