[1]
Last week marked the third anniversary of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization [2], the historic Supreme Court decision that overturned Roe v. Wade and returned the question of abortion to the people and their elected representatives. While that decision opened up the possibility for significant pro-life advances at the state level, there is still much work to be done at the federal level.
In fact, Congress is on the precipice of advancing a reconciliation bill to the president’s desk that, Lord willing, includes a provision to strip taxpayer funding from abortion providers. This is more than just a policy milestone. Though support for abortion remains widespread, this achievement represents the fruit of much labor and a growing cultural shift [3] – a national movement, particularly among younger generations, toward a culture that values and protects life.
The phrase “promote a culture of life” can feel abstract – something aspirational, even rhetorical. But the truth is, culture is constantly being shaped by what we affirm, what we fund and what we protect. When we prioritize and uphold policies that honor the God-given dignity of every human life, we are not simply reflecting cultural values – we are forming them. Just as people do not drift toward holiness, a nation does not drift toward virtue. It must be led there, intentionally and consistently, through the choices its leaders make. Only the Spirit of God can change hearts, but each of us plays a part in changing culture.
Lawmakers are necessary partners in our efforts to promote a culture of life. And Congress directs much of pro-life policy through its appropriations (annual federal spending legislation) work. That’s why the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) consistently advocates for legislation that redirects taxpayer dollars away from the abortion industry and toward genuine care for mothers, children and families. These are not just budget decisions – they are biblical convictions about who we are and what we value. The old adage is true: Show me your checkbook, and I’ll know what you really value.
Southern Baptists have long helped lead the way with courage and conviction in pro-life efforts. Since 1980, we have formally opposed [4] taxpayer-funded abortion. In 1993, we affirmed [5] the Hyde Amendment as a moral boundary that protects consciences and saves lives. In 2008, we called [6] for the defunding of Planned Parenthood. And just days before the Dobbs ruling, at our 2022 annual meeting, Southern Baptists overwhelmingly adopted a resolution [7] calling for the overturn of Roe and for lawmakers to enact policies that care for both vulnerable mothers and their preborn children.
[8]Today’s generation is not retreating from the pro-life cause – it’s advancing it. [9] Young people are embracing the reality that every human life has value and dignity. They are rejecting the dehumanizing arguments in support of abortion. They are organizing in their communities and on campuses. This shift is not accidental – it is the result of faithful work and persistent prayer by advocates, pastors, pregnancy resource center employees and volunteers and policymakers over decades.
Still, our work is far from over. The post-Dobbs terrain remains contested and uneven. Many states have strengthened protections for life, while others have moved aggressively in the opposite direction by enshrining abortion “rights” into their state constitutions, creating funding carve-outs for abortion tourism and skirting around interstate commerce requirements [10] to ensure access to chemical abortion pills. The abortion industry continues to receive various means of federal support, and cultural forces still promote abortion as a solution to complex challenges. But we are not deterred.
Each policy victory for life – such as a potential defunding provision for abortion providers in Congress’ reconciliation package – is more than a political win. It is a moral statement. It helps draw the boundaries of what is acceptable in America. It helps make a culture of life more real, more visible and more lasting. And it is consistent with this nation’s earliest and highest principles. We are each endowed by God with certain unalienable rights, including the right to life. Moreover, our 14th Amendment ensures those rights are equally protected for all, which includes the preborn, at all levels of government – a commitment significantly advanced under President Trump’s leadership.
Together, Southern Baptists and other pro-life Americans are helping build a future where abortion is no more. To reach it, Southern Baptists must remain faithful and attentive to the public square, tirelessly advocating for a culture that reflects that every life is sacred. A culture where every child – no matter the circumstances of conception – is welcomed. A culture where every mother is supported. A culture where every life is protected. This is not just a legal battle, but an ideological one that aims to form the hearts and minds of the American people. It will take no less to establish a true culture of life within a more perfect union.
Related posts:
‘Unapologetically pro-life’: Southern Baptists’ rocky road to Roe’s reversal 
ERLC president search team continues work 
EXPLAINER: How do Americans view the issue of abortion, really? 
Life after Roe: responding to a historic Supreme Court decision 
The history of the March for Life 
Nigeria should be on CPC list, ERLC and others say 
FIRST-PERSON: On abortion, illegal is huge; unnecessary, unthinkable are bigger win 
FIRST-PERSON: What the Dobbs case means for pro-life Christians