For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.  –Psalm 139: 13

While non-essential businesses are closed and elective medical procedures have been postponed, including services pertaining to women’s health, many abortion facilities across the nation are still performing abortions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Texas Governor Greg Abbott, along with governors in Arkansas, Tennessee, Ohio, Oklahoma, etc. have banned abortion procedures in their states as non-essential, only to have their executive orders challenged in court.

South Dakota citizens are asking about Planned Parenthood in Sioux Falls, our state’s only abortion facility. For decades, abortionists for the Sioux Falls Planned Parenthood flew into South Dakota from St. Paul, Minnesota, two days a week to perform abortions. However, with the COVID-19 travel restrictions in place where Minnesota has shelter-in-place directives, the abortionists are prohibited from coming to South Dakota. Gov. Kristi Noem’s guidelines also postponed elective surgeries.

While Planned Parenthood is still open for other “services,” such as birth control, we are grateful that babies are not being killed in South Dakota at this time either by surgical or medical abortions. Medical abortions (RU-486) have accounted for over 40% of South Dakota abortions in the past. Our South Dakota laws require that both surgical abortions and medical abortions necessitate a 72-hour waiting period.  Additionally, informed consent must be performed personally by the abortionists.

We pray,
Creator God, we praise You that life is not intentionally being destroyed in South Dakota during this pandemic. We thank You that we are all created in Your image and are precious in Your sight. We pray that all life, born and unborn, be respected and valued as we go forward.  Guide those women who are seeking an abortion now and following the pandemic – that their hearts would be changed to give life to their babies.  We desire that a mother’s womb be the safest place for pre-born babies.

“Open your mouth for the speechless,
In the cause of all who are appointed to die.
Open your mouth, judge righteously,
And plead the cause of the poor and needy.”
Proverbs 31:8-9

Linda Schauer
State Director