The Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson overturning Roe v. Wade is a blessing from God for which we are eternally grateful. The spurious 49-year-old right to abortion concocted by Harry Blackmun has been repudiated by conscientious justices who acknowledge their duty to be faithful interpreters—not reckless inventors—of constitutional law. The horror of abortion on demand was foisted upon the citizenry in 1973. Since then, tens of millions of children have been legally killed in the womb in a nation that had pretty much prohibited abortion from its beginning.

Now federal protection is gone, but after nearly a half-century of abortion on demand, our society is profoundly changed. Pro-lifers face very hostile pushback in many states, particularly on the east and west coasts, where influential elite institutions of media, higher education, arts and entertainment are largely and vociferously pro-abortion.

How has it come to this?

The demand for a right to abortion is a manifestation of the mystery of sin and evil in the world. The desire to kill one’s offspring while he or she is developing in the womb is neither rational nor good. It is a sin, and a grave sin at that. The Catechism of the Catholic Church speaks thus:

“Sin is an offense against reason, truth, and right conscience; it is failure in genuine love for God and neighbor caused by a perverse attachment to certain goods. It wounds the nature of man and injures human solidarity. It has been defined as ‘an utterance, a deed, or a desire contrary to the eternal law.’ Sin is an offense against God: ‘Against you, you alone, have I sinned, and done that which is evil in your sight.’ Sin sets itself against God’s love for us and turns our hearts away from it. Like the first sin, it is disobedience, a revolt against God through the will to become ‘like gods,’ knowing and determining good and evil. Sin is thus ‘love of oneself even to contempt of God.’ In this proud self-exaltation, sin is diametrically opposed to the obedience of Jesus, which achieves our salvation.^” (## 1849-1850)

Our task in the pro-life movement is to give witness to the truth and goodness of God’s law in an inflamed and truculent environment. Sin and death are not the path to human happiness. Killing babies by abortion is cruel and selfish behavior. It is not liberating to turn against helpless children. The lie that the unborn are not human beings, but rather “clumps of cells,” may be a momentarily-useful illusion to justify doing something terribly wrong, but deep down it remains an unconvincing lie.

Our witness to truth and goodness will also include advocacy for assistance to pregnant women in need—and their children. We must also offer healing and hope to those who regret their abortions, assuring them that while their decision was a serious mistake, it needn’t crush their spirits: God’s forgiveness and love are gifts that He gives freely to all who turn to him.

The pro-life message is powerful because it is true. In our society truth is under attack, but it cannot be overcome because truth comes from God who is all powerful. With courage and confidence let us share that message in our post-Roe America.