Roe v. Wade Overturned….What’s Next?
By now we have all heard the good news that the June 24 decision by the Supreme Court case in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization overturned Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey. This was the right decision. Although the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade legalized abortion, Justice Samuel Alito wrote, “The Constitution makes no reference to abortion, and no such right is implicitly protected by any constitutional provision.”
Astrid Bennett, executive director of Los Angeles Pregnancy Services, said in response to the decision that, for the unborn, this means recognition that their lives are sacred. “They are a part of the human family, and they are Americans with rights.”
While this moment is one for rejoicing, the returning of abortion law to the states means that protection of the unborn just got much more serious in pro-abortion states like California. Governor Gavin Newsom and California state lawmakers have pledged to spend $40 million in taxpayer monies to make California a “sanctuary” for women in those other states seeking abortions. Newsom has also joined his counterparts in Oregon and Washington in promising to form a “West Coast offense” of increased abortion access common to all three states.
How are we, as Catholics, called to respond? We need to step up our support of women and families!
On January 22, the California Bishops issued a statement committing to a vision of support for women, children and families.
Recently, in anticipation of the fall of Roe v. Wade, the state’s Catholic bishops, through the California Catholic Conference, launched “We Were Born Ready,” an informational campaign to mobilize assistance for those with “difficult and unexpected pregnancies.” On the We Were Born Ready website, you will find services and resources for women experiencing crisis or unexpected pregnancies, information about abortion and the abortion pill, and where to go for help with obtaining housing, healthcare, and other needed services. We can share this website with families that could benefit from these services.
What else can we do?
Pray: Continue to pray for conversion of our leaders, and for pregnant mothers to choose life for their unborn babies. Pray outside abortion facilities and redirect women to life-affirming pregnancy resource centers.
Advocate: Contact your legislators and representatives and encourage them to enact policies that protect human lives and support parents and children, to oppose abortion expansion bills and support expanded paid leave, hotel vouchers for homeless pregnant women, and better family support for incarcerated mothers. Advocate for sanctuary cities for the preborn.
Support: Support pregnancy resource centers and other charities that provide resources for parents who need our help. Give generously to our local life-affirming pregnancy centers and pro-life organizations. Volunteer and get trained to help…if you can.
Promote: The secular hook-up and shack-up culture leads to abortion. The solution is a moral sexual ethic, with sex only in the context of marriage. Strong marriages with lifelong love and commitment make strong families.
Respond: Many people who are vehemently vocal about abortion rights and the “need” for abortion are coming from a place of deep woundedness. Catholics should always remember that people may carry hurt from past experiences, and we need to respond with love and compassion.
We have a lot of work to do. It’s time to take action! Rooted in Jesus Christ and inspired by Gospel values, let us work tirelessly for LIFE, with love in our hearts and in our voices.
Holy Mary, Queen of the family, pray for us.
St. Joseph, Guardian of virgins and Pillar of family life, pray for us.
~St. Luke Life, Justice and Peace Ministry
