When I saw the Politico headline – “Supreme Court has voted to overturn abortion rights, draft opinion shows” – I was overcome with emotion. My immediate reaction was to give thanks to God!
This is what we have prayed for. This is what we have marched for. The end of Roe v. Wade is in sight!
But here’s what I want to caution everyone about: We must keep in mind that the end of Roe does not mean the end of abortion in our country – and it certainly does not mean that there will no longer be a need for sidewalk advocacy.
If the Supreme Court does indeed rule to overturn Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, that will be a miracle that will save countless lives … in the states that decide to limit or eliminate access to abortion.
But there will be many other states – and it isn’t difficult to guess which ones – where abortion will continue. These are the states that will invite women to visit in order to obtain the abortions they cannot legally obtain at home. These are the states where abortion numbers will skyrocket.
What does all this mean for Sidewalk Advocates for Life?
In the states where abortion will be limited or eliminated, we need to take our outreach into the proverbial “town square.” In other words, we need to go to where there’s high “foot traffic” to reach women and men in crisis with information about their local pregnancy center and other resources. Some Sidewalk Advocates will be able to shift their location to the border, where a neighboring state will have abortion facilities soliciting interstate traffic. The idea is that many women will leave our communities for the next nearest abortion facility; they will still be in need of love, support, and resources – and that is what Sidewalk Advocates will continue to provide.
In the states that enshrine abortion and launch interstate abortion marketing plans, we will need to move fast to START new SAFL locations, to invite new Sidewalk Advocates to JOIN existing locations, and to encourage new and existing ministry partners to GIVE to expand this ministry.
The end of Roe will be a miracle, and it will save many, many lives. But it will not end abortion in our nation; it will intensify the abortion debate, and demand more of Sidewalk Advocates for Life than ever before.
As we look ahead to the Supreme Court’s formal decision in Dobbs v. JWHO, let us pray for the Justices. Let us pray for the leaders who will decide the future of abortion in their states. Let us pray for the Sidewalk Advocates who will continue to reach out to moms and families who desperately need support. And let us pray for the mothers of preborn children across our nation and throughout our world.
In prayer and solidarity,
Lauren Muzyka
Founder, President & CEO