The Supreme Court of the United States overturned Roe v. Wade with a decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization just over a month ago. I applaud this decision that removed from federal jurisprudence the fiction that the United States Constitution included somewhere within it a right to abortion. America has taken one small step closer to protecting human life from its earliest stages of existence. It is an answer to nearly 50 years of prayer.
However, the fight to defend life is far from over.
Just six weeks after this victory, the abortion vote in “red-state,” conservative Kansas was a shocker. Kansas voters rejected a constitutional amendment that would have allowed the legislature to place any limits on abortion. The vote was “no” by a lopsided 59-41 percent margin. Thus, the door was slammed on any discussion of limitations on unrestricted abortion in the state.
Kansas is seen as a bellwether because it was the nation’s first statewide vote to restrict abortion since Roe was overturned in June. Meanwhile, attempts to promote abortion as help for women began as soon as the Dobbs decision was announced. Governors and state legislators across the country have proposed legislation that would provide abortion on demand at any stage of pregnancy, while the United States House of Representatives passed the Women’s Health Protection Act.
The bills do nothing to provide protection for women and their health care. The only provision they offer to women is abortion. These legislative proposals fail to provide paid maternity leave, access to prenatal and postpartum care, or financial support for pregnancy resource centers that provide essentials such as formula, diapers, and clothing. Here in Michigan, Governor Whitmer has vetoed more than $36 million from the state’s budget over the past two years that would have supported pregnancy centers and promoted adoption as an alternative to abortion, among other programs to help women who choose life for their child.
These attacks are just the beginning. Michigan is a key battleground state in the upcoming general election, especially with restrictive abortion bans being passed in both Ohio and Indiana. I first wrote about the “Reproductive Freedom for All'' coalition in March. A group consisting of Planned Parenthood, the ACLU, and other pro-abortion organizations was trying to collect enough signatures (425,059) to put a proposal on the November ballot that would amend Michigan’s constitution. The group was successful, gathering more than 750,000 signatures. This extreme proposal would:
- Allow abortion up until birth
- Allow minors to pursue abortions and sterilization without parental notification or consent
- Exempt abortion facilities from safety regulations
- Allow anyone to perform an abortion, even if they don’t have a medical license
- Repeal or drastically alter dozens of state laws
As you can see, this constitutional amendment would go much further than providing the right to unrestricted abortion. All people should oppose this proposed amendment. I urge you to go to the polls to vote “NO” on the “Reproductive Freedom for All'' constitutional ballot proposal in November. Why? Because Catholics recognize the inherent dignity and worth of the unborn human person. “Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception. From the first moment of his existence, a human being must be recognized as having the rights of a person – among which is the inviolable right of every innocent being to life.” (CCC 2270). The unborn child is a person who deserves equal protection under the law.
The work to build up a social order that respects human life has entered the next phase. The Dobbs decision has left the fundamental moral issue of the right to life of the littlest children to the judgment of 50 state legislatures and to voters regarding constitutional amendments on this issue.
Right to life advocates now face a long, costly uphill battle, state by state. How do we cast a brighter light on this issue? Do we continue to march and, if so, where? Will there be more prayer warriors witnessing outside abortion clinics? Will pink and red rose rescues spring up and become more numerous? Will people give significant money to push back against well-funded pro-choice advertisements? Sacrifice must be part of the commitment to life.
The state of Michigan under its current leadership is unwilling to support vulnerable Michigan mothers and their children. We as Church will continue to do this and expand our efforts. May our prayers and personal advocacy bring to fruition a society in which the legal protection of human life is accompanied by profound care for mothers and their children!
- Most Reverend David Walkowiak, 12th bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids
To read Bishop Walkowiak's Respect Life Sunday letter, use these links - English | Spanish.
For more resources on Proposal 3, use this link.
For more resources on Respect Life Month, click here.
To read the entire FAITH September issue, click here.