Effort to end death penalty in Louisiana has full Catholic support

 

Vatican, other faith leaders join in push for end of death penalty in Louisiana

(RNS) — The Vatican has joined U.S. faith leaders and anti-death penalty activists in supporting the Louisiana governor’s desire to clear the death row cells in his state.

Gov. John Bel Edwards, a Catholic Democrat, called in August for the Louisiana Board of Pardons to reconsider applications for clemency of 56 prisoners on the state’s death row. While the state has only executed one person in two decades, Louisiana, along with 26 other states in the U.S., still permits the death penalty.

Twenty applications have been scheduled for clemency hearings in the next two months by the Louisiana Board of Pardons. Only one person on death row is not among the state’s clemency requests, NPR reported. 

“Much like you, the Catholic Church believes that our society can only benefit from the rehabilitation of individuals who have been convicted of crimes,” wrote Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, president of the Vatican’s Pontifical Academy for Life, in a Tuesday (Sept. 26) letter. “We respectfully urge you to exercise all powers vested in your office to encourage the Board of Pardons to docket the 36 remaining applicants.”

Paglia added: “We think that the clearing of Louisiana’s death row would be a monumental step towards the abolition of the death penalty, that would deserve to be also an example to other states.”

The day before the Vatican letter, a coalition of death penalty opponents, including Faith Leaders of Color Coalition, the American Civil Liberties Union and Amnesty International USA, made a similar plea to the governor, describing racial inequities in the use of the death penalty in the state.

“In Louisiana, Black people make up only one-third of the State’s population, yet account for over 67 percent of capital cases in the state,” they wrote in a letter to Edwards and the pardon board. “Clemency today remains the most powerful tool available to correct past injustices and ensure no one tomorrow is executed based on a system, built in a bygone era, which we now recognize to be broken, racist, and faulty.”

In his last state of the state address to Louisiana’s Legislature in April, Edwards, whose term ends in January, called for the first time on its members to eliminate the state’s death penalty.

“We all know our criminal justice system is far from perfect — but the death penalty is final,” he said. “We know in 2023 the death penalty isn’t necessary for public safety; and perhaps most importantly, it is wholly inconsistent with Louisiana’s pro-life values as it quite literally by definition promotes a culture of death.”

He expressed support for legislation introduced by Democratic state Rep. Kyle Green that later was defeated.

“We had many people testify in the Louisiana House of Representatives in favor of a change in state law, but that bill never got out of committee,” New Orleans Catholic Archbishop Gregory Aymond told his archdiocesan newspaper in a recent interview. “We will continue to advocate for the end to capital punishment in the state.”

Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry, recalling the murder victims of some on death row, filed a Sept. 20 suit against the Board of Pardons for what his office described as a “short-circuiting” of procedures.

“The Board of Pardons should not sacrifice the rule of law, the rights of victims, and the public’s participation simply to achieve the Governor’s political objective,” Landry said in a statement. “The laws on our books must be enforced and proper procedure must be followed.”

But some statewide and national groups, including the Catholic Mobilizing Network, have long advocated for the death penalty’s end.

Krisanne Vaillancourt Murphy, executive director of the Catholic Mobilizing Network, joined the Vatican agency in supporting the governor’s efforts against capital punishment.

“The last lethal injection in Louisiana took place in 2010,” she said. “It is long past time for Louisiana to take capital punishment off its books.”

Louisiana's Pro-Life Democratic Governor wants to end the death penalty

 

Catholic Governor Calls

On Louisiana Lawmakers

To Abolish The Death Penalty

As ‘A Pro-Life State’

(OSV News) — Gov. John Bel Edwards, D-La., called for an end to the death penalty in Louisiana during his final State of the State address, April 10, in an impassioned call for lawmakers to adopt legislative proposals reflecting its identity as a “pro-life state.”

“For the first time, I’m calling on the legislature to end the death penalty,” said Edwards, who is term-limited and cannot seek re-election to a third consecutive term in the governor’s mansion.

Edwards, a pro-life Catholic Democrat who signed into law the state’s six-week abortion ban and other strong protections for unborn children, told lawmakers that while he was “on the topic of being a pro-life state,” he wanted them to “look at the death penalty in Louisiana in 2023 with fresh eyes and an open mind.”

