Justice John Roberts Casts Deciding Vote for Abortion
Interview via phone, Skype or Zoom from Colorado Springs/ MT
Intro: The United States Supreme Court just struck down a law requiring anyone performing abortions in Louisiana to have hospital admitting privileges in within 30 miles of their abortion clinic. Chief Justice John Roberts cast the swing vote, favoring abortion clinics. Had the vote gone the other way, it is believed by some legal scholars that there would have only been one remaining abortion clinic in Louisiana.
Joining us in this to discuss this pro-life defeat is Chaplain Gordon Klingenschmitt, who clearly hoped for a 5-4 decision favoring life.
Q&A:
Q1: Today the Supreme court ruled 5-4 that Louisiana cannot mandate that persons performing abortions must have hospital admitting privileges. What does Chief Justice’s vote favoring abortion tell us about future rulings of concern to the evangelical community?
A1: It doesn’t bode well and it is a deep disappointment.
Q2: You felt that abortion providers did not have legal standing to bring this lawsuit, yet the high court seemed to differ with you. Please explain what happened.
A2: In this Louisiana case, the abortion providers claimed to be representing women who want to have abortions. The State of Louisiana argued that the abortion providers cannot do that because they have a conflict of interest. Women want the safest possible abortion, but the abortion providers are trying to overturn a regulation that would make abortion safer. So, Louisiana argued that the abortion providers have no legal right to bring this lawsuit. Unfortunately, Justice Roberts disagreed.
Q3: What are the factual differences between the similar 2016 Texas case and this one?
A3: There are several. But the most important difference is that the law in Texas would have resulted in many abortion clinics closing, which would have created a substantial obstacle to having an abortion in Texas. In this case, the Fifth Circuit found that few, if any, clinics would have to close as a result of the law.
Q4: How has the Supreme Court makeup changed and why does that matter?
A4: The Texas case was a 5-3 decision. Justice Scalia had passed away and had not yet been replaced. Justice Gorsuch later replaced Justice Scalia and Justice Cavanaugh replaced Justice Kennedy. Justice Kennedy had been one of the five in the majority in the Texas case. So, we now have five U.S. Supreme Court justices who may look favorably on future pro-life cases even though Justice Roberts didn’t rule correctly in this Louisiana case.
Q5: In your opinion, what are the prospects for Roe v. Wade being overturned, either now or in the foreseeable future?
A5: I am optimistic that Roe v. Wade will be overturned in the foreseeable future, especially if President Trump has the opportunity to replace one or more of the liberal justices with one or more constitutional conservatives.
Q6: If Roe v. Wade were overturned that, does that in and of itself make abortions illegal?
A6: No. It would leave it up to the legislature of each state to determine whether abortion would be allowed in the state, and if a state decided to allow abortions, it could place restrictions, such as limiting abortion to cases where it was necessary to save the life of the mother, for example.
Q7. Where may we get more information on you and another moral dilemma, wherein you were asked to leave the Navy for refusing to stop praying in Jesus’ Name?
A7: At www.PrayInJesusName.org
About Chaplain Gordon Klingenschmitt, PhD (aka “Dr. Chaps”)
Chaplain Gordon Klingenschmitt is a former State Representative (R-CO) who earned his PhD in Theology, taught college for 3 years at Colorado Christian University, a 20-year veteran who graduated the Air Force Academy (Political Science). As the former Navy Chaplain who dared to pray “in Jesus Name,” in 2006 he defied a Navy policy requiring non-sectarian prayers, demanded his own misdemeanor court-martial for praying in Jesus’ name in uniform outside the White House, and was later vindicated by Congress. “Dr. Chaps” hosts a daily national TV show PIJN NEWS on 4 networks and 10 online platforms, and is the author of “How To Liberate The World, a Step-by-Step Guide to Take Back Your Country.”
Full bio: http://prayinjesusname.org/about-chaps
CONTACT: Rachel Ford at: rford.specialguests@gmail.com or Jerry McGlothlin at: 919-437-0001
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