On this anniversary of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, we pause first to give thanks for the tens of thousands of lives saved—babies who would not be here but for the Supreme Court’s overturning Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey. We also celebrate the Court’s courage in declaring that our nation’s founding document does not, in fact, preclude the legal protection of the unborn from the violence of abortion.

But we also rededicate ourselves to working together, especially with our friends and neighbors who disagree with us, to build a culture of life and civilization of love in which mothers, babies (born and unborn), fathers, and families are protected and supported before, during, and after the birth of a child.

For our part, we are proud to be part of a university that is institutionally committed to a culture of life and will continue to work to advance this good, especially through our flagship Women and Children First initiative, which includes teaching, research, service, and public witness across a multitude of relevant disciplines, at the very highest level.

O. Carter Snead
Director, de Nicola Center for Ethics and Culture