“In short: it is difficult to administer — one execution in 20 years. It is extremely expensive — tens of millions more spent prosecuting and defending capital cases, and tens of millions more spent maintaining death row over those same 20 years,” he said. “Our criminal justice system is far from perfect. Over the same 20 years there have been six exonerations from death row and more than 50 reversals of sentences and/or convictions.”

“It doesn’t deter crime,” he said. “It isn’t necessary for public safety; and more importantly, it is wholly inconsistent with Louisiana’s pro-life values as it quite literally promotes a culture of death.”

At the start of a new legislative session, the governor also tasked lawmakers with being “good and faithful servants this session,” and argued that being a pro-life state also includes passing paid family leave.

“One thing we can all agree on is that Louisiana is a pro-life state,” he said. “That’s something I’m proud of, and I know many of you are proud of it as well. But we have to ask ourselves what does that mean? Do the policies we’ve enacted support the position we’ve taken? Do we truly support families? What does it mean if we let mothers and fathers work full time without being able to afford to feed and house their children?”

Louisiana is one of 27 U.S. states where the death penalty still exists at the state level, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Southern Louisiana also contains the largest Catholic population in the South, according to Louisiana State University’s sociology department.

“We applaud Gov. Edwards for calling upon Louisiana’s Legislature to stop perpetuating a culture of death and finally abolish the death penalty,” Krisanne Vaillancourt Murphy, executive director of the Catholic Mobilizing Network, a group that opposes capital punishment, told OSV News.

“His public appeal is an important reminder that governors have an influential role to play in stopping executions and urging death penalty repeals in their states,” Vaillancourt Murphy said.

Vaillancourt Murphy noted that Louisiana’s use of the practice of capital punishment has “tapered off in the past decade.”

“The last lethal injection in Louisiana took place in 2010,” she said. “It is long past time for Louisiana to take capital punishment off its books.”

Virginia became the first Southern state to abolish capital punishment in 2021, Vaillancourt Murphy noted.

“Louisiana could be the second to do so, sending an important signal to other Southern states that the death penalty is an archaic and inherently flawed relic,” she said.

“There is a growing awareness in the South that capital punishment is not consistent with pro-life values; it does not deliver justice and healing,” Vaillancourt Murphy said. “As Catholics, we uphold that every person is endowed with a God-given dignity, regardless of the harm one has suffered or caused. The repeal of Louisiana’s death penalty would be an important step toward protecting that sacred dignity of life.”

OSV News has reached out to the Louisiana Catholic Conference for comment.

Louisiana’s next gubernatorial election is scheduled for Oct. 14, 2023. Unlike Edwards, Shawn Wilson, the Democratic candidate, has shied away from running on a pro-life platform. He faces an increasingly crowded Republican field. The Cook Political Report, a non-partisan group that analyzes state, federal and presidential elections, has as of March ranked that race as “Lean Republican.”

Kate Scanlon is a national reporter for OSV News covering Washington. Follow her on Twitter @kgscanlon.

A call to prayer and fasting

 The state of Louisiana is going through a very difficult Covid-19 outbreak.  The cause of course is the Delta variant and the fact that Louisiana is lagging way back in percent of population vaccinated.  The governor of Louisiana, John Bel Edwards, a Catholic, has called on all Louisianans to set aside Monday-Tuesday and Wednesday of this week a day of prayer and fasting.  Here, in the Archdiocese of New Orleans, our own Archbishop, Gregory Aymond, has asked all Catholics to participate in this request of the governor.  The recommended fasting is to simply give up lunch for these three days while praying for a resolution to the current outbreak.

So if you read this and want to participate simply join us as we pray and fast to an end to this current Coronavirus outbreak.

National Catholic publication focuses on Louisiana Governor calling a fast

Governor Bel Edwards of Louisiana. (Wikimedia Commons.)

Nation |  Jul. 17, 2020

Louisiana Catholic Governor Edwards Calls for Prayer and Fasting Amid Coronavirus

The governor said he will be fasting from lunch Monday through Wednesday of next week, and “praying for the people of Louisiana,” especially the sick, their caretakers, and the families of those who have died from COVID-19.

