The U.S. Supreme Court’s oral arguments Wednesday (Dec. 1) left pro-life advocates hopeful the justices are poised to uphold a state ban on abortion after 15 weeks’ gestation and possibly to overturn long-standing decisions in support of legalized abortion nationwide.
The U.S. Supreme Court signaled Monday (Nov. 1) its dissatisfaction with a lower court’s ruling on a state abortion mandate and ordered it to reconsider that decision in light of the justices’ unanimous opinion in support of religious freedom earlier this year.
At this stage, the high court is not considering the constitutionality of the Texas law but whether it may remain in effect while the case is being adjudicated and whether the U.S. government may challenge it in federal court.
A dozen states are challenging the Biden administration’s funding of organizations that perform or promote abortions in one front in an ongoing policy struggle.
In a ceremonial bill signing at Great Hills Baptist Church, a Southern Baptist congregation in Austin, Abbott called the moment “a celebration,” the Texas Tribune reported. He was at the church for the annual Texas Faith, Family & Freedom Forum, hosted by policy group Texas Values.
In a 5-4 split, the high court rejected a last-ditch effort by abortion providers and advocates to halt enforcement of the Texas Heartbeat Act (S.B. 8), which can prohibit abortions as early as five to six weeks into pregnancy.
The U.S. Supreme Court’s refusal to block enforcement of the measure in response to a last-ditch request by abortion-rights organizations meant the law became the first heartbeat ban to take effect in the United States.
The ERLC and five other organizations joined in a brief filed by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) regarding a case involving Mississippi’s ban on abortions of unborn children whose gestational age is more than 15 weeks.
The Resolutions Committee had declined the resolution, reasoning that while “messengers would agree with some aspects of this resolution,” the issue of abortion was addressed in another resolution condemning the repeal of the Hyde Amendment, which prevents federal funding of abortion.
Sign up to receive the ABN Digital News Magazine in your email inbox. New issues arrive every other Thursday.
Copyright © 2023 Arkansas Baptist News
