Blog   Sanctity of Life

Today marks the one-year anniversary of the Dobbs decision, a historic case that overturned Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, and returned the decision about abortions to elected representatives. The last year has seen a lot of discussion surrounding the topic, some even taking it so far as to vandalize pregnancy resource centers, so let’s take a few moments to look at what the pro-life movement in a post-Dobbs America looks like.

Thousands More Lives Saved

Following the Dobbs decision, many states have started passing pro-life legislation. Guttmacher Institute reports that 13 states have total prohibitions, while others have passed prohibitions after certain gestational ages (like 6 weeks in Georgia, South Carolina, Florida, and Ohio- with some of these currently blocked by court action).

With increased protections for life, it makes sense that abortion numbers would drop. Recent estimates found that there were more than 25,000 fewer legal abortions between July 2022 and March 2023 compared to a pre-Dobbs baseline.

Increased Resources

While we praise the Lord that the number of abortions has lowered, this means that there are now more than 25,000 unplanned babies that need to be cared for. There are approximately 2,700 pregnancy resource centers (PRCs) across the country that offer many wonderful resources that assist women and families, but even as soon as one month post-Dobbs they have found a significant uptick in women seeking their services. Across the nation, many states have added funding to support these organizations and their increased need or are in the process of adding this funding.

The Pro-Life Movement In North Carolina

This spring, the North Carolina General Assembly enacted Session Law 2023-14, which includes several measures that protect the lives of women, babies, and families. This includes measures such as:

• A reduced timeframe for legal abortions from 20 weeks to 12 weeks, with some exceptions;
• Increased health and safety requirements for abortion facilities; and
• Additional funding for programs that support women and families experiencing a crisis or unplanned pregnancy.

Across the state, there are more than 80 PRCs spread out over 57 of the 100 counties. You can learn more about some of these organizations and the resources they offer here. In addition to this, there are several maternity homes across the state that help house and support women facing an unplanned pregnancy, such as Miravia in Charlotte.

How You Can Make a Difference

The Dobbs decision and the resulting pro-life legislation is a wonderful step in the right direction, but the work is not done. There are still thousands of women in North Carolina who are experiencing a crisis or unplanned pregnancy, and we want these women and their families to thrive. Here are a few steps you can take:

• Donate | All of the valuable resources that PRCs and maternity homes offer can be quite expensive, so whether you donate financially or pass along clothes your baby has outgrown, such resources are a critical part of these ministries.
• Volunteer | Whether joining a prayer walk, serving as a life coach, or volunteering at a PRC, building these relationships and loving the people involved will make a difference in your life as well.
• Educate Yourself | NC Family has a variety of pro-life resources you can take advantage of. Here are some of the highlights:
  • Check out our recent magazine article highlighting PRCs across the state
  • Learn more about the recent pro-life law
  • Listen to an OB/GYN debunk common abortion myths

Over the next few weeks, NC Family’s weekly podcast, Family Policy Matters, will be featuring a variety of content about the pro-life movement in North Carolina, so keep your eyes open for that!