NEW ORLEANS — The Supreme Court has ended constitutional protections for abortion that had been in place nearly 50 years. The decision by its conservative majority to overturn Roe v. Wade on Friday is expected to lead to abortion bans in roughly half the states. The ruling came more than a month after the stunning leak of a draft opinion by Justice Samuel Alito indicating the court was preparing to take this momentous step. Three of the court's liberal justices wrote in a joint dissent that the decision would bring “sorrow” for the many millions of American women will be losing a “fundamental constitutional protection.”
Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards: “I am and have always been unabashedly pro-life and opposed to abortion. However, I understand that people on both sides of this complex issue hold deeply personal beliefs, and I respect that not everyone, including many in my own party, agrees with my position.
While we are still reviewing the decision issued by the Court this morning, Louisiana has had a trigger law in place since 2006 that would outlaw abortion, without exception for rape and incest, should the United States Supreme Court overturn Roe v. Wade.
I asked the Legislature to include exceptions for rape and incest in the legislation most recently passed. While the bill that passed expanded the exceptions from the 2006 law to include instances of medical futility and treatment of ectopic pregnancies, these important exceptions were not included.
As I have said many times before, I believe women who are survivors of rape or incest should be able determine whether to continue with a pregnancy that is the result of a criminal act.
And, to be clear, the legislation I recently signed protects all forms of contraception, including emergency contraception, which remains fully legal and available in Louisiana.
Being pro-life means more than just being against abortion. It means providing the necessary resources and implementing policies that provide real options and not just lip service to the children, women, and families we are blessed to serve. Now more than ever, it’s critical that Louisiana funds services to support women, children, and families throughout their lives, which is why I have expanded health care through our Medicaid program and lobbied for measures to make sure workers are paid better and more fairly. It’s also why I’ve supported better funding for Louisiana’s public education system, including early childhood education. I believe all people should have the opportunity to succeed and that starts with providing a strong foundation early in life.
Make no mistake, there is much more that we can do to support women, children, and families, and I hope that my fellow pro-life public officials will join me in these efforts in the coming months and years.”
Senator Bill Cassidy: “Today’s decision recognizes that an unborn child has a right to life. Being pro-life means being pro-mothers, pro-babies, and pro-healthy futures—a philosophy I carry with me in the Senate. This is a deeply emotional issue for many Americans, no matter which side one stands, but it is now up to individual states to enact their own policies.”
Senator John Kennedy: “Despite attempts to intimidate the justices, they did their work. Roe v. Wade has misrepresented the Constitution since the ruling was rendered, and today’s decision to return the issue of abortion to the American people and the states corrects a legal and moral error. Louisianians have worked for a long time to have this freedom that is rightly and constitutionally theirs. I am very pleased with today’s decision.”
Congressman Steve Scalise, R-Louisiana, tweeted simply, "Life Wins!!"
State Senator Sharon Hewitt, R-Slidell: "It is a big victory. Louisiana has been one of the most pro-life states in the country and we have laws in place that are set to trigger where most abortions will be illegal in Louisiana. We were just waiting for the Supreme Court."
State Attorney General Jeff Landry: “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice in it and be glad. Today, along with millions across Louisiana and America, I rejoice with my departed Mom and the unborn children with her in Heaven!"
New Orleans Archbishop Gregory Aymond: "Today, the United States Supreme Court reversed course on the 1972 Roe v Wade decision that made abortion on demand the law of the land by returning this issue to the individual states to govern restrictions and access to abortion. We give thanks to God that the injustice of abortion on demand has come to an end, and that we as a society will have the opportunity to save more innocent unborn lives.
The people of God in the Archdiocese of New Orleans must stand ready to support mothers in need and their babies. We must do what we can to advocate for medical care and resources for mothers and their families. We must support businesses that put women and families first in their practices. We must provide real resources for vulnerable women in unplanned pregnancies and encourage families to support their daughters and sons when faced with an unplanned pregnancy.
Perhaps more importantly, we must do more to change the hearts and minds of people when it comes to the dignity of all human life. We must form our young people in the truth of Christ and natural law about the right to life. We must teach our young women and men respect for themselves and their full and authentic femininity and masculinity. We must be consistent in our ethics regarding life from the womb to the sick and elderly to the prisoner. As Catholics we must unequivocally stand for the dignity and respect for all human life from conception to natural death."
New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell: "This ruling strikes down a half-century of precedent, settled law and most importantly, access to safe and responsible medical care for millions of women. A half-century of women empowered to make their own healthcare decisions has now been tossed away by a half-dozen activist, fundamentalist Supreme Court Justices obsessed with driving a political agenda. A half-century of women being able to access safe medical care who now find themselves at risk of bodily harm, and even death, as this ruling reopens the 'Back Alley' for business."
New Orleans City Councilmember Helena Moreno: "And here it is... our rights eroded. The consequences on health care for women are tremendous. In states like Louisiana were vague laws criminalize doctors, OBGYN's may refuse to even practice. Even though knew this was coming, it's still unbelievable."
Mandie Landry, a state representative in Louisiana: "I started sobbing in the car and I mean the gut reaction is more women in Louisiana are going to die. Those coat hanger stories are real... With our maternal death rate being the highest or second highest in the country, we know it's going to lead to more deaths, that's a fact."
Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast:“With this ruling, millions of Louisianans have lost access to safe, legal abortion and their fundamental human right to control their body, health, and life. We know, Black, Latino and Indigenous people, and people living with low incomes and in rural areas will feel the impact of this ruling most severely because these communities have long faced barriers to essential health care due to structural racism and discrimination. While we have seen the writing on the wall for decades, it is no less devastating.”
“Planned Parenthood believes every single person deserves access to sexual and reproductive health care no matter their income, state of residence, immigration status or zip code. Our health centers remain open and we will continue to do everything we can to ensure all people get the sexual and reproductive health care they need.”
Congressman Clay Higgins (R-LA): “Today’s ruling is a major victory for life. The sovereign states will now have greater authority to implement strong pro-life protections. The Supreme Court’s majority justices showed courage and resolve in standing by the leaked draft opinion. The radical left-wing mob did not and will not win. We will protect innocent life.”
New Orleans District Attorney Jason Williams: “The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade demonstrates complete disregard for the long-established constitutional tenets of our democracy, and is a cruel and irresponsible stripping of a woman’s agency. It is disappointing but unsurprising that many of our leaders are focused not on trying to lift our existing children out of the poverty and trauma that are the root causes of crime, but on creating more desperate situations for women and families.
The Orleans Parish District Attorney's Office is focused on pursuing accountability and justice for the most serious crimes committed in our community – the ones that keep mothers, fathers, and families up at night – like murders, shootings, rapes, armed robberies, and carjackings. It would not be wise or prudent to shift our priority from tackling senseless violence happening in our city to investigating the choices women make with regard to their own bodies. The Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe does not change that.”
RELATED: Who voted against Roe v. Wade?
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