Former VP Pence prays in Rock Hill church for Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade
Former Vice President Mike Pence stood Thursday in front of the congregation at Rock Hill’s Lakewood Baptist Church and prayed for an end to abortion as it exists in America today.
“Pray for our president and vice president,” he said. “Pray for all the members of Congress ... Let’s pray for the protection and well-being of all the justices on the Supreme Court of the United States. Let’s especially pray the five justices listed in the majority opinion leaked this week will have the courage of their convictions.”
The crowd immediately erupted in claps and cheers loud enough to drown out the rest of Pence’s words.
Pence’s comments came on the National Day of Prayer and days after Politico published a leaked draft of a Supreme Court opinion that would overturn the landmark Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade, which guarantees federal constitutional protections of abortion rights. The three justices appointed while Pence was in office — Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett — voted with Associate Justice Samuel Alito, the author, according to the draft.
“People that know me well know that I’ve long stood for the sanctity of human life,” Pence told reporters after the event.
The case that sparked the potential ruling, Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, involves a Mississippi law that prohibits nearly all abortions after 15 weeks.
After Pence’s stop in Rock Hill, he reiterated his comments on abortion at the annual gala for the Carolina Pregnancy Center in Spartanburg.
In November, Pence’s conservative policy group, Advancing American Freedom, submitted an amicus brief in the case, calling on the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade and a subsequent 1992 decision — Planned Parenthood v. Casey — that maintained abortion rights. The brief states that since the two cases were decided, the court’s “disregard for the value of human life, and its minimization of society’s fundamental interest in protecting unborn children, has in fact substantially harmed people’s ‘views of themselves and their places in society.’”
The brief from Pence’s group says there’s been a decline in the “formation of families with accompanying increases in family instability and single parent households,” an increase in “unintended pregnancies and coerced abortions,” and “women and children’s mental well-being and happiness have suffered.”
“My hope and, frankly, my prayer is that those five justices on the Supreme Court have the courage of their convictions and will give us a fresh start on life in America,” Pence told reporters.
A push for anti-abortion laws
Pence praised states such as South Carolina, which already have pushed to pass anti-abortion legislation.
In 2021, the state legislature passed a ban to stop abortions at six weeks, or when a fetal heartbeat is detected. A court challenge was filed to temporarily block the law from taking effect.
“My hope is that we have a fresh start on life, that the Supreme Court in the United States will in fact overturn Roe v. Wade, and we’ll be working in states around the country to advance the cause of life one state at a time,” Pence said.
If the Supreme Court rules to overturn Roe v. Wade this year, Pence said he’ll push for anti-abortion laws in states and continue advocating for adoption reform.
“I think to be pro-life, you need to be pro-adoption,” he told reporters. “As this is returned to the states, I’ll be championing pro-life laws around America and reflecting the values that I’ve always had.”
Throughout his speech, Pence also emphasized the importance of prayer and faith during the country’s “challenging times.”
“I want to assure you by renewing our commitment to prayer, and our nation’s faith in God, we’re also strengthening our families, our communities, and strengthening our country,” he said.
‘Pray harder’
After Pence spoke, dozens gathered at the front of the church to meet him.
Jennifer Felton, who is a member of the church, waited at the end of the line with six of her seven children. She gently rocked her 6-month-old daughter in her left arm.
“I home-school them, so I thought it would be a great historic thing to take them to,” she said. “They’re hoping to get a picture with him.”
Michelle Goodman, who is also a member of the church, said Pence’s speech inspired her. She started to tear up when talking to The Herald.
“It was very encouraging and it gave me hope for our country,” Goodman said.
Sherry Assaad from Fort Mill said it was important for her to see Pence because she admired how he governed while he was in the White House.
“I really appreciate our vice president being a believer,” Assaad said. “That’s very important, because faith is what rules my life and my decision making.”
After several minutes, Felton and her children were able to make it to the front of the line and get a picture with Pence.
Pence looked down at the six kids.
“Study hard,” he said. “Pray harder.”
This story was originally published May 5, 2022 at 5:30 PM with the headline "Former VP Pence prays in Rock Hill church for Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade."
