Roe v. Wade Overturned

On June 24 when the Supreme Court of the United States handed down its decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, the Court made a significant correction and a step toward justice.

This case centered around a 2018 Mississippi law that banned abortions after 15 weeks. The law sparked litigation that challenged the constitutionality of such a ban because Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey claimed abortion was a constitutional right well beyond 15 weeks. After hearing the Dobbs case in December 2021, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 upholding Mississippi’s abortion law, and ruled 5-4 to strike down Roe and Casey.

Justice Alito wrote the majority opinion and said,

“We therefore hold that the Constitution does not confer a right to abortion. Roe and Casey must be overruled, and the authority to regulate abortion must be returned to the people and their elected representatives.” (Dobbs, p. 69)

On June 25 the Wall Street Journal Weekend Edition captured these powerful photographs showing the division on this topic.

As we look back on the past 49 years with Roe in place, we are thankful that our nation finally recognized that the Roe decision was egregious and faulty. Overturning Roe was a significant step toward a more just society.

While it is worthwhile to take some time to reflect and celebrate, that time is short. We need to double down and focus on reaching our communities with the message that every human being, born and unborn, deserves equal protection from violence. We need to focus on serving families in our communities, especially women in need that are all alone in raising their children.

It’s as important as ever to actively, boldly, and faithfully engage our college campuses and wider culture with truth. We are gearing up for the fall semester. Our travels will take us across the country to talk with students and many others about the grave evil of abortion and the great value of unborn children. As we engage, we will continue to eagerly love babies, mothers, and those with whom we disagree.

“Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Your speech must always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.
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— Colossians 4:5-6

Colossians 4:5-6 holds much wisdom for us in this time. We need to use great care in how we talk to each person about Roe and the state of abortion in this country. Many people are celebrating. Many others are grieving. People with different experiences and backgrounds require a careful approach that is gentle, compassionate, and truthful. We need to dig deeper to discover underlying issues that form people’s views on abortion. May we be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger (James 1:19-20) so that people feel safe to transform their views about unborn human beings.

We are grateful for every person who has taken time to get trained to communicate well about abortion. We are also grateful for every person that has taken time to reach out to someone to have a conversation about abortion even when it has been uncomfortable.

The Justice For All team is excited to train and impact many more pro-life advocates during this critical time in history. We are deeply committed to training these advocates to speak the truth in love and treat each person we meet with gentleness and respect. This will create a world that is more just and more safe for every human being. We expect the Dobbs decision to save many lives. There are, however, many more lives that can only be saved when abortion becomes truly unthinkable for more people in our country. These efforts continue to be Justice For All’s main focus.

By training individual advocates and connecting personally with those who disagree, Justice For All has been focused on planting tens of thousands of seeds throughout our nation. We fully trust that God will continue to nourish and grow those seeds into something beautiful. Thank you for standing with us in this important movement and for your part in making this work possible.

Sincerely,

The Justice For All Staff

The SCOTUS Leak

In early May, a leaked document from the Supreme Court showed that Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey could be officially overturned in June. In the leaked majority opinion draft of Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, Justice Alito says, “We hold that Roe and Casey must be overruled…”

If the official outcome is in fact that Roe and Casey are overturned, we will have made a huge step forward in protecting the equal rights of unborn human beings.

As good as this news is, it’s important to remember that overturning Roe and Casey will not make abortion illegal. It just returns the decision to the states. Some states will ban abortion. In others it will remain legal and easily accessible.

Supreme Court of the United States, Jan. 2022

Whatever the official outcome is, our job remains the same. We must continue to engage those around us in conversations. We still need to work to change hearts and minds about abortion. We need to help people see unborn children, not as burdens, but as fellow human beings with equal rights to you and me. We need to support and help pregnant women and their families. We need to engage those with whom we disagree in civility and open dialogue.

The news that Roe could well be on its deathbed is a frightening prospect to a lot of people. Many people are angry. They see this as a dangerous step backward in history. They see this development as an attack on women’s equality. Given the recent developments, there may be many people who are ready and open to having conversations who otherwise may not have been. What we say and how we say it matters. “Sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness.” (Proverbs 16:21b).

