Will We See the End of Roe v. Wade? (And How Should We Respond?) with Chelsea Sobolik

Chelsea serves as the Director of Public Policy with the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission at their Washington, D.C. office. Prior to her work with the ERLC, Chelsea worked on Capitol Hill on pro-life policies, as well as domestic and international religious freedom, adoption, and foster care issues.
Chelsea is also quite the talented writer and is the author of, *Longing for Motherhood – Holding onto Hope in the Midst of Childlessness,* as well as a forthcoming book on the topic of women and work. Chelsea has also been published at the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, The Gospel Coalition, and Christianity Today.

Show Notes

Can you briefly summarize Roe v. Wade, and the decision that was made in 1973?
How did Roe v. Wade change abortion access?
There is another Supreme Court case centering on abortion that would also be helpful to consider in light of the following discussion. A case many of us are less familiar with. This case is Planned Parenthood vs. Casey. Can you briefly summarize this case?
Can you quickly clarify what “viability” means?
Can you quickly define, “gestational age?”
Can you clarify what “Undue Burden” means?
Finally, can you define Stare Decisis and how this term relates to this case?
Would you mind explaining what Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization is all about? Why is this case significant?
Do you believe we will see Roe v. Wade overturned? And if so, what does this mean?
What would happen at the state level if Roe v. Wade is overturned?
Why would it still be an advance in the right direction if this case is ruled favorably, but there is not an immediate end to abortion in the United States?
If you were to estimate a timeline for the next steps in this case, what would you say we can expect to see in the upcoming months?
Let’s say Roe v. Wade is, in fact, overturned. Why should women like myself, the church, & believers in general, continue advocating for the protection of the unborn, as well as the support of women experiencing unplanned pregnancy?
What are new challenges that might arise in a “Post-Roe era”? How should the church respond to these new challenges?
Why should the church, and pro-life advocates like myself, not lose heart even if this case is not ruled in our favor?
Why should the believer be at the forefront of pro-life advocacy?
What are practical ways that women listening to this podcast episode can get involved in pro-life advocacy?
How would you respond to someone who might suggest that advocacy for the unborn, neglects advocacy on behalf of the female?
What are practical ways that the church can support the woman facing unplanned pregnancy?
Why is it important that female believers develop a “robust pro-life ethic” and how do we do this?
What resources do you recommend for developing a robust pro-life ethic on the topic of abortion?
In an article that you published on your blog in February 2019, you argue that a truly robust pro-life ethic encompases more than just the issue of abortion. What other issues must female believers familiarize ourselves with?
Are there any resources you recommend on each of these important issues?

Notable Quotations

“As Christians, we believe and Scripture tells us that every life begins at conception and every single human being has innate dignity and worth. God cares about life and so should we.”

“The reason this case is so important is because this is a once in a generational opportunity for the court to overturn the disastrous precedents that were set in both Roe and Casey.”

“We are very grateful for every single step and every single action that protects life.”

“As we are working legislatively and legally to see an end to abortion we also need to be working to make abortion unthinkable and unnecessary. To change hearts and minds and to cast a vision for why abortion is not the only option for a woman experiencing unplanned pregnancy.”

“God cares for the life of the unborn and for the protection of the unborn and so should we.”

“For women facing unplanned pregnancies, I think it is so important that the church and Christians be so compassionate. If we really do believe the gospel, and believe the good news of the gospel, that every single sin can be forgiven, then we should be the ones offering hope to women in unplanned pregnancies. Not issuing judgment to those women.”

“Sitting in the pews of every single church in America, statistically, are women who have had abortions.”

“We need to be truthful in how we communicate about abortion. It is ending the life of an innocent, unborn child. But, we need to be gracious too and offer hope and forgiveness to women who have had abortions. And to women considering abortions, we need to make sure that they know that abortion is not their only option.”

“We need to be ready and prepared to be involved in the foster care system. And to be involved in opening up our homes to children in the system.”

“Living in a fallen and broken world, there will always be women in difficult circumstances, and there will always be a need for the church to be there serving her and her unborn child.”

“If Roe isn’t overturned, we will continue doing what we have done and that is asking the court to overturn those precedents.”

“A lot of advocacy is most impactful at a local and state level because you know what your state or county looks like.”

“We can and we must care for and advocate for both the unborn little one and her mother. Both of their lives matter and we don’t need to pit one against the other.”

“We see all throughout Scripture God’s care for people. And so I think it is so important that we have eyes to see not only the dignity and worth of the unborn child, but also of different demographics of people.”

“As we develop what it means that all humans are created with dignity and worth, that changes how we interact with people and how we speak about people. We can debate policy, but we first and foremost as Christians need to have almost like sunglasses that every person we see is first and foremost an image bearer of God. That will change how we interact with them.”

“God gives each of us special burdens, and places special things on our heart.”

“We don’t have to do everything. Not every burden is ours to bear.”

“We are not the saviors, and we are not called to be the savior. Instead, we are called to point people to the Savior.”