Rebuilding a Culture of Life in Ohio
A Sobering Look at the State of Life in Ohio and a Path Forward for the Church
When Ohio voters passed Issue One in November 2023, our state became home to one of the most extreme abortion amendments in the nation. For the first time in our history, the Ohio Constitution now enshrines abortion as a so-called “right,” with virtually no limits on the procedure. Some estimates project that more than 30,000 unborn children could lose their lives in Ohio every year because of this law.
For many Christians, the outcome was devastating, not only because of what it means for preborn children, but because of what it revealed about the spiritual health of our culture and the Church itself.
Taking the Pulse of a State in Crisis
In healthcare, doctors read “vital signs” to measure the health of the body.
CCV published an exit poll report that applied the same principle to the moral and spiritual health of Ohio, titled "Vital Signs." The results are deeply concerning:
30 percent of Ohioans who believe life begins at conception still voted for Issue One.
One in three self-identified weekly churchgoing Catholics and Evangelicals supported the abortion amendment.
These numbers make one thing clear: if the Church loses moral clarity on the issue of life, culture will follow. To rebuild a culture of life, the Church must first rebuild conviction.
The Changing Face of Abortion in Ohio
To understand the magnitude of what’s at stake, we have to look at where Ohio stands today. According to the Ohio Department of Health, there were 18,488 abortions in 2022, the year before the abortion amendment vote. This was the lowest number in a decade, yet still, two children lost their lives every hour in our state.
When the Heartbeat Bill was briefly in effect, abortions dropped sharply. CCV estimates that as many as 3,000 children are alive today because of that law’s three months of enforcement. This is a powerful reminder that life-protecting laws do save lives.
It’s also important to note that chemical abortions, abortions by pill, are rapidly rising in frequency. In 2024, more than 13,000 abortions in Ohio were done by medication, accounting for 46 percent of all abortions statewide. In some urban counties, such as Franklin, that number has risen as high as 80 percent. But those are just the reported numbers. Because the abortion pill is easily accessible by mail, the numbers may be much, much higher.
This shift presents a new kind of challenge that’s harder to see, harder to regulate, and far more dangerous for women.
The Hidden Dangers of the Abortion Pill
The abortion pill, often marketed as “safe” and “simple,” is neither.
A 2024 study by the Ethics and Public Policy Center analyzed more than 865,000 mifepristone abortions from 2017 to 2023. The findings are alarming:
11 percent of women experienced severe complications — including infection, hemorrhaging, or sepsis — within 45 days.
The real-world rate of adverse events was 22 times higher than what the FDA’s clinical data reports.
Yet women can now order these pills online, without medical supervision, ultrasounds, or any accountability. There is no system to track these unreported abortions, no safety net for the women harmed, and no one to mourn the children lost.
A Tragic Case in Toledo
In November 2025, those dangers became heartbreakingly clear in northwest Ohio.
The Ohio State Medical Board suspended the medical license of Dr. Mohammad Abbas, a University of Toledo Medical Center (UTMC) physician accused of forcing his pregnant girlfriend to take the abortion drug mifepristone last year.
According to the official complaint, Abbas forced the abortion pill into the woman’s mouth, resulting in the death of her unborn child.
At approximately 4:00 am on December 18, 2024, the victim reportedly woke to find Abbas physically on top of her, forcing a crushed powder into her mouth. She struggled to escape and tried to call 911, but Abbas took the phone from her. She ultimately fled to her car and drove herself to the emergency room, where she received treatment but later miscarried.
In a July 2025 interview with the Medical Board, Abbas admitted to:
Researching and ordering mifepristone and misoprostol after learning his girlfriend was pregnant.
Using his estranged wife’s identity to obtain the drugs illegally.
Crushing the pills to make them dissolve more quickly, ignoring medical directions.
Administering the drugs to his girlfriend, claiming she “agreed” to take them.
Taking her phone and hanging up on the 911 call.
Throwing the remaining crushed pills out the window while driving to work.
