by Connie Larkman | published on May 3, 2022
The U.S. Supreme Court is poised to overturn women’s constitutional right to abortion, according to a leaked document published by Politico. The initial draft opinion, written by Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr., would strike down the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision.
“The inescapable conclusion is that a right to abortion is not deeply rooted in the Nation’s history and traditions,” Alito writes in the document.
Politico reports that four other Republican-appointed justices — Clarence Thomas, Neil M. Gorsuch, Brett M. Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett — voted with Alito in a conference held among justices after oral arguments in December 2021.
The leak of a document of this nature is unprecedented. The decision, not yet final, would end 50 years of abortion rights in the United States. The official ruling is not expected until late June or early July.
While there has been no confirmation on the authenticity of the draft — the Supreme Court has no comment — reaction from a United Church of Christ leader came swiftly in this short message to the wider church:
Dear Siblings,
In this moment when abortion rights are under assault, please know this: the United Church of Christ faithfully supported access to safe abortion before Roe v. Wade and we will faithfully support it now. This is not a draft for us. This is discipleship.
The Rev. Traci D. Blackmon
Associate General Minister
Justice and Local Church Ministries