With this in mind, let’s engage those around us sharing truth with compassion, love, and patience. Let’s listen to their concerns, ask questions to understand where they are coming from, and find common ground with them whenever possible. May we use our conversations to come alongside people in humility, patience, and great love helping them recognize the humanity of our unborn brothers and sisters.

Love3 Mentions the Woman...What about the Man?

We received a kind note from a supporter recently making a point about our the name of our online workshops, Love3. (Get more information and register now! Workshops begin January 18.) Here’s an excerpt:

What a beautiful theme: to actively love the mother, child, and conversation partner. Perhaps father, known or unknown, should be included in that circle, as well. Changing the hearts of women’s partners could have a huge effect on whether or not a woman experiences an unplanned pregnancy in the first place; and whether she experiences it alone and desperate, or supported, cared for and in partnership.

Perhaps in the future JFA can put together a team, especially of men, to mentor to our young men on campus as to how they can honor women by not engaging in pre-marital sex, by truly thinking through their sexual actions to the probable conclusion, and by actively shouldering the consequences of their actions with manly honesty, unselfishness, and openness to life.

Here’s my reply:

I wholeheartedly agree that men should receive more focus, especially in the ways you have stated in your email. I appreciate the idea of developing a team of men for special focus on helping men develop "manly honesty, unselfishness and openness to life," as you have said. We'll keep this idea in mind as we continue to seek better ways to reach people. You have rightly pointed out how instrumental men are in the process and how important it is that we not forget them.

Let me explain a bit more about the reasons behind the focus on the woman in Love3. Before I do, though, I admit that no name is perfect, and our team is taking new ideas and changes into consideration. When I talk about the Love3 idea in presentations, I talk about loving "anyone dealing with unintended pregnancy and abortion directly," which includes men. So, that was really the intention of this Love3 idea all along.

In trying to find a way to simply communicate what we're talking about in promoting these workshops, however, I found it necessary to simplify this idea down to a focus on the woman. In conversations, there is a reason to give special focus to the woman, after all: she is affected bodily by the child's presence and she can by law get an abortion without the father's knowledge or approval. In addition, when people interact with us, they are many times very keyed in on how we treat the woman who's pregnant during the conversation. While I agree wholeheartedly that men are both affected by and affect greatly the situation of unintended pregnancy, the average pro-choice advocate is not particularly concerned about the man.

So, while I agree that in a conversation we should also have in mind actively loving the man who is directly involved in unintended pregnancy, this does not provide as clear a guide to pro-life advocates aiming to create the sort of conversation that will intrigue pro-choice advocates and cause them to change their mind about abortion. To be sure, bringing up the man and his role at various points is important for helping people develop an accurate view of sexuality, pregnancy, honor, and integrity. But focusing on the man is not as important as caring for the pregnant woman as we seek to help people be open to changing their minds about abortion.

Remember that the moniker Love3 is meant to be a guide for how to proceed in the midst of a conversation in which we're aiming to change someone's mind. That's why we focus in our promotion of Love3 on loving the woman, the child, and the person with whom we're speaking. It's absolutely essential in most conversations with pro-choice advocates to keep each of these three groups of people in our field of vision as we seek to persuade.

Featured Resource - Car vs. Polaroid Distinction (Instagram Link)

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A polaroid picture of members of the JFA Team, taken a few years ago.

Richard Stith has made a distinction between construction of a car and development of a Polaroid photo that can help you understand and illustrate for friends how the unborn child is a human organism from the time of fertilization. You can read his entry-level treatment of this topic, “Arguing with Pro-Choicers” (First Things, Nov. 4, 2006), and his scholarly article, “Construction vs. Development: Polarizing Models of Human Gestation” (Kennedy Institute of Ethics Journal, 2014), through the link below.

JFA’s Executive Director, Steve Wagner, used this polaroid analogy in 2016, with two gate agents at the airport, when a snowstorm was set to hit Washington D.C. He shared the memorable story in “You Aren’t Going Anywhere.”

Creating Better Conversations in Everyday Life

I’m speaking to a group gathered by SFLA via video conference tonight. I’m talking about creating better conversations in everyday life. Here are some links that can help.

Here are some practical conversation starters you can share on social media:

Here’s an example of the beginning of a conversation using a JFA Instagram post:

Here are some suggested evergreen posts that can build a bridge:

Here are some suggested recent topics that can lead to a productive conversation:

• Confirmation of Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett: What do you think of the debate that went on in the Senate Judiciary committee related to whether Barrett would vote to overturn Roe v. Wade? Do you care about that issue?

