Local reaction to Supreme Court ruling includes rally at Planned Parenthood
Lou Whitmire
When the U.S. Supreme Court released the much-anticipated Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision on Friday, local people were quick to react to the abortion ruling and a rally was held outside Planned Parenthood on Park Avenue West in Mansfield.
Here are some of the local responses to the high court's Dobbs v. Jackson decision. Initial responses were from supporters of the decision; the News Journal was unable to immediately reach opponents of the supreme court's ruling.
Richland Pregnancy Services
"Over the past nearly 50 years since the Supreme Court’s infamous Roe v. Wade decision there have been over 63 million abortions performed by abortion clinics across the U.S. Each of these lives represent a person with immense value and tremendous potential. Over these past 50 years, much work has been done by pregnancy center, pro-life organizations, and churches across the nation to limit abortions and offer a viable alternative to the cultural lie that abortion is the only way out," Richland Pregnancy Services said in a statement issued Friday.
"While this work has made huge strides, Roe v. Wade has continued to stand in the way of making abortion unthinkable in our country. The news today of the Supreme Court’s decision concerning Mississippi’s 15-week abortion ban in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization has offered a very important legal victory for the protection of the unborn and men and women," the nonprofit agency's statement said.
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"This decision will cause people on every side to rethink what abortion looks like in the future. But while this victory will echo throughout the pro-life world, the battle for life will continue. This is why at Richland Pregnancy Services, we believe this decision only provides the beginning of a new phase in the movement to protect all human life. As this decision with massive implications will be discussed, debated, and applied over the next few months, we do not believe this is a moment to back down," the statement continued.
Catholic Diocese of Toledo
Bishop Daniel E. Thomas of the Toledo Catholic Diocese provided a statement on Friday's Supreme Court decision.
"Today, the Supreme Court issued a judgment on the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization case which results in the overturning of the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision. This historic moment moves us a step closer to establishing a culture of life where every life is valued, where the dignity of every person born and pre-born is respected, and where each human person is treasured as created in the image and likeness of God. It behooves us to recall the words of Pope Saint John Paul II when he wrote, “'It is not enough to remove unjust laws. The underlying causes of attacks on life have to be eliminated, especially by ensuring proper support for families and motherhood (Evangelium Vitae #90)," Thomas said.
"Now that the highest court of our nation has corrected the Roe v. Wade decision, which tragically cut short the lives of over 63 million innocent children, it is up to all Catholics and others of goodwill in our community to walk with moms and their children to help provide for their basic needs. By providing life-affirming resources accessible to every family, we ensure that no pregnant or parenting mother walks alone," Thomas said.
"Considering the issue of abortion will now be decided at the state level, I call on all persons committed to the common good to advocate for life and pray that our local leaders and public servants uphold the dignity of each and every human person from the moment of conception until natural death," Thomas added.
Protect Life Ohio
Greg Jevnikar, of Protect Life Ohio, who organized a Rally for Human Life on Friday outside Mansfield's Planned Parenthood office, said in a statement:
“When this ruling is made, the American people will be free to enact legislation leading to the eventual abolishment of abortion, correcting a terrible injustice.
“The pro-life community of Mansfield is eager to begin building a new future in which every unborn child is welcomed and provided for as a member of our human family," Jevnikar said in a statement.
Pastor Chad Hayes, Caesarea Baptist Church
Pastor Chad Hayes of Caesarea Baptist Church of Mansfield said, "It has been a long-standing prayer request of mine to see the day when the unbiblical, 'Roe vs. Wade' would be overturned. As a pastor, my foundation is and should be the Bible. I am a Biblicist and I decided a long time ago that if God had a position on a matter that I would adopt that same position for my life. That being said, it is my intent by looking to just a few scriptures, show you what God's position on life is.
"Isaiah 49:1 Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The Lord hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name," Hayes said.
"We see from the prophet Isaiah that God had a plan for his life ‘while Isaiah was still in the womb of his mother. God does indeed have a plan for all human life," he added.
"Today for me, with the Overturning of Roe-Wade it is a time of celebration. Because in this area, America is returning to a sense of biblical understanding of God's view on life. Life begins upon conception and it would behoove America to find God's position on all matters and stand on it. Revelation 22:14 says blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city," the local pastor said.
lwhitmir@gannett.com
419-521-7223
Twitter: @LWhitmir