Catholic News Agency

NEW ORLEANS, La. — Louisiana's governor will be skipping lunch next week, and is encouraging Louisianans of all faiths to do the same.
The governor has called for three days of prayer and fasting for people affected by coronavirus. New Orleans' archbishop says he hopes Catholics of the state will join in.
During a press conference on Thursday to discuss the state’s response to COVID-10, Gov. John Bel Edwards, D, acknowledged that his latest attempt to stop the spread of coronavirus is “a little bit unusual,” but said he believes it will bear fruit for the state.
“I’m going to call for three days of fasting and prayer for our state, for July 20 through the 22nd,” said Edwards, explaining that he received a request for the spiritual practice during a call with religious leaders from across the state.
Prayer and fasting are “a spiritual diet and exercise that I as a Catholic Christian believe is very important, anyway,” said Edwards.
The governor said he will be fasting from lunch Monday through Wednesday of next week, and “praying for the people of Louisiana,” especially the sick, their caretakers, and the families of those who have died from COVID-19.
“So if you’re inclined, please join me and the First Lady and faith leaders of Louisiana, regardless of your denomination or your religion, and we would ask that you join us in prayerful reflection and fasting,” he said.
The governor previously called for a statewide day of prayer and fasting for those affected by coronavirus March 24.

Archbishop Gregory Aymond of New Orleans, who was diagnosed with COVID-19 in March and recovered from the disease in April, posted on Facebook that he also encouraged people to fast next week.

“I encourage people of all faiths to pray for those who have died from the Coronavirus, for the healing of those who are sick at the present time, for caregivers and healthcare workers on the front lines, and for our protection throughout the world and particularly in our own state that the virus may come under control,” wrote Archbishop Aymond.

The New Orleans archbishop further reminded people that they must follow instructions related to masking and social distancing.

“We know that God hears our prayers, and we must cooperate with him in doing our part to make certain that we do not spread the virus by adhering to the governor’s call for masks and social distancing. With the governor, I also invite all people of faith and goodwill to fast on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday,” he wrote.

Fasting from a meal, explained Aymond, is a form of prayer. By fasting, Archbishop Aymond said that “we by our actions say ‘God I hunger more for your protection and our safety than I do for food. Come to our help!’”

Following his recovery from COVID-19, Aymond flew over the city of New Orleans in a World War II-era plane and blessed the city with holy water on Good Friday.

Louisiana's Governor calls a fast; the Archbishop heartily approves

From Archbishop Aymond, Archdiocese of New Orleans




I applaud Governor Edwards for inviting us to prayer and fasting Monday through Wednesday of this coming week, July 20-22. I encourage people of all faiths to pray for those who have died from the Coronavirus, for the healing of those who are sick at the present time, for caregivers and healthcare workers on the front lines, and for our protection throughout the world and particularly in our own state that the virus may come under control. We know that God hears our prayers, and we must cooperate with him in doing our part to make certain that we do not spread the virus by adhering to the governor’s call for masks and social distancing. With the governor, I also invite all people of faith and goodwill to fast on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. By abstaining from a meal it becomes a prayer as we by our actions say “God I hunger more for your protection and our safety than I do for food. Come to our help!”

Louisiana Catholic Governor invites citizens to pray and fast today

Louisiana governor announces day of prayer and fasting

Catholic News Agency

Mar 24, 2020 • 2 Min Read

Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards. (JohnBelforLouisiana/YouTube via CNA)

The Catholic governor of Louisiana has asked fellow citizens to pray and fast on March 24 for those affected by the coronavirus. Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) announced on Monday evening that he and the state’s First Lady will fast on Tuesday, in the middle of both the season of Lent and a global pandemic.

“In this Lenten season where we focus on fasting and prayer, I wanted to let the people of Louisiana know that I will be fasting tomorrow, Tuesday, March 24,” Edwards tweeted.

The governor asked others to pray and fast with him “for comfort to those that have lost a loved one to COVID-19, the complete recovery of those that have tested positive, and that God will, as He has done before, heal His people and our land.”

Edwards, a Catholic, was re-elected in November to his second term as Louisiana’s governor. In 2019, he signed a ban on abortions once a baby’s heartbeat can be detected in utero, usually around six to eight weeks.

The spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted in more than 46,000 confirmed cases in the U.S.