The assault took place just weeks after the victim told Abbas she was pregnant and told him she did not want an abortion. Her baby died anyway, because of how easy it is to illegally obtain abortion-inducing drugs online.
Detective Roy Schermerhorn of the Lucas County Sheriff’s Office sought a warrant in the case, writing:
“There is now taking place certain illegal activities, namely: Attempted Murder, Assault, and Disruption of Public Services.”
The Board also raised concerns about the accuracy and integrity of Abbas’s medical records surrounding the incident.
This horrifying case drew national attention because it exposed a growing national crisis: predators exploiting the FDA’s relaxed abortion pill policies to commit violence behind closed doors.
Center for Christian Virtue Responds
“A mother was assaulted and her unborn child is now dead because of the FDA’s reckless decision to strip away medical safeguards on abortion drugs,” said Aaron Baer, President of Center for Christian Virtue. “Under the Biden administration, common-sense safeguards ensuring women need to see a doctor before getting the abortion pill were rolled back, allowing predators like Abbas to order abortion pills online.”
“The Trump administration and the FDA need to take immediate action to protect women and ensure this never happens again, simply by restoring Obama-era regulations on the abortion pill, ensuring women see a doctor before getting the pill,” Baer said.
This single tragedy underscores the urgent need for the federal government to reinstate in-person medical evaluations before prescribing abortion-inducing drugs.
An Increasingly Common Story
Sadly, the Abbas case is not unique.
In Texas, Christopher Cooperider was charged after allegedly forcing his girlfriend, Liana Davis, to ingest an abortion pill without her knowledge. Court documents and text messages reveal that Cooperider laced her drink with the drug after she refused his pleas to get an abortion. She was later hospitalized after suffering violent bleeding and nearly lost her life.
Both cases point to a growing pattern: as mail-order abortion pills become easier to obtain, abusers and traffickers are increasingly using them as weapons against women and their unborn children.
CCV is working with federal and state leaders to change that. The organization continues to press the FDA to reinstate stronger safety protocols and require accurate, transparent reporting of side effects.
At the state level, CCV supports House Bill 324, the Patient Protection Act, sponsored by Representatives Adam Mathews (R-Lebanon) and Meredith Craig (R-Smithville). This bill would ensure that any drug causing serious side effects in more than five percent of patients—including the abortion pill—is subject to common-sense medical safeguards.
Empowering the Church and Supporting Life-Affirming Alternatives
CCV’s mission goes beyond legislation. Real cultural change begins when the Church leads with both truth and compassion.
Through its new partnership with the Ohio Coalition of Pregnancy Centers (OCPC), CCV now supports the work of over 150 pregnancy resource centers by advancing pro-life policies at the Statehouse.
These centers provide vital, life-affirming services offering hope, counseling, ultrasounds, baby supplies, and ongoing support. In 2022 alone, they provided more than $16 million in goods and services to over 97,000 women, men, and children statewide.
"Pregnancy Centers are the backbone of the pro-life movement. They are in the trenches every day, offering help to moms, dads, and babies in need," said Peter Range, Senior Fellow for Strategic Initiatives at Center for Christian Virtue.
"CCV is thrilled to be an official partner of the Ohio Coalition of Pregnancy Centers and eager to fight for these essential organizations and the vital healthcare services they provide to women in Ohio."
Seven Ways to Restore the Sanctity of Life
While Vital Signs painted a sobering picture, it also points the way forward. The report concludes with Seven Ways to Protect and Restore the Sanctity of Life, a practical roadmap for believers, pastors, and communities of faith. Each step offers both short-term actions to reach those in crisis and long-term strategies to rebuild a culture that values life and human dignity.
1. Educate the Next Generation
Hundreds of thousands of children in Ohio are learning about abortion and sexuality through curriculum designed by Planned Parenthood, the nation's largest abortion provider. Lawmakers must remove Planned Parenthood from the classroom and instead promote life-affirming education, such as Sexual Risk Avoidance programs that empower students to make healthy, biblical choices.
