Roe v. Wade: now what?

Roe v. Wade, the most potent legal precedent in the arsenal of pro-abortion activists, has been overturned.

Returning the issue of abortion to the jurisdictions of individual states energizes the pro-life movement. Trigger laws essentially banning abortions for non-medical reasons are going into effect in over a dozen states. This momentum can hopefully spread north to Canada and provide an opportunity to convert and convince the abortive community to change their minds.

Roe v. Wade becoming the law of the land in 1973 was a disappointing moment in U.S. history because it allowed abortion almost on demand. Pro-life champions remained resolute in prayer and activism in the decades that followed. Ultimately, the Lord heard the call when on June 24, this decision was overturned by the United States’ highest court.

This result was certainly unexpected and could not come on a better day. The fact that such a historical event occurred on the very day that the preborn Jesus purified the unborn John the Baptist, 2,000 years ago, seems almost providential. In my view, it is as if God is telling us that He has solved the problem of the law (at least in the United States), now it is up to us to solve the problem of the conscience.

And so, we must protect those who cannot protect themselves. Since God had a plan for every one of us even before we were conceived, we must help everyone to reach that plan.

But the question remains, how does one best support the pro-life cause?

While devoting one’s whole life to anti-abortion activism may seem daunting, it is more than what is necessary to help the unborn.

The first step, and the hardest one, is to embrace your belief openly and unapologetically. This could result in the loss of friends who do not understand. But take heart, Jesus experienced abandonment on Earth, and He is still deserted by His children who commit such crimes against human life.

But God does not abandon them. He does not give up on those who mistreat Him. We too must treat with kindness those who treat us with enmity.

There are many people in the world who are scared. They are frightened to conquer their fear and anxiety to fight for their core beliefs. They are afraid to experience the scorn that can accompany standing up for the unborn. We can help push family, friends and strangers to adopt a more courageous stance by letting them know that they are not alone.

Even adding one more voice to the pro-life chorus helps the pro-life cause in more ways than imagined. 

And so, the fight is not over, yet we have won a major victory. We must pray for a better world, and a better understanding of the splendour of life. We must continue to pray and fight for life, because it is sacred from the moment of conception to natural death, and it is a beautiful gift.

(Shaw, 15, attends home school in Barry’s Bay, Ont. He has participated in pro-life activism with Campaign Life Coalition in recent years.)