Catholic Supreme Court Justices have not ruled monolithically on abortion-related cases.  There are currently five (5) Catholic Justices on the U.S. Supreme Court, but it is far from a given that Roe v. Wade will be overturned on that basis.  Retired Catholic Justice Anthony Kennedy, in fact, acted as the swing vote on at least two major rulings that significantly strengthened the abortion industry.

Current Catholic Justices

Clarence Thomas


John Roberts


Samuel Alito


Brett Kavanaugh


Amy Coney Barrett

Let our representatives know where you stand on Life!

Terra Costa Howard   

48th District State Rep. (D)
(217) 782-8037 (Springfield)
(630) 812-9292 (Lombard)
[email protected]
 

Sean Casten

Representative, United States Congress, 6th Dist. of Ilinois (D)
(202) 225-4561 (DC)
(630) 520-9450 (Glen Ellyn)

"It thus appears that the mansion of constitutionalized abortion law, constructed overnight in Roe v. Wade, must be disassembled doorjamb by doorjamb, and never entirely brought down, no matter how wrong it may be."
Justice Anton Scalia, 1989
 

"[T]he word 'person', as used in the 14th Amendment, does not include the unborn."
Justice Harry Blackmun, 1973

Roe v. Wade (1973)

Complaint:  The Constitution of the United States protects a woman's right to choose an abortion without excessive government restrictions. 

Specifically:  State of Texas cannot restrict a woman's right to an abortion without violating U.S Constitution. 

Outcome:  Majority ruled that the "Due Process Clause" in 14A provides a "right to privacy" that includes a woman's right to an abortion.  Federal and state laws regulating or prohibiting abortion were immediately struck down nationwide. 

Concurred:  Blackmun, Burger, Douglas, Brennan, Stewart, Marshall, Power
Dissenting: Rehnquist, White
 

Webster v. Reproductive Health Services (1989)

Complaint:  Challenge to the Pennsylvania Abortion Control Act of 1982

Specifically: Requirements for a waiting period, spousal notice, and (for minors) parental consent prior to undergoing an abortion procedure.

Outcome:  Majority upheld what amounts to the "Due Process Clause" in 14A, which is cited in Roe v. Wade, interpreted as permitting abortion prior to viability.  Struck down requirement of notifying spouse, but upheld the other requirements. 

Concurred:  O'Connor, Souter, Kennedy, Stevens, Blackmun
Dissenting:  Thomas, Scalia, Rehnquist, White
 

Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992)

Complaint:  Challenge to the Pennsylvania Abortion Control Act of 1982

Specifically: Requirements for a waiting period, spousal notice, and (for minors) parental consent prior to undergoing an abortion procedure.

Outcome:  Majority upheld what amounts to the "Due Process Clause" in 14A, which is cited in Roe v. Wade, interpreted as permitting abortion prior to viability.  Struck down requirement of notifying spouse, but upheld the other requirements. 

Concurred:  O'Connor, Souter, Kennedy, Stevens, Blackmun
Dissenting:  Thomas, Scalia, Rehnquist, White

Box v. Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky (2019)

“To accept the fact that, after fertilization has taken place, a new human has come into being is no longer a matter of taste or opinion. The human nature of the human being from conception to old age is not a metaphysical conception. It is plain experimental evidence.”
 Dr. Jerome Lejeune