A pro-life advocate is seen near the U.S. Supreme Court Dec. 1, 2021, the day justices heard oral arguments in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization about a Mississippi law banning most abortions after 15 weeks.

A pro-life advocate is seen near the U.S. Supreme Court Dec. 1, 2021, the day justices heard oral arguments in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization about a Mississippi law banning most abortions after 15 weeks. CNS photo/Tyler Orsburn

Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life said pro-life advocates in the state “will keep working — harder than ever — to protect unborn children and support their mothers” in light of the draft U.S. Supreme Court opinion in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health case that was leaked and published in Politico May 2.

The leaked document “is only a draft and not an actual ruling of the Supreme Court. Nevertheless, we are very hopeful that, when the Court does hand down its official decision, it will overturn Roe v. Wade and allow states the freedom to protect the human rights of unborn children,” the pro-life advocacy organization said in a May 3 statement.

“Overturning Roe would be a huge step in the right direction — one that so many of us have dedicated so much time and effort to achieving,” MCCL said. “But make no mistake: There are many more steps to take. In Minnesota, a 1995 state court ruling called Doe v. Gomez would continue to require abortion-on-demand even if Roe v. Wade is overturned.”

The leaked majority opinion draft indicated the court is poised to uphold Dobbs and overturn Roe v. Wade, the 1973 decision that legalized abortion across the U.S. In December, the justices heard arguments in the Dobbs v. Jackson case, which considers the constitutionality of a Mississippi law that bans most abortions after the first 15 weeks of pregnancy. The court’s decision is expected in June at the end of its current term.

Several Minnesota officials met the leaked decision with statements pledging to protect abortion access in the state. Gov. Tim Walz (DFL), announced May 4 he had joined 16 other governors in calling for Congress to pass legislation that would codify in law “the right to an abortion.” In a May 2 posting to Twitter reacting to the news of the leak, he wrote, “Not on my watch.”

Minnesota’s U.S. senators, both Democrats, expressed similar sentiment. In a May 2 statement, Sen. Tina Smith reflected on her work at Planned Parenthood, saying, “I saw firsthand how women had the capacity to make the right decisions for themselves. How dare Justice Alito and other Supreme Court justices think they know better.” Sen. Amy Klobuchar told “CBS Mornings” that “If this court is going to turn back the clock and take away all the rights that have been considered in well thought out cases, we have basically a revolution going on when it comes to women’s rights and people are going to have to go to the ballot box and make that decision.”

Members of Minnesota’s Congressional delegation also responded to the leak, with positive and negative reactions falling along party lines. Rep. Michelle Fischbach, a Republican who represents the Minnesota’s Seventh Congressional District in western Minnesota, welcomed the prospect of Roe being overturned, but called the leak “a seismic and foundational compromise of the independence of the Supreme Court.”

“I have faith that our Supreme Court Justices will not bow to intimidation tactics and will adhere to the oath they took upon being sworn in, to ‘faithfully and impartially discharge and perform the duties’ incumbent upon them under the Constitution. I support Chief Justice Roberts’ call to investigate this leak, and hope for a swift resolution.”

Rep. Betty McCollum, a Democrat who represents Minnesota’s Fourth District, which includes most of Ramsey and part of Washington counties, said in a May 3 statement that overturning Roe would be “an assault on all women” and called for the passing of the “Women’s Health Protection Act.”

“States are now on the forefront of this battle,” she wrote. “Because of GOP-led legislatures and governors, nearly half of our states have trigger laws in place that will make abortion illegal immediately following this decision. In Minnesota, Gov. Walz and Lt. Gov. Flanagan are committed to protecting women’s reproductive rights. With the governor’s race and state legislature on the ballot in November, protecting women and our reproductive freedom is squarely in the hands of Minnesotans.”

Rep. Angie Craig, a Democrat representing Minnesota’s Second District, including the southern Twin Cities, posted to Twitter May 3, “I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: the government does not belong in health care decisions between a woman, her family and her doctor. We must codify Roe v. Wade into law.” Rep. Ilhan Omar, a Democrat who represents Minnesota’s Fifth District, including eastern Hennepin and parts of Anoka and Ramsey counties, posted on Twitter May 4: “Expand the court. Abolish the filibuster. Pass the Women’s Health Protection Act to codify Roe v. Wade into law.”

Rep. Tom Emmer, a Republican who represents Minnesota’s Sixth Congressional District, which includes cities in the west, north and east metro area, did not make a public statement about the leaked draft of the Dobbs decision.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church calls abortion “gravely contrary to the moral law” and that “[s]ince it must be treated from conception as a person, the embryo must be defended in its integrity, cared for, and healed, as far as possible, like any other human being.”