In a Judeo-Christian worldview, humans are afforded a special status and dignity because we are created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27). This means we’re endowed with an immortal spirit, a capacity to know and be known by God, and a measure of free will that’s unique from the animal kingdom. Because we bear the image of God, we are valuable from the moment of fertilization. For this reason, all human life must be respected and protected in law. Because the right to life originates from God and not the State (see the Declaration of Independence), the State is limited in its authority to authorize the taking of life. And, the State exceeds its biblical boundaries when it allows the innocent to be killed.