Bishop Earl Fernandes and the Diocese of Columbus applauded the decision handed down Friday by the U.S. Supreme Court in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization abortion case.

The court ruled, in a 6-3 vote, in favor of the state of Mississippi law, which was challenged in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health, that bans abortions in almost all circumstances after an unborn baby’s heartbeat is detected. 

The Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the controversial 1973 ruling that enshrined a right to abortion into federal law in all 50 states, and Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992), which upheld Roe, in a 5-4 vote. 

“We in the Diocese of Columbus are thankful for the ruling of the Supreme Court of the United States in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Healthcare Organization,” the diocese said in a statement issued Friday morning. “The Catholic Church affirms that each human life is a gift from God, the Author and Lord of Life. In the Gospel of St. John (13:34), Jesus Christ taught that we are to love one another and to see and treat all human life the way our Lord and Savior sees us and treats us.”

As a result of the Supreme Court’s ruling, decisions on abortion laws and regulations will revert to individual states. The court’s opinion in Dobbs, written by Catholic Justice Samuel Alito, determined that abortion should not be considered a constitutional right. Voting in the majority on Roe, in addition to Alito, were Justices Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett. Chief Justice John Roberts joined those five justices in the Dobbs decision.

In the past few years, more than 20 states, including Ohio, have passed laws that would severely restrict abortion. 

Abortion is now illegal in Ohio after a federal judge on Friday afternoon removed a block on Ohio’s Heartbeat Bill, which was passed in 2019 and bans abortion after a baby’s heartbeat is detected at approximately six weeks’ gestation. Other states have trigger laws already in place that went into effect after the Supreme Court made its announcement.  

Pro-life advocates praying at Planned Parenthood on East Main Street in Columbus rejoiced after the decision became public. Clergy members also expressed sentiments of gratitude for this monumental day, the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

“St. Pope John Paul II wrote in (his encyclical) Familiaris Consortio, ‘Inspired and sustained by the new commandment of love, the Christian family welcomes, respects and serves every human being, considering each one in his or her dignity as a person and as a child of God,’” Bishop Fernandes said.

“The Diocese will continue to work to nurture Ohio families and will continue to accept the responsibility of supporting mothers and their children, and to fight for the right to life for every human born, and unborn.” 

The court’s draft opinion was first revealed last month in an unprecedented leak. The justices had acknowledged the document was authentic but had cautioned that it was not the final version. 

Since then, pro-life supporters have prayed that Roe would be overturned, and abortion supporters have unleased violent attacks on pregnancy help centers and Catholic churches throughout the country. Protesters have demonstrated in front of the houses of several Supreme Court justices, and one was arrested after allegedly threatening to kill Justice Brett Kavanaugh.

“This issue brings with it a lot of passion,” Bishop Fernandes said. “As Bishop, I invite all Catholics to show compassion and understanding. I pray that you will truly be instruments of our Lord’s peace. 

“I encourage you to reflect on two passages of scripture: the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12) and Jesus’ call to love one another as He loves us and that what we do for others, we do for the Lord (Matthew 25:31-45). These passages display the disposition that we as Christians are called to have in our lives. It is on the basis of our love that we will be judged, so let us ask the Lord to increase our love.”

The Catholic Church has remained one of the strongest voices for the unborn since the Roe decision was handed down 49 years ago. Not only has the Church been engaged politically in defending the defenseless, but it has provided support for mothers in need through a variety of means. 

“The Catholic Church witnesses to the sanctity of all human life, from conception to natural death, and works to build a true culture of life in our nation,” Bishop Fernandes said. “May this decision result in a renewed commitment to life overflow into increased protection of unborn children and expanded support for their mothers and families.’ (USCCB , Standing with Moms in Need, March 15, 2022)

 “We are a people of life. 

“We celebrate, nurture and protect life. 

“This is our moment to be heralds of the true Gospel of Life.” 

In a statement issued Friday morning by Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), and Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore, chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Pro-Life Activities, they said:

“This is a historic day in the life of our country, one that stirs our thoughts, emotions and prayers. For nearly fifty years, America has enforced an unjust law that has permitted some to decide whether others can live or die; this policy has resulted in the deaths of tens of millions of preborn children, generations that were denied the right to even be born. 

 “America was founded on the truth that all men and women are created equal, with God-given rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. This truth was grievously denied by the U.S. Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade ruling, which legalized and normalized the taking of innocent human life. We thank God today that the Court has now overturned this decision. We pray that our elected officials will now enact laws and policies that promote and protect the most vulnerable among us. 

 “Our first thoughts are with the little ones whose lives have been taken since 1973. We mourn their loss, and we entrust their souls to God, who loved them from before all ages and who will love them for all eternity. Our hearts are also with every woman and man who has suffered grievously from abortion; we pray for their healing, and we pledge our continued compassion and support. As a Church, we need to serve those who face difficult pregnancies and surround them with love.    

“Today’s decision is also the fruit of the prayers, sacrifices, and advocacy of countless ordinary Americans from every walk of life. Over these long years, millions of our fellow citizens have worked together peacefully to educate and persuade their neighbors about the injustice of abortion, to offer care and counseling to women, and to work for alternatives to abortion, including adoption, foster care, and public policies that truly support families. We share their joy today and we are grateful to them. Their work for the cause of life reflects all that is good in our democracy, and the pro-life movement deserves to be numbered among the great movements for social change and civil rights in our nation’s history.  

“Now is the time to begin the work of building a post-Roe America. It is a time for healing wounds and repairing social divisions; it is a time for reasoned reflection and civil dialogue, and for coming together to build a society and economy that supports marriages and families, and where every woman has the support and resources she needs to bring her child into this world in love. 

“As religious leaders, we pledge ourselves to continue our service to God’s great plan of love for the human person, and to work with our fellow citizens to fulfill America’s promise to guarantee the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for all people.”