Louisiana has the third-highest rate of confirmed COVID-19 cases per capita of any state in the U.S., Edwards said on CNN on Monday evening. There are 1,172 reported cases and 34 deaths from the new coronavirus in the state, and New Orleans Archbishop Gregory Aymond tested positive for the new coronavirus on Monday.

Edwards issued a stay-at-home order to all Louisiana residents, effective at 5 p.m. CT on Monday, limiting the movement of residents outside their homes to activities such as grocery store and pharmacy shopping, medical visits, recreational walks outside, and urgent visits to friends and family.

On Monday evening, he asked others to join him in prayer and fasting on Tuesday.

“[The First Lady] and I believe in the power of prayer and know, based on our Catholic Christian faith, that prayer coupled with fasting is pleasing to God. #lagov #lalege,” Edwards tweeted.

In defiance of CDC guidelines for limited gatherings to slow the spread of the virus, pastor Tony Spell of Life Tabernacle Church in Central, Louisiana held a service on Sunday with more than 1800 people in attendance, according to local news outlet WNEM.

On CNN on Monday, Edwards responded to the gathering that “I’m a person of faith. I absolutely believe in the power of prayer, but I also believe in science.” His stay-at-home order prohibits gatherings of more than 10 people in one place at one time.

“In this case, I choose to do what science tells me while I pray for the best possible outcome,” he said.

Archdiocese of New Orleans cancels all public masses and more

In a letter addressed to the clergy, religious, and laity today, Archbishop Gregory Aymond announced the cancellation of all public Masses, the upcoming Evenings of Confession, Stations of the Cross, and other gatherings at churches effective immediately. 

This is to encourage the faithful to comply with the instructions of President Trump and Governor Edwards. Both reduced the recommended number of people to gather in light of the spread of COVID-19. 


https://clarionherald.org/…/archbishop-aymond-cancels-publi…
.

Statement of Archbishop Aymond concerning Presidential Executive Order 13888

Archbishop Gregory Aymond



THANKS TO GOVERNOR EDWARDS

My heartfelt thanks to Governor Edwards for submitting a letter of consent to Secretary Pompeo regarding President Trump’s Executive Order 13888. Governor Edwards’ consent marks the first step in continuing to allow Catholic Charities agencies within our great state to resettle refugees. 

The timeliness of this letter should not be lost. Symbolically, it says “There is room in the inn” for those who seek refuge from war, persecution or natural disaster within their country of origin. 

This is what Jesus would do and we want to be like him. Thank you Governor Edwards for helping us live the values of Jesus.

He did what he said; Democratic Governor of Louisiana signs Pro-Life bill

Louisiana Governor signs the Pro-Life Bill

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards, a Democrat, has signed one of the nation’s most restrictive abortion bills into law, a measure that would ban abortions at about six weeks of pregnancy with no exceptions for victims of rape and incest if upheld by the courts.

Edwards, who ran on a “pro-life” platform in 2015, is the only incumbent Democratic governor in the Deep South, and is running for re-election this year. The move has put him at odds with the national party and drawn criticism from Democrats including Bernie Sanders and Kamala Harris. The move has brought national attention to Louisiana and has sparked disagreements within the state Democratic party, whose members are also frequently at odds with national Democrats. The GOP-led Legislature easily passed the measure and shot down several attempts to exclude victims of rape and incest. Several Democratic lawmakers joined Republicans in voting for the bill. 

Louisiana now joins several states across the South and Midwest that have passed abortion bans that supporters have dubbed “fetal heartbeat” bills. The ban in Louisiana will not go into effect immediately. Lawmakers tied it to a similar Mississippi law, which would trigger Louisiana’s only if it upheld in a federal appeals court.


"I know there are many who feel just as strongly as I do on abortion and disagree with me – and I respect their opinions," Edwards said in a statement. "As I prepare to sign this bill, I call on the overwhelming bipartisan majority of legislators who voted for it to join me in continuing to build a better Louisiana that cares for the least among us and provides more opportunity for everyone.”Conservative states including Louisiana have taken aim at the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark abortion rights decision Roe v. Wade by passing some of the most restrictive abortion laws seen in years. Alabama recently passed a law that would ban nearly all abortions. Mississippi, Ohio and Georgia are among the states that have passed "fetal heartbeat" bans. 




