Policy | Family Talk

Dr. James Dobson Calls Out the Supreme Court's Decision that Prioritizes Abortion Over the Health of Women

Written by Dr. James Dobson | June 29, 2020

June 29, 2020 — The U.S. Supreme Court blundered again!

In a disturbing decision released this morning, five justices struck down a Louisiana law that offered the most basic of health protections for women seeking abortions. Why would anyone—let alone the high court of the land—oppose such a commonsense law? Because the "freedom" to execute the unborn has become this nation's sacred cow.

In 2014, Louisiana passed a law that required abortion providers to have admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles. This law treated abortionists the same as doctors at all other ambulatory surgical centers in Louisiana. It requires doctors to meet basic competency standards and ensures that a woman can receive treatment at a hospital in the event of post-abortion complications.

This was a good law. This was a necessary law. This was a law that everyone should have supported because everyone cares about the health and safety of women. Don't they?

Apparently not. It seems some would rather exempt abortionists from commonsense standards than risk forcing incompetent butchers to close their doors. And today those advocates for death found five willing allies at the U.S. Supreme Court.

Justice Breyer authored the opinion, joined by Justice Ginsburg, Justice Sotomayor, and Justice Kagan. That meant four votes in favor of unfettered abortion. Chief Justice Roberts supplied the fifth vote, writing a concurring opinion in which he stated that the legal doctrine of stare decisis required him to strike down the Louisiana law.

This wasn't the first time the Court has prioritized abortion over the health and safety of women. A similar law from Texas came before the Supreme Court in 2016 and the Court struck it down. But in that case, the liberal justices were joined by Justice Kennedy, who has since retired. Chief Justice Roberts joined the dissent in that case because he knew the Court was wrong. He still knows that today, writing in his concurring opinion that "I…continue to believe that the case was wrongly decided." And yet he failed to right the wrong, arguing that no "special circumstances" exist that allow the Court to overturn its prior decision.

Nonsense! It is never too late to do the right thing. It is never too late to defend innocent life. The Chief Justice fears overturning precedent… he fears upsetting the leftist press… he should instead fear God. Indeed, all of us should shudder at the thought of God's judgment in this matter. He is full of mercy and continually calls us to repent but His justice cannot and will not tarry forever.

Four years ago, I joined others who proclaimed the importance of the 2016 election and its potential impact on the judicial system. We've seen what good judges can do, and what bad judges will do. The next president will likely appoint more justices to the Supreme Court and it is critical that those individuals embrace and carry out their constitutional duty. Your vote matters!

But beyond your vote, now more than ever you need to be a light in your community. Today's disastrous ruling is only possible in a culture that denies the intrinsic value of life. God's truth about the sanctity of every human life must be proclaimed not only in the ballot box, but also in our homes, churches, and communities.