• Geneva Consensus Declaration: Do you think abortion should be seen as a global human right or do you agree with this Geneva Consensus Declaration that it is not?

• Election: Should abortion be an issue in the presidential election? (Ask this and other clarification questions to gather information about a person’s view.) Or, if you’re talking to a Christian, you might share my October 2016 letter:

Here are some suggestions for further reading and training:

Common Ground Without Compromise

Here’s a note from Steve Wagner, author of Common Ground Without Compromise, reflecting on the book in 2018:

“It’s been ten years since Common Ground Without Compromise was published, and I’m excited to see so many pro-life people now talking about finding common ground as essential to advocating for unborn children. I intended the book as a letter to all sides of the abortion debate, suggesting that we could make more progress in discussing abortion if we consciously made an effort to agree whenever possible. I look at the landscape now, with many cultural observers saying ‘we are more polarized than ever,’ and I think we need to continue to make finding common ground a habit — just as much as we need to be ready to support our beliefs with good reasons. Finding common ground, though, has the power to cause people who disagree with us to want to listen to those reasons we’re eager to share, even as it has the power to help us to want to listen to the many true things they are saying.”

Responding to "I can't tell other's what to do."

In “Two Buckets,” Tammy Cook shares one concept that helps people who are reluctant to say abortion should not be legal because “I can’t tell others what to do.”  Through the conversation, which Tammy shares in vivid detail, she also models a number of other important conversational tools.

More Quick Links:

• Download the Printable Version

• See Another Approach to "I Can't Tell Others What to Do!"

• See More Dialogue Examples

Featured Resource: Stephanie Gray Debate and Blog Post

We invite you to share our post referencing Stephanie Gray’s comment about belly buttons in her recent debate and in her piece, “The Greatest Love.”

Ask a friend to set aside the question of legality of abortion for a moment and engage a different set of questions: “Were we intended for abortion?” and “Or were we intended to give of ourselves and experience what it means to love?” and “Could all of us find common ground in the fact that our mothers engaged in a self-giving act of love when they gave birth to us, and could this be a light for us when we contemplate what we should do with unintended pregnancy and abortion?”

What Does a Virtuous Mother Do?

When I read my friend Stephanie Gray’s blog post, “The Greatest Love” (Nov. 18, 2019), I was struck by her behind-the-scenes look at preparing to participate in the La Ciudad de las Ideas debate which took place in Mexico in early November, reaching tens of thousands. I wanted to share the story with you.

First, I suggest watching the final few minutes of the debate (inset below). Then, read Stephanie’s post which begins below.

As you watch the debate segment and read Stephanie’s post, I encourage you to set aside for a moment the question, “How should we argue against legal abortion?” Although Stephanie is talking about a woman’s body and speaking in the context of a debate about legality, she’s not directly addressing the topic of bodily rights, per se, and her comments go deeper than legality. (For help with arguments about bodily rights and legality, see our “It’s Her Body” Series.)

Note how Stephanie’s comment in the debate appears when juxtaposed against the comments of the pro-choice panelist who speaks just prior. Stephanie cuts through the rhetoric of choice to focus the audience on the question, “What does a virtuous mother do when confronting an unintended pregnancy?” Sadly, that question is often lost or ignored. Stephanie helps recalibrate us, and her perspective might even transform the conversation. It’s worth sharing.

Without further comment from me, then, please click the video below to watch the final few minutes of the debate. (The video should begin playing at 1:55:00. If it doesn’t, move the slider to find that spot in the video or click here.)

Now that you’ve watched the video segment, read Stephanie’s post:

What would you do if, while waiting for a subway train to arrive, you noticed a seizuring man fall onto the tracks? To Wesley Autrey the answer was clear: Jump onto the tracks and help him.

And on January 2, 2007, that’s what he did. Except Autrey wasn’t just helping a man in need. He was putting himself in danger. Because as the fallen man convulsed on the tracks, the lights of an oncoming train flashed before them.

Autrey couldn’t get the man off the tracks in time. But rather than abandon him, Autrey laid on top of him, protecting the young man’s flailing body with his lanky frame. And then train cars came.…

(Keep reading the remainder of Stephanie’s blog post at the Love Unleashes Life Blog.)

