The case, Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, concerns Mississippi’s “Gestational Age Act” which protects unborn children from abortion after 15-weeks gestation. The Court’s decision is expected later this year and will address the question of whether a state has a compelling interest in protecting the right to life prior to viability.
By that age, preborn children are fully formed. They have heartbeats, fingers and toes, and functioning organs. By eight weeks gestation, brain waves can be recorded. Life has surely begun, and the state has the right, indeed—the duty—to protect it.
This is a moment the pro-life movement has worked hard for.
The key question seems to be how far the Court is willing to go, either issuing a decision that rejects the viability line, permitting states to argue that prohibitions on abortion prior to viability are justified by sufficiently compelling state interests or issuing a broader decision which explicitly either totally or partially overrules Roe v. Wade and the later case of Planned Parenthood v. Casey.
It is important to remember that either ruling would be a tremendous victory for the pro-life movement, vastly expanding our ability to protect innocent unborn life!
The Court’s decision will not mean an end to our important work as pro-life Americans! There will still be battles ahead in Congress with pro-abortion Democrats attempting to repeal the Hyde Amendment and fund abortions with tax dollars. In addition, the House of Representatives has passed one of the most radical abortion bills known as the “Women’s Health Protection Act” to permit and pay for abortions through all nine months of pregnancy and overrule pro-life state laws. See how your member voted here.
As for the states, passage of pro-life laws will become more critical than ever! The National Right to Life Committee (NRLC) has remained consistent in dismantling Roe by helping to enact thousands of pro-life state laws since the 1980’s.
NRLC has remained and will continue to remain deliberate in changing the abortion landscape to effectively protect unborn children and their mothers by enacting various laws that places the focus on the humanity of the unborn child. Please donate to help us continue our work and save lives.