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THE U.P. CATHOLIC COMMENTARY
December 17, 2021
3
(USPS 916-360 ISSN 10634525)
THE U.P. CATHOLIC
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Ethan Wilcox - Iron Mtn. I. Conception, Iron Mtn. College III
We invite you to pray for vocations. Loving Father, Master of the harvest; Please send more laborers to work in your vineyard. Amen.
www.dioceseofmarquette.org/vocations We have all been steeped in a COVID-centric world for over year now. When all seems confusing and stressful, I look towards the promise of the New Heavens and the New Earth where we will dwell with God forever!"
Could Roe go?
N
early fifty years ago, the U.S. Su- preme Court, in a controversial de- cision, established a constitutional right to abortion. But now, the nations highest court has been asked to reconsider the decision it made in the 1973 case known as Roe v. Wade. If the court agrees to overturn it, reg- ulation of abortion could return to the states. On Dec. 1, the Supreme Court heard argu- ments in the case known as Dobbs v. Jack- son Womens Health Organization. It in- volves a challenge to Mississippi, which has a law banning abortion after 15 weeks gestation, with exceptions for a medical emergency or severe fetal abnormality. In its defense of the law, Mississippi is arguing that nothing in constitutional text, structure, history, or tradition supports a right to abortion. In other words, the state is arguing for outright reversal of Roe v. Wade as well as another Supreme Court case that re- affirmed Roe, known as Planned Parenthood v. Casey. Asking the court to overturn its own prec- edent is considered a tall hurdle, but it has been done before. A famous example is the 1954 ruling in Brown v. Board of Education in which the court overturned its ruling from 58 years prior - Plessy v. Ferguson - that had upheld racial segregation in public schools. The question the court must answer in the Dobbs case is this: Are all bans on elective abortions that happen pre-viability - or when the baby could survive outside the womb - unconstitutional? When Roe was decided in 1973, knowl- edge of prenatal development was extremely limited. At that time, viability was usually placed at week 28. But today we know that viability may occur at week 25 or 24, and there have been cases of premature infants surviving following a birth at just 21 weeks gestation. In addition to that, we now have ultra- sound technology and can see that at 15 weeks gestation a babys heart is beating, brain waves are developing, there are eyes and teeth and fingers and toes - even a baby smile can be seen. All of that happens prior to viability, which is an arbitrary, complex, unworkable, and unjustified dividing line in abortion juris- prudence. Its made-up and ever-changing. The defense of human life should not de- pend on such a vague standard. The Word from Lansing is a regular col- umn for Catholic news outlets and is written by Michigan Catholic Conference (MCC) President and CEO Paul A. Long. Michigan Catholic Conference is the official public policy voice of the Catholic Church in this state.
THE WORD FROM LANSING Paul A. Long
Supreme Court considers case challenging landmark abortion ruling
What Dobbs could mean for abortion in Michigan
The Supreme Court isn't expected to issue a final decision in the Dobbs case until June 2022. What happens if it does in fact over- turn Roe v. Wade with its decision? In Michigan, this is good news for the cause of upholding the dig- nity of human life, because Michigan already has an abortion ban on the books. That law would likely go back into effect if the court ruled to overturn Roe v. Wade in the case before it now. Depending on what the court says, how abortion is restricted could return to the states to decide. Michigan is one of several states that, at the time of the Roe decision, had a ban on abortion in all situations or nearly all situations. That law was overwhelm- ingly upheld by Michigan voters two months before the Roe deci- sion in November 1972. However, in addition to the court either striking down Roe or upholding Roe and keeping things as they are now, the court could always do something completely different. For instance, it could craft a ruling that takes some other unknown course and possibly leave the door open for another case in the future to challenge Roe and Casey. But if Roe is struck down, there will be efforts from pro-abortion advocates to allow abortion again widely via legislation, ballot question drives and lawsuits. If that time comes, we need your help in continuing to join us in standing up for the unborn and speaking up for the dignity of human life at all stages. If pro-lifers had been silent instead of so active and vocal over the last fifty years, the Dobbs case may never have happened, so its critical to continue to champion the dignity of human life by posting on social media, contacting legislators and advocating for legal protection for the unborn and their mothers. But with the state of abortion policy across the country in the hands of the Supreme Court for now, what are the supporters of life to do in the meantime? In the Letter to the Hebrews, we are urged to confidently ap- proach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help. With that in mind, the task now is to pray and fast for a just outcome in the Dobbs case, and for protection of the unborn and their mothers.
Pope Francis says:
Joseph, who is a carpenter from Nazareth and who trusts in Gods plan for his young fiance and for himself, reminds the Church to keep her eyes on what the world deliberately ignores. He reminds each of us to value what others discard. In this sense, he is truly a master of the essential: He reminds us that what truly matters does not attract our attention, but requires patient discernment to be discovered and appreciated. Each of us can discover in Joseph - the man who goes unnoticed, a daily, discreet and hidden presence - an intercessor, a support and a guide in times of trouble. May you find in St. Joseph the witness and protector to look to. [A pope] must be inspired by the lowly, concrete and faithful service which marked St. Joseph and, like him, he must open his arms to protect all of Gods people and embrace with tender affection the whole of humanity, especially the poorest, the weakest, the least important. Quotes from Pope Francis' general audience on Wednesday, Nov. 17.
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