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Special Report
Welcoming Court’s decision, leaders say it’s time to build pro-life culture
WASHINGTON (CNS) • Two leaders of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops hailed the Supreme Court’s June 24 decision to overturn the Court’s 1973 ruling that legalized abortion nationwide and said it is time for “healing wounds and repairing social divisions” with those who take opposing views on abortion.
The ruling marks a historic day for the United States after almost five decades during which “America has enforced an unjust law that has permitted some to decide whether others can live or die,” said Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles and Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore.
The prelates issued a joint statement as USCCB president and chairman of the bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities, respectively.
The 5-4 ruling to overturn Roe came in the Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which was a challenge to a Mississippi law banning most abortions after 15 weeks.
However, Chief Justice John Roberts, while agreeing with the opinion on the Mississippi law, disagreed with the majority’s decision that overturned the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision and the 1992 ruling in Planned Parenthood v. Casey.
The latter case affirmed Roe and prohibited regulations that created an “undue burden” on women seeking an abortion.
Archbishops Gomez and Lori said the new ruling marks a
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“time to begin the work of building a post-Roe America.”
“We thank God today that the Court has now overturned this decision,” they said. “We pray that our elected officials will now enact laws and policies that promote and protect the most vulnerable among us.” “As a Church,
The archbishops recalled the we need to lives of tens of millions of children who have lost their lives since 1973, serve those saying the USCCB mourns their loss and that their souls have been who face entrusted to God. difficult
“Our hearts are also with every woman and man who has suffered preganancies grievously from abortion,” they said. “We pray for their healing, and we ...” pledge our continued compassion and support. As a church, we need to serve those who face difficult pregnancies and surround them with love.”
Archbishop Gomez and Archbishop Lori also credited the people who for five decades have worked peacefully together “to educate and persuade their neighbors about the injustice of abortion,” to provide care and counseling to women, and to work for alternatives to abortion such as foster care and public policies that support families.
The Pontifical Academy for Life, under its president, Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, joined the USCCB leaders in welcoming the Supreme Court’s opinion, saying it points the way for the world to follow.
“The Court’s opinion shows how the issue of abortion continues to arouse heated debate,” an academy statement said. “The fact that a large country with a long democratic tradition has changed its position on this issue also challenges the whole world.”
“The protection and defense of human life is not an issue that can remain confined to the exercise of individual rights but instead is a matter of broad social significance,” it continued. “After 50 years, it is important to reopen a non-ideological debate on the place that the protection of life has in a civil society to ask ourselves what kind of coexistence and society we want to build.”
Archbishop Paglia added, “In the face of Western society that is losing its passion for life, this act is a powerful invitation to reflect together on the serious and urgent issue of human generativity and the conditions that make it possible; by choosing life, our responsibility for the future of humanity is at stake.”
The president of the Catholic Medical Association said the
Bishop O’Connell: Message on the Roe v. Wade decision
For almost 50 years, pro-life Catholics and people of good will in the United States have prayed fervently, lobbied hard, participated in marches and raised their voices consistently that the fateful 1973 decision of the Supreme Court “Roe v. Wade” would be overturned. Given the strident and unrelenting advocacy of those who have supported abortion over the years, it seemed an almost unreachable goal. Today, that goal has been achieved.
Since 1973, approximately 63.5 million babies have been sacrificed to the pro-choice, pro-abortion agenda. That is a horrific fact.
Writing for the majority of SCOTUS, Justice Alito has returned decision making re: the issue of abortion to the people’s elected representatives, writing that the so-called “right to abortion” is “not deeply rooted in the nation’s history or traditions.”
Here in New Jersey, which A Message from “boasts” of the most BISHOP DAVID M. permissive abortion O’CONNELL, C.M. laws in the country, pro-life Catholics and people of good will still have much work to be done. Our opponents are many and occupy the highest positions in the state. We must continue the good work that this decision represents and persistently proclaim the sanctity of every person in order to end the scourge of abortion and any attack on human life. We must persevere in our support of pregnant women and young families facing difficult circumstances so that they must never feel that abortion is their only option. The innocent, vulnerable unborn — and their mothers — deserve no less.
In wake of Dobbs decision, NJ bishops call for healing, mercy
A joint statement from the New Jersey Catholic Bishops on the Dobbs v. Jackson ruling
We the Catholic Bishops of New Jersey express our deepest gratitude for the United States Supreme Court ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health. This decision ends a very dark chapter in American history and now is the time for our nation to move forward to heal wounds and social divisions.
