Since the Dobbs decision in June 2022, in which the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, there have been at least seven state ballot initiatives on abortion. The initiatives mostly sought to establish a right to abortion or ban the practice at the state level. One initiative sought to require medical care for babies born alive after abortion. These referenda took place in Vermont, Montana, Michigan, Kentucky, Kansas, California, and Ohio.
The pro-life position lost every single election. The margins were not close. Most were lopsided defeats.
Pro-life Christians worked to overturn Roe v. Wade for almost 50 years, often seeming to imagine that the Supreme Court could resolve a deep cultural sin by a vote of 6-3. We are learning the hard way that courts don’t have jurisdiction over the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
In order to see human life restored to the sanctity it ought to have, we will have to persuade those who disagree with us. It’s hard work and it requires a lot of love.
Crisis pregnancy centers have proven to be some of the most effective ways to reach people with the truth about human life. BG has supported Finger Lakes Pregnancy Centers for many years. We encourage you to support them too. You can do that through the baby bottles that you find in the lobby today.
FLPC also needs your personal involvement:
“We are looking to grow our FLPC team,” writes executive director Lynne Merchant-Pryor. “We are specifically looking for volunteers and staff in Ithaca to help with administrative tasks, one-on-one mentoring, and men’s ministry. We are also looking for medical professionals from both Ithaca and Cortland areas who are willing to volunteer their time to help oversee the ultrasound program.”
I hope you will support FLPC with both money and time. Let’s get back to the hard work of persuasion!