In this article, Gaudium Press covers some of the reactions coming from the Catholic world regarding the historic and controversial overruling of Roe v. Wade.
Newsroom, (26/06/2022 1:45 PM Gaudium Press) On Friday, The U.S. Supreme Court released its long-awaited judgment in a pivotal Mississippi abortion case — a 6-3 decision that overturned the Roe v. Wade and Casey v. Planned Parenthood decisions that legalized abortion nationwide. As the news spread, we cover some of the reactions coming from the Catholic world.
The Knights of Columbus Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly -“The 2 million Knights of Columbus and their families are grateful and encouraged by today’s the United States Supreme Court ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, one of the most significant advancements in human rights in our nation’s history. Since our Order’s founding by Blessed Michael McGivney in 1882, the Knights of Columbus have been dedicated to the protection of mothers and their children, which makes us rejoice all the more for today’s monumental ruling.
The Knights of Columbus believes in the dignity and worth of every human life. We work tirelessly, through prayer and action, to protect the sanctity of life. In a post-Roe world, the Knights will continue to be there for mothers and their children, and we will continue to proclaim the dignity of every human life.”
Bishop Robert Barron – “Friends, today is a time to rejoice as we celebrate the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn “Roe v. Wade,” a deeply unjust law that has resulted in over 60 million lost lives.”
The Pontifical Academy of Life – “The court’s opinion shows how the issue of abortion continues to arouse heated debate. 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. 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,”
Cardinal Sean O’Malley of the Archdiocese of Boston – “For all of us who have spoken, written, worked, marched, and prayed to reverse Roe v. Wade, today’s Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson is deeply significant and encouraging. This decision will create the possibility of protecting human life from conception; it calls us to recognize the unique burden faced by women in pregnancy; and it challenges us as a nation to work together to build up more communities of support — and available access to them — for all women experiencing unplanned pregnancies.”
Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of the Diocese of San Francisco – “The arc of history is long but it bends towards justice.” Never have the words the Rev. Martin Luther King, the great prophet of human rights in the 20th century, rung more true. This historic Supreme Court decision would not have happened without fifty years of patient, loving, hard work by people of all faiths and none in diverse fields including social service, religion, law, medicine, culture, education, policy and politics. But our work has just begun. The artificial barriers the Supreme Court created by erecting a so-called Constitutional right out of thin air have been removed. The struggle to demonstrate we can build a culture that respects every human life, including mothers in crisis pregnancies and the babies they carry, continues. We must redouble our efforts to accompany women and couples who are facing unexpected or difficult pregnancies, as well as to offer mercy to those suffering the after-effects of the abortion experience. Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the unborn, pray for us.
Bishop Thomas John Paprocki of the Diocese of Springfield – There is no way to undo the tragedy of tens of millions of innocent lives lost or the decades of division sown by the Roe v. Wade decision. But, for the sake of future generations, we can now move forward with a more honest debate and efforts to advance policies and support programs that protect innocent life and promote stability and security for vulnerable mothers. Much work remains to be done on both fronts, and that work will now necessarily have more of a local focus, particularly in our own home state of Illinois. Importantly, these efforts must include prayer and concerted efforts to preserve peace in the face of recent violence, intimidation, and criminal vandalism against churches and government officials.
Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila of the Archdiocese of Denver – For nearly 50 years, Roe v. Wade has been a dark cloud over our country and has played a role in tens of millions of preborn babies dying. In this life, we will never know the unrepeatable gifts they would have brought to our families, communities, and the world.
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops– This is a historic day in the life of our country, one that stirs our thoughts, emotions and prayers. For nearly fifty years, America has enforced an unjust law that has permitted some to decide whether others can live or die; this policy has resulted in the deaths of tens of millions of preborn children, generations that were denied the right to even be born.
Bishop Michael Barber of the Diocese of Oakland – We Catholics support the Supreme Court decision. We call on our state government to pass laws to help mothers in need to bring their children to birth and care for them, and not just support the abortion industry. Abortion causes pain, regret and a lifetime of psychological and spiritual harm to women and the fathers of their children.
The Catholic University of America – Being pro-life means much more than opposing abortion. The pro-life movement is about building a civilization of love, through a commitment to life at all stages”, says President Garvey.
New York State Catholic Conference – We give thanks to God for today’s decision of the United States Supreme Court in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. This just decision will save countless innocent children simply waiting to be born.
(This is a developing story and more will follow )
(Via CNA and Twitter)
Compiled by Raju Hasmukh