When the United States Supreme Court reversed its long commitment to abortion rights in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health, 597 U.S. 215 (2022), was it primarily an act of repentance, or more an assertion that the U.S. Constitution is silent on abortion? The majority opinion shows the latter, but this Court will have a more difficult task following Hodes & Nauser, MDs v. Schmidt, 309 Kan. 610 (2019). The Kansas Constitution explicitly recognizes that “all men are possessed of equal and inalienable natural rights, among which are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” Bill of Rights, section 1. This Court’s failure to acknowledge our constitutional right to “life,” although aided by the State of Kansas’ failure to argue the point, will frankly require repentance. And true repentance is impossible without God’s grace.
Right to Life of Kansas, Inc., therefore conducts its annual Prayer for Life each April 26th. We pray that God will grant grace to this Court, to the other members of state government, and to all state residents sufficient to acknowledge what section 1 of our Bill of Rights says. The promise of Samuel A. Kingman at the Wyandotte Convention, that the text is “broad enough for all to stand upon,” would then again be fulfilled. Kansas Constitutional Convention, 283 (Topeka, reprint 1920).