Roe Is Overturned: Here Are 7 Things I’ve Noticed In The Aftermath
‘The Constitution does not confer a right to abortion; Roe and Casey are overruled; and the authority to regulate abortion is returned to the people and their elected representatives.’
With these words – handed down last Friday, June 24, 2022 – the Supreme Court of the United States issued a ruling that sent shockwaves across America and much of the world. This decision overturned the longstanding Roe v Wade US Supreme Court decision that legalised abortion in the USA in 1973. Thus, abortion is no longer a constitutionally protected right across America: each US State gets to decide its policy on abortion.
Furthermore, this decision brings the US more into line with other Western nations on abortion policy (e.g. before this ruling, Germany had more restrictive abortion laws than Texas).
Unsurprisingly, this decision has led to intense fury and condemnation from pro-choice advocates (including President Biden). And jubilation and celebration from pro-life advocates.
While I expected as much, here are 7 other things I’ve noticed:
1) We Can Again Define What a Woman Is
A troubling development in recent years was an unwillingness by many on the secular Left to define what a woman is.
For example, when asked, ‘Can you define ‘woman’?’, US Supreme Court nominee Kentanji Brown Jackson refused to give a straight answer:
Earlier this year, the US Biden Administration replaced the word ‘mothers’ with ‘birthing people’ in its Federal maternal health guidance document.
And Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling received backlash over her attempts to uphold a biological definition of the word woman.
But now that Roe vs. Wade has been overruled, many on the secular Left are happy to use the word woman again, as per previously. As the Satirical news site, The Babylon Bee wrote:
[American Politician] Nancy Pelosi took the stand today to defend “women’s rights to make their own reproductive decisions.” Onlookers found themselves befuddled by the rhetoric about the “women’s right to choose,” since Pelosi should have no way of knowing what a woman is since she is not a biologist.’
2) The Pro-Choice and Pro-Life Camps Live in Two Different Realities
There is an intractable disagreement between the pro-choice and pro-life camps, with both sides extremely passionate about their cause.
At its heart, there are two views of reality driving each side. As Political Science professor David T. Koyzis points out, many of the battles in the political realm are shaped, not simply by the refusal of one side or another to ‘face facts’ or ‘be reasonable,’ as one typically hears, but by differing views of reality rooted in alternative worldviews.[1]
The key question in this debate is whether the unborn baby is a human person. The pro-life says yes, absolutely: but the pro-choice side seems reticent to engage with this question. Instead, they start with what women should be free to do.
3) While Christians Should Celebrate This Victory For The Unborn, We Should Not Be Triumphalist
While Christians can be thankful for the rolling back of abortion because of this ruling, we must be careful of triumphalism.
Yes, God saw fit to raise a Supreme Court that is anti-abortion. Yes, abortion will be more restricted in the US. Yes, this ruling will save countless lives. Let’s rejoice and be glad – it is a momentous decision!
But God doesn’t promise anything about legal victories (even as we thank Him for them).
After all, the USA’s post-Christian culture may become more pro-choice over time, eventually leading to more abortions. Thus, our hope must not rest in any human institution, black-robed justice, or politician, but in God and His Son, who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will (Eph 1: 11).
4) There is a Danger that Christians See the Pro-Choice side as the Real Enemy (When They’re Not)
The sad reality is that abortion is the killing of unborn human beings.
And so, it’s natural to be angry with those who promote and support it. But as the Bible tells us, we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places (Eph 6:12). Yes, we should use every possible moral and legal avenue to stop the killing of the unborn. But we must not demonise and attack pro-choice people for whom Jesus died (Jn 3:16).
Instead, we should pray that God opens their eyes to the reality of this practice.
5) The Pro-choice Message Sounds So Compassionate (And That Shouldn’t Surprise Us)
The pro-choice message is one of love, freedom and compassion for the vulnerable.
It’s couched in human rights. It speaks to our love for choice. And it claims to stand in a long line of hard-won freedoms.
Who could be against such a compassionate-sounding movement?
Humanly speaking, however, the nicest sounding ideologies are often the most oppressive (e.g. communism) And theologically speaking, Satan is behind much of the evil in this world, including the false beliefs and ideologies that permeate our culture (Eph 6:11-12). He’s clever enough to dress those ideologies – be they communism or pro-abortion – in fine-sounding words and arguments that capture the hearts of millions.
Even as such ideologies destroy lives.
6) Many Pro-Choice Activists Are Fearful And Alarmed Over The Future of Women’s Rights In General
The Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe Vs. Wade means that each US State gets to decide its abortion law through democratic means.
That merely puts the US in the same boat as other democracies like Australia and much of Western Europe. And yet, it’s interesting to note some of the rhetoric coming out of the pro-choice movement. Author Margaret Attwood's dystopian novel The Handmaid’s Tale, where a kooky religious sect suspends the US constitution and makes women into sex slaves, is making an appearance:
(However, a more circumspect pro-choice advocate like gay columnist Andrew Sullivan affirms the democratic nature of this decision).
In one sense, it’s not surprising: any restriction on abortion - so-called ‘women’s reproductive health’, is considered oppressive. Whether it's done democratically, or not.
7) There’s a Difference Between Making Abortion Illegal And Making It Unthinkable
While the pro-life movement can take heart from the Supreme Court’s decision, it won’t end abortion.
Even if all US states were to ban abortion tomorrow, abortion would still happen. Why? Because abortion is still seen as a plausible and reasonable decision by many.
Only when Western countries see abortion in the same way as they see infanticide – immoral and unthinkable – will abortion be a thing of the past. This needs to be coupled with the provision of support for those facing unchosen or unwanted pregnancies, which give vulnerable women a way out of abortion.
And whatever Christians can do, we should keep advocating for the truth of unborn life, pray for justice, and love even those involved in the abortion industry, as Jesus loves them.
[1] David T. Koyzis, Political Visions And Illusions – A Survey and Christian Critique of Contemporary Ideologies (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2003), 8.