The past year brought with it a long-sought-after victory for the pro-life movement: the overturning of
Roe v. Wade
. The Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which struck down Roe and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, giving states the power to set their own abortion regulations, has ushered in a new era in the fight for life.
There is much to celebrate in this new era. Already, more than a dozen states have passed pro-life policies to restrict
abortion
. The result is that thousands of lives are being saved. Within two months of Dobbs, for example, legal abortions nationwide had dropped by 6%. It won’t be long before you start to see and interact with that 6%. After all, they’re not just numbers or
faceless fetuses
— they are children, valued human beings, members of society who will one day take part in this experiment of self-government that gave them the chance to live.
There will also be many new challenges in the years to come. State restrictions on abortion still face a number of legal hurdles, and even if they make it out of the courts, it’s not at all clear whether they’ll survive the electorate. The November
midterm elections
made it clear that voters have little appetite for the abortion debate and tend to support whichever side will make them think less about it, hence why in every state where abortion was on the ballot, voters soundly rejected any effort to restrict it.
The cultural battle for life is, in many ways, just beginning. That’s why the
March for Life
is so important. Held every year in Washington, D.C., the march brings together thousands of pro-life activists, students, parents, lawmakers, and average citizens who are united by the belief that life is sacred and worth fighting for. They might disagree on how to best protect life and which steps the movement should take next, but their convictions and resolve have never changed.
This common good mindset will be especially important in the days ahead. As the abortion battle moves to the states, there will be much debate over which restrictions are possible and prudent and what the end goal of the national movement should be. These are important questions, but they ultimately come second to the fundamental standard: Is the unborn child a life worthy of protection or not?
Thankfully, the overturning of Roe brings the country one step closer to affirming in the law and culture that it is. This is a victory in and of itself, but it’s also a reason to keep marching. With divisions over issues both big and small tearing the country down the middle, what better principle to unite around everyone’s common humanity? Young and old, healthy and disabled, unborn and born, your life matters.
It’s a simple message but a powerful one, and it will continue to prevail.