Louisiana already has a host of abortion restrictions on the books, including a trigger law that would ban abortions outright if Roe v. Wade was overturned. Another law that would require abortion providers to have admitting privileges at local hospitals is currently pending before the U.S. Supreme Court. A bill brought by State Sen. John Milkovich, the Shreveport Democrat who introduced the new six-week abortion ban, was signed by Edwards last year and would ban abortions at about 15 weeks if a similar Mississippi law is upheld in court.




Planned Parenthood supporters descended upon the State Capitol Thursday, a day after the state House voted 79-23 to send the bill to Edwards’ desk. Lawmakers held a long and fiery debate about whether to include exceptions for victims of rape and incest, and eventually voted 35-67 against an amendment that would have excluded them from the ban. Abortion rights advocates have called the lack of such an exception cruel. 





New Orleans Sen. Karen Carter Peterson, the head of the state’s Democratic party, called the measure “egregious and offensive” and has encouraged opponents to call the governor’s office to urge him not to sign the bill.

Breaking now: Louisiana passes law to save babies; Governor Edwards will sign

This just happened; Louisiana passes a very Pro-Life fetal heartbeat bill, it will be signed by Democratic Governor John Bell Edwards.

The fight is far from over but this is a huge principled win!!!

Here is story from a local TV station here in the New Orleans market:

https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/politics/legislature/article_203ff9f8-80ba-11e9-b1d1-af1136fb73ae.html

He is a Democrat, a Governor and very much Pro-Life

1 of 2

FILE - In this Thursday, Sept. 20, 2018 file photo, Gov. John Bel Edwards talks about an expected $300 million-plus surplus Louisiana will have from the last budget year in Baton Rouge, La. Nearly three decades ago, when Democratic Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards’ wife was 20 weeks pregnant with their first child, a doctor discovered their daughter had spina bifida and encouraged an abortion. The Edwardses refused. Edwards, who has repeatedly bucked national party leaders on abortion rights, is about to do it again. He’s ready to sign legislation that would ban the procedure as early as six weeks of pregnancy, before many women know they are pregnant, when the bill reaches his desk. (AP Photo/Melinda Deslatte, File)

Louisiana governor 

breaks with Democratic 

Party on abortion

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Nearly three decades ago, when Democratic Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards’ wife was 20 weeks pregnant with their first child, a doctor discovered their daughter had spina bifida and encouraged an abortion. The Edwardses refused.

Now, daughter Samantha is married and working as a school counselor, and Edwards finds himself an outlier in polarized abortion politics.

“My position hasn’t changed. In eight years in the Legislature, I was a pro-life legislator,” he said. When he ran for governor, his view was the same. “I’m as consistent as I can be on that point.”

Edwards, who has repeatedly bucked national party leaders on abortion rights, is about to do it again. He’s ready to sign legislation that would ban the procedure as early as six weeks of pregnancy, before many women know they are pregnant, when the bill reaches his desk.

Louisiana’s proposal , awaiting one final vote in the state House, would prohibit abortion after a fetal heartbeat is detected, similar to laws passed in Kentucky, Mississippi, Georgia and Ohio that aim to challenge the U.S. Supreme Court’s 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion. Alabama has gone even further, enacting a law that makes performing abortions a felony at any stage of pregnancy with almost no exceptions.

But the abortion bans in those other conservative states — spurred by anti-abortion activists hoping the addition of conservative judges to the Supreme Court could help overturn Roe v. Wade — were backed by Republican governors.

A rarity in his party, Edwards’ anti-abortion stance provokes angry outcries on social media from Democratic voters and disappointment within the party’s broader ranks across the country.

“When Republicans are taking away women’s rights at every step, it’s on the Democrats to show that we are the party that will protect women. When we fail to do that, we make it absolutely hopeless for women around the country,” said Rebecca Katz, a progressive Democratic consultant.

The abortion-rights debates that divide state Capitols across the nation cause few ripples in the Louisiana Legislature. It is one of the country’s most staunchly anti-abortion states, with a law on the books that immediately outlaws abortion if Roe v. Wade is ever overturned. State lawmakers annually enact new regulations seeking to curb access with bipartisan support.

