40 Years of Roe
“I could out-cuss the most crass of men and women; I could out-drink many of the Dallas taverns’ regulars; and I was known for my hot temper. When pro-lifers called me a murderer, I called them worse. When people held up signs…I spit in their face.”1
These colorful words paint an immediate picture of the heart of Norma McCorvey, the plaintiff in the infamous Roe v. Wade case – before her conversion. Norma, dubbed “Jane Roe”, was pregnant in 1969 with her third child. Having been unfaithful in her same-sex relationship, she falsely asserted that she was raped. Unable to have a legal abortion, she agreed to be represented by lawyers who would fight tooth and nail to legalize an abortion for her. Well, Norma gave birth and placed her child for adoption.
Even so, on January 22, 1973 the Supreme Court ruled in Roe’s favor. That fateful day changed the face of America and legalized abortion through the seventh month of pregnancy. Within years of the ruling God got a hold of Norma’s heart and she now runs a ministry called Roe No More2…believing to see Roe v. Wade overturned in her lifetime.
Many people don’t realize that on the very same day that Roe v. Wade was decided, the Supreme Court also ruled on Doe v. Bolton. This ruling essentially legalized partial-birth abortion through the ninth month. The plaintiff, 22 yr old Sandra Cano (dubbed “Mary Doe”), claimed she was lied to by lawyers and sought an appeal based on the fact that she never wanted an abortion. She was denied and Doe v. Bolton’s ruling remained law3.
So here we are. January 2013. Forty years since these rulings.
Statistics say 55 million+ abortions have been performed since 1973. The poverty rate for women is at 15.5% – the highest it has ever been since the US Census Bureau started tracking. The percentage of unintended pregnancies hasn’t budged from 49%. Forty-one percent of children are born into fatherless homes. STDs are at an all time high. I could go on…
Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton were based on lies. Abortion as a solution to poverty is obviously a lie. Abortion as a means of freedom and healthy family planning (reducing unintended pregnancies) is also a lie.
What is true, my friends, is that Planned Parenthood (the nation’s largest abortion chain) has a billion dollar budget and significantly profits from abortion. Death has become our culture’s birth control. And we have missed out on 54 million+ incredible people who could have been great moms, sisters, brothers, fathers, finding cures for cancer, AIDS, etc.
What is also 100% true is that I look at these staggering stats and vow to live my life fighting for the abolition of abortion and the industry that profits from it. I vow to advocate for life-affirming solutions – parenting and adoption.
Having faced an unplanned pregnancy, and lived life as a single mom myself, I know the motivating fear women face. I know the tears. I know the stress. I do. But I also know that human triumph is how we roll! We outdo ourselves all the time. We find the strength to make amazing decisions and we grow from them. We can do this when we realize the absolute supernatural power of a God who IS love (1John 4:8). He loves us more than we can ever know. He forgives us more times than we can even count. He IS the true answer to all of our problems.
So, as I reflect on 40 years of Roe v. Wade, I choose to celebrate the God who forgave “Roe” and empowered “Doe”. The Pharisees may have said these women were beyond redemption. But the God who created them spoke truth into their hearts and changed their lives forever.
He is the same God who forgives me repeatedly and gives me hope beyond my wildest dreams. Make a decision today. Stand for TRUTH. Let the God of love and hope wash over you with His presence. You too will find that, with God, all things are possible.
Note: If you are pregnant and need help, or post abortive and looking for support, there are people who care. Click here for resources. (https://www.toomanyaborted.com/help)
1.https://www.roenomore.org/normas_story/index.htm
2. https://www.roenomore.org/normas_story/index.htm
3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doe_v._Bolton