What You Can Do:
Launch a Christian school in your church. The Ohio Christian Education Network (OCEN) provides resources to help churches start full-time schools in unused classrooms. Visit OCEN.org for more information.
2. Expand Services and Outreach to Women
Ohio has taken meaningful steps to support women and families through expanded funding for Pregnancy Resource Centers (PRCs). Recent state investments include $2.5 million per year for an ultrasound machine program and up to $20 million in grants through the Ohio Parenting and Pregnancy Program—funding that equips PRCs, ministries, and local organizations to serve women facing unplanned pregnancies.
Additionally, a new tax credit of up to $750 per year allows individuals to receive a dollar-for-dollar credit when they donate to a pregnancy resource center, strengthening community-based efforts to offer real choices and compassionate care.
What You Can Do:
Volunteer or donate to your local pregnancy resource center.
Take advantage of the tax credit by supporting a PRC near you.
Pray for women facing unplanned pregnancies and for the staff who serve them every day.
3. Resource Church Leaders
One of the strongest predictors of a "no" vote on the abortion amendment was whether a churchgoer heard their pastor speak on the issue. CCV is developing new resources and educational opportunities to equip pastors and ministry leaders to boldly preach a biblical view of life and sexuality.
What You Can Do:
Encourage your pastor to join the Church Ambassador Network at CCV.org/CAN.
Share resources that help church leaders address abortion and biblical ethics with truth and compassion.
4. Expose the Darkness
The Body of Christ must shine light on the lies and harm of the abortion industry by sharing stories of women who have been coerced or injured. When Ohio voters see the human faces behind these tragedies, hearts and minds begin to change.
What You Can Do:
Volunteer with your local Right to Life group to participate in prayer vigils and outreach.
Use your voice on social media to share stories the mainstream media ignores.
5. Demand Safety and Accountability
Ohio's political leaders must continue to hold the abortion industry accountable for dangerous and unethical practices. Informed consent laws and safety regulations must remain in place and be strictly enforced to protect women and children from exploitation.
What You Can Do:
Contact your state lawmakers and urge them to enforce abortion safety regulations.
Attend the Ohio March for Life—the largest annual pro-life gathering in the state—to stand publicly for life. Visit MarchForLife.org/Ohio for details.
6. Pray Without Ceasing
The fight for life is not merely political; it's intensely spiritual. True victory begins with prayer, repentance, and a renewed dependence on God.
What You Can Do:
Join CCV's quarterly Prayer at the Statehouse events. Visit CCV.org/Pray to learn more.
Begin with repentance. As 2 Chronicles 7:14 reminds us, revival starts with God's people humbling themselves and turning from sin.
7. Hold the Line
As the Church works toward long-term restoration, we must never compromise our public witness to the value of every human life. Every life, from conception to natural death, carries God-given dignity and deserves protection. Staying firm in conviction while showing grace and compassion is how we rebuild a culture of life.
What You Can Do:
Stay informed on emerging threats to life, from IVF ethics to euthanasia expansion.
Read and share resources from organizations like Center for Christian Virtue, Them Before Us, and The Heritage Foundation.
Hope Beyond the Heartbreak
The passage of Issue One was a wake-up call, but it has not been, nor will it be, the end of the story.
Ohio’s pro-life movement faces an uphill climb, but revival is possible. Every life and every child still matters to God.
CCV remains steadfast in advocating for laws that protect life, equipping churches to speak truth, and partnering with believers across Ohio to build a culture that honors God’s design for the family and the unborn.
Together, we can restore respect for life in Ohio. Will you join the movement to rebuild a culture of life?
For more information, contact CCV at 513-733-5775 or contact@ccv.org. For media inquiries, email media@ccv.org.
As Ohio's largest Christian public policy organization, Center for Christian Virtue seeks the good of our neighbors by advocating for public policy that reflects the truth of the Gospel.
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