
CV NEWS FEED // On July 29, bishops across Wisconsin affirmed their support for Milwaukee Archbishop Jerome Listecki’s recent petition to intervene in the ongoing abortion cases before the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
Eight bishops signed the letter of support, which emphasized their commitment to defending the unborn and ensuring that pro-life perspectives are included in the legal proceedings. The Wisconsin Supreme Court recently stopped Wisconsin pro-life groups from intervening in the abortion cases.
According to the Wisconsin Catholic Conference (WCC), Wisconsin’s 1849 abortion ban was reinstated following the U.S. Supreme Court’s June 2022 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. This pro-life law, which prohibits most abortions except to save the life of the mother, had been dormant but became effective once again after the Supreme Court’s ruling.
The abortion ban was immediately challenged in a lawsuit by Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul. In December 2023, Dane County Judge Diane Schlipper ruled that the 1849 ban does not apply to consensual abortions, challenging long-standing interpretations.
Judge Schlipper’s ruling was appealed by Sheboygan County District Attorney Joel Urmanski in February 2024. Concurrently, Planned Parenthood filed a separate case asking the court to recognize a state constitutional “right” to abortion. On July 2, the WI Supreme Court agreed to hear both cases but denied pro-life groups the opportunity to intervene.
In response to the exclusion of pro-life perspectives, Archbishop Listecki filed a petition on July 15, seeking to intervene in the Planned Parenthood case.
In the July 29 letter, the bishops highlighted that Archbishop Listecki’s action is crucial for representing the interests of the unborn, who have no voice in the case. Their letter affirmed the moral duty of Archbishop Listecki to advocate for every human life within his diocese, including the unborn. They argued that they believe this obligation extends to all bishops and emphasized the importance of protecting First Amendment rights, asserting that both sides have a right to be heard at the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
According to the WCC, Archbishop Listecki stated that pro-life voices must be represented in the legal proceedings, emphasizing the Church’s obligation to advocate for the constitutional rights of the unborn.
Archbishop Listecki argued that “It is unthinkable that a legal decision of such import could be made without the full participation by both sides (or all sides) to this dispute.”
As of July 29, the Wisconsin Supreme Court has not yet responded to the Archbishop’s petition. The Court is expected to hear oral arguments in the abortion cases later this year. Their ruling is anticipated to be made by summer 2025.
