By Katie Peterson / Tennessee Register
Parishioners and youth groups from the Diocese of Knoxville participate in the 2019 March for Life in Washington, D.C. While the U.S. Supreme Court on Friday voted to uphold a Mississippi law that bans most abortions, the court also voted to overturn the controversial 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that opened the door for legalized abortion in the U.S.
The three bishops of Tennessee praised the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which reversed the precedent set in the 1973 ruling in Roe v. Wade declaring a woman’s constitutional right to an abortion.
And agencies and organizations that serve women facing a crisis or unplanned pregnancy expect the need for the help they provide to increase.
On Friday, June 24, the Supreme Court announced its ruling in the Dobbs case, which addressed the constitutionality of a Mississippi law that prohibits an abortion after 15 weeks. With the ruling, individual states are now permitted to enact their own laws and restrictions as they pertain to access to abortion services, particularly in regard to pre-viability abortions.
“Together as the bishops of Tennessee, we thank the United States Supreme Court for its careful consideration of the constitutional issues surrounding abortion and express our encouragement that it has ruled in favor of the right to life for the unborn,” Bishops J. Mark Spalding of Nashville, David P. Talley of Memphis, and Richard F. Stika of Knoxville said in statement released after the court’s decision was announced.
“Arguments before the court made it clear that our ever-expanding scientific knowledge has identified the fact that everything essential for a growing human life is present from the moment of conception,” the bishops said.
“Only time and nourishment are necessary to bring that life forward, created in the likeness and image of God with the human dignity enshrined by the creator in each of us as his children,” the statement continued. “We pray for all those facing pregnancies, both planned and unplanned, and pledge to redouble our efforts to support mothers, fathers and children at every stage of life.”
The Tennessee bishops were joined by bishops across the country praising the court’s decision.
Comments 1
We are always given “signs” or “information” that alert us of a type of danger. Warnings like to drive at a reduced speed on wet slippery streets or covering our mouths when we cough. Now, we should also include “verbal changes in speech”. The idea of referring to a developing infant in the womb as “just a cluster of cells” or that “it isn’t really human until birth” are examples. This changing of vocabulary can also be heard in other areas of our society. This change of speech is not only an attempt to reduce the seriousness of issues but it is also the means that pushes God out of our lives. God is no longer in control nor does He matter. Instead, people are making up their own rules through uncomfortable ideologies. The God and Father of the ages…of the Bible is for them no more. They do not conform to the Father’s ways instead, they have created their own god. One that conforms to them, their ideas and lifestyle. They have made their own “Golden Calf”. God punished those who made the Golden Calf in Exodus of the Bible. Rest assure…He can do it again. After all, He is BIGGER and BADDER than they are.