More from Stephanie Gray at Love Unleashes Life

For more from Stephanie about the debate, we suggest seeing her six-minute debate highlights video and an 11-minute interview she did after the debate which gave her a chance to reflect on the debate and clarify some ideas she wasn’t able to clarify in the debate due to the format.

JFA's "Extending Your Learning" Resource Library

Featured Resource for Equipping Yourself:

We invite you to explore the wide array of resources available at JFA’s Extending Your Learning webpage. Read articles from JFA’s own Interactive Guide, access scholarly articles on fetal development through convenient links, and watch videos of dialogue artists in real conversations. Prepare for common questions and objections including “Does the Bible Say Anything About Abortion?” “What if the Mother’s Life Is in Danger?” “Is Abortion Legal Through All Nine Months?” and “Abortion Should Be Legal Until the Unborn Is Viable.” If you haven’t explored the vast resource library on JFA’s website, Extending Your Learning is a great place to start.

VIDEO Resource: CK's Conversation at CSU

Watch the recently-released JFA outreach clip, “Abortion: Should We Legislate Morality?” to prepare for your conversations. This 8-minute dialogue footage from Colorado State University features former JFA trainer CK Wisner. Watch as CK patiently listens to a CSU student who feels conflicted about her position on abortion. CK artfully prompts this student to explore questions with her including, “When are we human?” and “What is the basis for human rights?” After eagerly discussing these biological and philosophical questions, the student turns to the topic of legality, asking CK about “imposing” one’s beliefs on others. This video touches on several topics in a short period of time. Use it as a springboard for further study, or use it as a springboard for your own conversation by sharing it with a friend.

Prepare for Conversations with "The Power of Common Ground"

In his newsletter for September (“The Power of Common Ground”), Jeremy Gorr shares a great model of using common ground in a real conversation. You can use his letter to equip yourself with questions that will help you find common ground with others regarding abortion. He also discusses an approach to finding genuine common ground that avoids compromising one’s beliefs. In a footnote, Jeremy mentions JFA Director Steve Wagner’s book, Common Ground Without Compromise, which you can get for free at www.commongroundbook.com. That book features 25 questions you can use to begin a conversation with agreement instead of hostility.

Use this Video for our Elementary Lesson Plan

For the first time that I’m aware of, EHD has recently made a 6-minute version of their rare embryoscopy footage available for download. And, it’s free.

We’re excited about this because it’s a beautiful window on the womb, but it also will fill very nicely the video component of our lesson plan, “The Baby’s Heart Beats Like Mine.” Note, the video is also available in multiple languages!

12 Minutes on Bodily Rights

Five years ago, JFA released a working paper to respond to the strongest versions of bodily rights arguments for abortion. Equal Rights Institute (ERI) recently released a video featuring one of the contributors to that paper, Timothy Brahm (former staff member of both JFA and ERI), in which he takes a different approach than our paper, one that we think is an even more helpful response to bodily rights. It’s called, “Blood Donation and Bodily Rights Arguments.” Some of our staff think it’s even better than our paper. In 12 minutes, Tim deftly responds to the most common challenges and gives you a framework that you can apply to the most common and most difficult bodily rights arguments. (Indeed, he also shares some reasons why our original paper may not be the most persuasive — helpful critique that we welcome!) JFA’s “It’s Her Body” series last year set the appropriate context for any discussion of bodily rights. Pairing ERI’s video with “It’s Her Body”, will give you a great primer on bodily rights, as well as a great conversation starter.

Teach Kids with Our New K-4 Lesson Plan

**Yes, this is the same resource we’ve been proud to highlight for the past two months! It’s that important!**

Click above to access, download, teach, and share the K-4 lesson plan.

Whether you teach kids at home, in a church Sunday School, or in a traditional school environment, be one of the first to download and teach “The Baby’s Heart Beats Like Mine” lesson plan to students in kindergarten through fourth grade. Then give us feedback. During the lesson, K-4 students identify with unborn babies through a series of experiences, including feeling their own heartbeats, seeing the unborn baby in the womb, naming similarities they share with unborn babies, making a bracelet that reminds them of when the heart begins to beat, and narrating what they learned to their parents. (“Sign Up” to access this “Member Only” content. That’s free!)