WASHINGTON—Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts released the following statement Tuesday in response to the leaked draft opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson, which indicates the U.S. Supreme Court is poised to overturn Roe v. Wade:
“Life is the single most precious gift given to us by our Creator, and every institution of government has a sacred duty to protect it. If this majority holds—and it must—the Supreme Court will have reversed decades of willful dereliction of that duty, and saved millions of innocent lives in the process.
“Our Constitution celebrates life. It protects life. And it provides a way for every citizen of this country, born and unborn, to experience the blessings of life. I pray this decision, when it ultimately comes, is the first step in reinvigorating a culture of life in our nation.
“Now is the time for state legislators to protect life, not wait for Congress to act. State capitals will be the center of activity in the months to come as pro-life leaders pursue legislative options for saving the lives of the unborn. To be clear, Congress should act now to save as many lives as possible. Life begins at conception and our laws should reflect this reality.
“As we work to protect life, we must also embrace the mothers and fathers who find themselves considering abortions and are struggling with what to do. Revitalizing the culture of life means we all have a duty not just to protect the unborn, but to strengthen families, provide help to those in need, and show grace to all.
“I am saddened that so many on the left do not share this view of our humanity, and instead are resorting to tactics of intimidation, coercion, and destruction. Of late, the left’s knee-jerk reaction when faced with outcomes they do not like has been to attack our institutions and demand the rules be changed in their favor—particularly when it comes to the courts. Their response should serve as a reminder that pro-abortion extremists and the radical left will stop at nothing to advance their political agenda—even if it means breaking the law, exerting political pressure on the judicial system, and even putting the Supreme Court justices’ lives at risk.
“This leak is absolutely disgraceful, and is a clear attempt to further undermine the integrity of the Supreme Court and pave the way for the left to eliminate the filibuster, pack the courts, and preserve abortion-on-demand as the law of the land. The Supreme Court should finalize its decision immediately and issue its ruling. The sooner it does, the more lives will be saved. The American people can count on The Heritage Foundation to fight tirelessly until we become a fully pro-life nation.”