As the largest, private social service provider in the world, the Catholic Church offers many life-affirming programs. From pregnancy centers to numerous programs that provide clothing, food, housing services, and access to other basic needs, the Catholic Church stands ready to assist every mother, expecting or parenting.
Sadly, we know that some will use today’s ruling to further inflame and deepen the societal divide in our nation. While we must never waver from working to ensure that our laws protect the dignity of every human life, we cannot do so in a manner that vilifies and attacks the dignity of those who may disagree with us.
Therefore, we call on all Catholics and people of good will to be instruments of peace and mercy and not of judgment, condemnation, and violence.
Trusting in the providential care of our Heavenly Father and through the intercession of Mary, our Blessed Mother, we ask for peace in our communities and the strength to build a society where every woman has the support and the resources she needs to bring her child into this world in love.
Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., Archbishop of Newark
Most Reverend Kevin J. Sweeney, Bishop,
Diocese of Paterson
Most Reverend David M. O’Connell, C.M., Bishop,
Diocese of Trenton
Most Reverend James F. Checchio, Bishop,
Diocese of Metuchen
Most Reverend Dennis J. Sullivan, Bishop,
Diocese of Camden
Most Reverend Kurt Burnette, Bishop, Eparchy of Passaic
Most Reverend Yousif Havash, Bishop of
Our Lady of Deliverance of the Syriac Catholic Diocese
June 24, 2022
NJCC’s new video series to cover Respect Life, public policy issues
BY EMMALEE ITALIA
Contributing Editor
Seeking a new means of reaching advocates, the New Jersey Catholic Conference has just launched an interview-style video series to accompany its Town Square newsletter.
The public policy arm of the Bishops of New Jersey has already posted its first episode on its website, njcatholic. org, under the Town Square tab. As the Dobbs decision loomed in the Supreme Court, the NJCC chose pro-life issues as its first topic.
The Supreme Court voted June 24 to overturn the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion at the federal level; the case, Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, was decided by a 6-3 margin, with Justices Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor and Cheryl Riley, director of the Archdiocese of Newark’s Mercy House, was featured in the NJCC’s inaugural Town Square video on pro-life issues. Video screenshot
Elena Kagan dissenting.
NJCC’s first Town Square video episode features NJCC public relations director John Hardiman interviewing Cheryl Riley, director of the Archdiocese of Newark’s Mercy House – a family-oriented resource and referral center with a focus on assisting pregnant and parenting women in need of a safe, supportive environment. In the interview, Riley discusses her past experience with abortion, her personal conversion and advice about how people can get involved in pro-life advocacy.
“This is something new for us,” said NJCC executive director James King. “We’re really excited to be able to take [our communication] to the next level, in a medium that people are looking for, and are looking to improve it over time.”
King noted that while the organization will continue to make use of print media to disseminate information for topics of Catholic interest in New Jersey policymaking, the addition of videos and interviews will help increase awareness.
A second Town Square video, available shortly, will feature interviews with Jennifer Ruggiero, Diocese of Metuchen’s secretary, Secretariat for Family and Pastoral Life, and Rachel Hendricks, Diocese of Trenton’s Respect Life ministry coordinator. The two diocesan pro-life leaders will discuss what Respect Life offices are doing to respond to the Dobbs decision and offer ideas about how people can continue to
REGISTRATION OPEN FOR NJCC’S JULY 14 PRO-LIFE WEBINAR
Although abortion is no longer protected by federal law, that doesn’t mean the battle for the unborn has ended.
The June 24 decision of the United States Supreme Court to overturn Roe in its ruling on the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization case has moved the legality of abortion back to individual states. And in New Jersey, where abortion remains protected by state law, pro-abortion advocates have doubled down on making it accessible for any reason, without restriction.
A Town Square webinar is planned July 14 at 6:30 p.m. by the New Jersey Catholic Conference, the public policy arm of the Bishops of New Jersey. Titled “Analyzing the Dobbs Decision: Building a Culture of Life in New Jersey,” the webinar will take place on Zoom, and all who wish to attend may register at njcatholic. org. Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., will offer a pre-recorded opening prayer and message for the webinar.
“The Catholic Bishops of New Jersey recognize that now is the time for Catholics and people of good will to work together to build a society where every woman has the support and resources she needs to bring her child into this world in love,” stated the NJCC action alert on the webinar, which was emailed and posted online June 27.
