In the world of geology, tectonic shifts are major geological events that happen outside of our view but often bring about momentous change to the physical landscape. In the world of politics, metaphoric tectonic shifts are rare, but there have been several that have occurred in 2021. Earlier this year, the United States Supreme Court announced it will review the constitutionality of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. This case involves a Mississippi law that bans abortions at 15 weeks, which is well before the viability standard of 22-24 weeks established by Roe v. Wade. In announcing it will take the case, the Court stated their interest involves the question of viability — specifically, should a state be allowed to ban abortions before the current accepted standard of viability.
What are the possible outcomes in this case? The current conservative makeup of the Court (5-3 conservative, with Roberts as the new swing vote) could mean the end of Roe v. Wade, with the Court sending the question of abortion back to the states. If that happens, South Carolina, in passing the Heartbeat Bill, linked viability to the detection of a heartbeat. This means the viability standard would be set as early as six weeks! Since most women don’t know they are pregnant at six weeks, the vast majority of abortions in South Carolina would be against the law. Even if the Court lands somewhere short of overturning Roe v. Wade in its entirety, any change in the viability standard would spell the beginning of the end for Roe. Some liberal writers are now admitting that pro-life groups who backed laws focusing on viability standards may have found the Achilles heel of Roe v. Wade. Whatever the outcome, this case has the potential to shift the national landscape on the life issue in a very positive direction.
Another Supreme Court case that caught everyone’s attention was a 5-4 decision to allow Texas’s Heartbeat Bill to go into effect. The Court declined to rule on the merits of the Texas law, but allowed the law to stand while challenges make their way through courts. Many legal observers believe the Court may be telegraphing the majority’s view concerning Dobbs v. Jackson, but that is pure speculation. The Texas Heartbeat Bill is unique, because its enforcement depends on civil suits brought by citizens against abortion providers and anyone (other than the mother) who aids in facilitating an abortion. We should stop and praise the Lord that, at the time of this writing, in the state of Texas abortions are grinding to a halt! There is already a flood of lawsuits against the Texas law, including one filed by the U.S. Department of Justice. Please pray that God will grant favor to those who will bear the standard of life before the courts.
Last month, the Christian Life and Public Affairs Committee signed on to an amicus brief in Trustees of the New Life in Christ Church v. City of Fredericksburg, Virginia. We were approached by the Alliance Defending Freedom to consider joining the brief. The case involves New Life in Christ Church (PCA affiliated) housing that is being used by a husband and wife ministry team that is ministering to college students. The City of Fredericksburg refused to issue tax-exempt status for the property, claiming that, according to their interpretation, the couple did not qualify as ministers in a PCA church! This is an egregious violation of a church’s right to determine who meets the qualification of a minister. The state — in this case, the City of Fredericksburg — is claiming the power to usurp the church’s role in making this important determination. In doing so, they have violated decades of legal precedent that protects a church or denomination’s right to define who meets the criteria as a minister. This appeal is likely to reach the Supreme Court. Please pray that the justices will protect this important pillar of religious liberty by overturning this misguided intrusion of the government in the life of the church.
Briefly, the South Carolina Supreme Court upheld the Legislature’s right to use the budget proviso to prohibit mask and vaccine mandates in public schools and municipalities. As the Legislature returns to Columbia to deal with redistricting, there can be little doubt that members will be pressured by mask and vaccine advocates to reverse their positions. Please pray for wisdom for our elected officials as they deal with these pressing, and often controversial, issues.