It was thrilling to be present at a pro-life rally on the steps of the Supreme Court of the United States this week while oral arguments for the Dobbs v. Jackson case were going on inside. I had a sense that our team and I were truly living through history. I hope to soon be able to tell my grandchildren, “I was outside when the Supreme Court charted a course for LIFE in this country.”

One thing that struck me was the contrast between the pro-life crowd on one side, and the pro-abortion crowd on the other, separated by a metal barricade erected by the Capitol police, although in reality there were many pro-lifers on the other side of the fence, because pro-lifers had a vast advantage in numbers. 

But the difference went beyond the size of the two crowds. You could see it on their faces and hear it in their voices. Both sides saw the same thing coming - the approaching fall of the pro-abortion regime thrust on our nation by the Court’s abominable Roe v. Wade ruling nearly 49 years ago - but they reacted very differently to that prospect.

Looking at the pro-life side, there were smiles and looks of hopeful anticipation. Voices were cheerful and I even heard hymns sung. I saw signs asking for compassion for the unborn and for women. 

How different on the other side of the barricade! Instead of hopefulness and eager anticipation, faces were dark with bitterness and anger that was further evident in their harsh denunciations of what they also recognize is likely coming from the Court. Not a smile to be found!

It seemed to me that this reflected a great divide, between a culture that affirms and celebrates life, and a culture that glorifies and boasts of death. Nothing could underscore this contrast more starkly than a horribly sad thing that happened on the pro-abortion side of the fence. Three young women took abortion pills in front of a cheering pro-abortion crowd – right on the steps of the Supreme Court as the justices heard oral arguments inside. My first thought was of course to pray for these girls, who have been deeply wounded by a culture that has taught them that this is an acceptable, even good, thing to do. 

My second thought was a question: what has caused America to become a place where young women are encouraged by cheering crowds to take an abortion pill that will kill their baby and potentially cause them great harm as well? In a word, Roe v. Wade. This is what Roe has made us. And then another thought occurred to me: what if we are about to turn a corner? What if the days in which abortion is publicly glorified and celebrated on the steps of the Supreme Court are close to being over? What a blessing from God that would be!

At a dinner hosted that evening by Alliance Defending Freedom for all those who have contributed to this case at the Supreme Court, including our own Renee Carlson whose amicus brief on the case with University of St. Thomas professor Teresa Collett was joined by former Vice President Pence and other pro-life groups, it dawned on me how our work is just beginning. 

As you know, we have our own “Roe v. Wade” in Minnesota, called Doe v. Gomez (1995). This guarantees Minnesota women the “right” to abortion, even at taxpayer expense if they can’t afford it. If the Supreme Court rules in Dobbs in a way that overturns or guts Roe v. Wade, the focus will immediately shift from Washington to right here in St. Paul.

We need to be ready for that. I know that, with your help, we will be.