The pro-life movement is at a watershed moment in America. The U.S. Supreme Court appears poised to cut back on or overturn Roe v. Wade with its ruling in the Dobbs case. Whether the Court overrules Roe completely or even chips away further at Roe, the decision is expected to shift this battle to the states. Each state will decide whether it will protect the dignity of life to the extent that it is permitted to do so or, on the other hand, maintain or even expand abortion. Activist judges in at least 12 states have already preempted future legislative efforts by declaring a right to abortion under their states’ constitutions and striking down certain state restrictions on abortion and abortion funding. In those states whose courts have already invented a right to abortion which does not rely on Roe and which is independent of the federal constitution, the outcome in Dobbs will have little impact.

In Pennsylvania, the abortion industry has not been successful getting its wishlist of taxpayer-funded elective abortions and no-limit abortions through the legislature. As such, it has turned to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in a case called Allegheny Reproductive Health Center v. Pennsylvania Department of Human Services in hopes of inventing a right to abortion and forcing taxpayers to pay for abortions. Therefore, as we await the Dobbs decision from the U.S. Supreme Court, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court may be poised to create a right to abortion through its anticipated ruling in Allegheny Reproductive Health Center. If the PA Supreme Court agrees with the abortion industry, it will strike down Pennsylvania’s current law that prevents funding elective abortions with taxpayer money. Furthermore, if the Court finds an abortion right in the Pennsylvania Constitution, other abortion restrictions are in jeopardy, including the prohibition of abortion after 24 weeks, the 24-hour waiting period, informed consent provisions, safety regulations that protect women and other protections for the unborn.