This year’s so-called heartbeat bill, sponsored by Democratic state Sen. John Milkovich, has received little public opposition from lawmakers as it steadily advances. The ban, however, only would take effect if a federal appeals court upholds a similar law in Mississippi.

The Louisiana bill includes an exception if the pregnant woman’s health is in “serious risk,” but not for pregnancies caused by rape or incest.

“It gives a very small window for a woman to be able to access abortion services,” said Elizabeth Nash of the Guttmacher Institute, an abortion rights organization that researches reproductive health issues.

Edwards’ embrace of the anti-abortion legislation is unusual for a present-day Democratic governor, Nash said, although that was not always the case.

“If you think back 20 years, abortion politics were less along party lines,” she said. “There were moderate Republicans who supported abortion rights because they felt there was a right to privacy and places where government should not go.”

Edwards said his views are in line with the people of his conservative, religious state, who he described as “overwhelmingly pro-life.” And he said he extends that philosophy to his decision to expand Louisiana’s Medicaid program under the federal health overhaul law, a decision unpopular with Republicans, “because I think that, too, is pro-life.”

“That’s the way I was raised. That’s what my Catholic Christian faith requires,” the governor said on his monthly radio show. “I know that for many in the national party, on the national scene, that’s not a good fit. But I will tell you, here in Louisiana, I speak and meet with Democrats who are pro-life every single day.”

When he ran for governor in 2015, Edwards made opposition to abortion a central platform of his campaign. In a TV ad, his wife, Donna, described being advised to have an abortion because of their daughter’s spinal birth defect. The ad showed a grown-up Samantha as Donna Edwards said, “She’s living proof that John Bel Edwards lives his values every day.”

Four years later, as Edwards runs for a second term, his two major Republican challengers — U.S. Rep. Ralph Abraham and businessman Eddie Rispone — have tried to hammer him for abortion rights policies endorsed by his party nationally.

But that narrative is tough to make stick against a governor who repeatedly signs abortion restrictions, along with data released in March that showed the number of abortions in Louisiana declined each year of Edwards’ tenure.

“This is not an easy issue to pigeonhole people — or especially me — on, at least, because I don’t think the labels really work,” Edwards said.

____

Associated Press Writer Kevin McGill contributed to this report from New Orleans.

____

Follow Melinda Deslatte on Twitter at http://twitter.com/melindadeslatte .

Dont agree with our Governor much, but JBE signs another major Pro-Life bill into law; thank you Governor

Pro-life Democrat Gov. John Bel Edwards Signs into Law 15-Week Abortion Limit

May 30, 2018

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 30, 2018
Contact: Mallory Quigley, mquigley@sbalist.org, 202-223-8073
Dannenfelser: Louisiana Leading the Way in Bipartisan Effort to Change Status Quo of Abortion On-Demand
Washington, D.C. –  Today Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards, a pro-life Democrat, signed into law a bill limiting abortion after 15 weeks. SB181, which was sponsored by another pro-life Democrat, State Senator John Milkovich, will go into effect if a similar Mississippi law is upheld by the courts. The legislation passed overwhelmingly in both chambers of the legislature: 70-9 in the House, 24-1 in the Senate.
The national pro-life group Susan B. Anthony List (SBA List) offered the following statement:

“We thank all pro-life lawmakers in Louisiana – especially pro-life Democrats like Governor Edwards and State Senator Milkovich for passing this legislation. They followed through on their pro-life principles and united across party lines to protect unborn children,” said SBA List President Marjorie Dannenfelser. “Louisiana is leading the way in the bipartisan effort to bring our nation’s laws into line with basic human decency.
“Like Mississippi, which recently passed similar legislation, Louisiana is one of 20 states to have already passed popular, compassionate legislation to stop cruel late-term abortions after five months. Of all the Democratic state legislators who have had a chance to vote on this common ground legislation, nearly a third have supported it. Such margins are evidence that only in Washington does the abortion lobby have a death grip on the Democratic party.
“Our nation’s permissive regime of abortion on-demand at any point in pregnancy established in Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton has made the United States a global outlier and does not reflect the will of most Americans – especially where late-term abortions are concerned. Absolutely nothing was settled. This unjust status quo is untenable, and it is in states like Louisiana where the greatest progress toward righting it is being made. It is about time the courts caught up.”