Representative Schriver Files Bill to Abolish Abortion in Michigan
LANSING, MI — Today, Michigan State Representative Josh Schriver filed House Bill 4671,[1] the Justice for Babies in the Womb Act, which would abolish abortion in the state of Michigan by establishing equal protection of the laws for preborn children.
This legislation would apply the same laws that already protect born people from homicide, assault, and wrongful death to protect preborn people as well, recognizing that preborn babies are image-bearers of God who must be treated accordingly by our laws.
Proposal 3 denies equal protection to preborn children and should be treated as null and void.
In the fall of 2022, voters in Michigan approved Proposal 3, amending the Michigan Constitution to provide that “every individual has a right to reproductive freedom,” including abortion and contraception.[2]
This amendment to the Michigan Constitution is null and void. The Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution says that no state may deny to any person the equal protection of the laws.[3] As made clear by its Supremacy Clause, the U.S. Constitution is a higher authority than any state constitution where there is conflict, meaning that the language enshrined by Proposal 3 is null and void.
The amendment, most importantly, contradicts the higher Law of God, which says that we shall not murder.[3] That includes the murder of image-bearers of God who have not yet been born.[5]
Every elected official in Michigan swears in their oath of office that they “will support the Constitution of the United States and the constitution of this state.”[6] Michigan lawmakers have the duty under the U.S. Constitution, and before the resurrected and ascended King Jesus Christ, to provide equal protection of the laws to preborn children, regardless of the contradictory language added to the Michigan Constitution.
Abortion numbers are rising in Michigan and more than half of them are already committed with pills.
There were over 31,241 babies in Michigan murdered through clinic-based abortions in 2023, with nearly 55% of those abortions taking place through non-surgical methods such as abortion pills.[7] Michigan women are increasingly seeking medication abortions instead of surgical procedures. Like what has happened in other states, this means merely banning abortion clinics and doctors from providing abortions while keeping self-induced abortion legal for women would not significantly diminish abortions in Michigan. The act of prenatal homicide must be criminalized for all parties involved.
Statement from the Board of the Foundation to Abolish Abortion:
We are deeply thankful that Rep. Schriver has filed House Bill 4671, the Justice for Babies in the Womb Act. As Scripture makes clear, civil magistrates like Rep. Schriver have been established by God as His servants to be ministers of justice, and we commend Rep. Schriver for fulfilling his duty before God as a civil magistrate to support providing the equal protection of the laws to preborn children.
In light of Rep. Schriver’s recent conversion to the Roman Catholic Church, we believe it is important that we make the following clarification.
We believe that the abolitionist movement is and should be animated by the gospel, which we affirm is received by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone for the glory of God alone.
We also believe that the abolitionist movement is and should be grounded in the bedrock principle that, while traditions, reason, and experience may be helpful and valuable, Scripture alone is the supreme and final authority, and we affirm that God-ordained church authorities are to be ministerial under Scripture rather than magisterial over or equal to it.
Therefore, after discussing these and related matters with Rep. Schriver, and with all due respect to him, both to his person and office, due to his recent conversion to Roman Catholicism, we do not recognize him as a spokesperson of the abolitionist movement, but we sincerely appreciate his strong support for equal protection and his determination to submit Michigan’s first bill of equal protection.
This statement does not necessarily reflect differences with Rep. Schriver’s personal views, but with those of the Roman Catholic Church with which he now associates. Note also that this is not intended to be a comprehensive statement on abolitionist differences with the doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church.
Again, we remain supportive of House Bill 4671, and we are grateful to Rep. Schriver for filing it.
NOTES:
Proposal 3 of 2022, the Reproductive Freedom for All Petition
U.S. Const. 14th Amendment, § 1
Gen. 9:6; Ex. 20:13; Matt. 5:21-22. Also see the Biblical Principles on the Equal Protection of the Laws for Preborn Children
Ex. 21:22-25; Ps. 139:13-16; Jer. 1:5
MCLS Const. Art. XI, § 1
Michigan Dept. of Health and Human Services, Division for Vital Records & Health Statistics