Pro-Life Activities

What's New

• Bishops Promise to Continue 'Vigorous Efforts' Against HHS Violations of Religious Freedom in Health Care Reform Mandate (March 14, 2012)
  
• Bishops Renew Call to Legislative Action on  Religious Liberty (February 10, 2012)
• U.S. Bishops Vow to Fight HHS Edict (January 20, 2012)
  
  
• New Pro-Life Prayers for Roe Anniversary Weekend
• National Prayer Vigil for Life
• Other Washington Area Roe v. Wade Anniversary Events
  
• Letter to Senators on HR-2354 (November 14, 2011)
• Action Alert! Write to Congress, asking them to support the Respect for Rights of Conscience Act (HR-1179).
• Bishops' Pro-Life Official Hails House Passage of 'Protect Life Act' (October 14, 2011)
• 22 national Catholic leaders call on Congress and the Administration to protect conscience rights in health care.  Read their joint statement.
• Comments on Interim Final Rules Imposing Contraceptive Mandate  (August 2011)
• 2011-2012 Respect Life Program is here!

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PASTORAL PLAN FOR PRO-LIFE ACTIVITIES

The Pastoral Plan contains four major "pillars" that the Bishops have set forth as elements necessary for pro-life efforts in America.

MANDATE AND GOALS FOR THE COMMITTEE

The committee assists the bishops, both collectively and individually, in teaching respect for all human life from conception to natural death and in organizing for its protection, especially on behalf of those who are unborn, disabled, elderly, dying, or facing the death penalty. 

This mandate includes the following areas of responsibility: Education, promotion of pastoral care programs, and public policy advocacy focused on issues involving the defense of human life at its beginning (abortion, embryonic stem cell research, cloning) and at its end (euthanasia, assisted suicide, including collaboration on opposition to the use of the death penalty).

KEY MISSION RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Providing leadership for advocacy on public policies to protect, sustain, and nurture human life, especially the most vulnerable—at its beginning and at its end 
2. Providing leadership for pro-life education within the Catholic community and within society as a whole 
3. Developing targeted resources for dioceses and parishes, in collaboration with other Conference offices, for the annual commemoration of the Supreme Court decision on Roe v. Wade and the “Respect Life Program”
4. Assisting the bishops through consultation and development of resources on critical beginning and end-of-life issues, including collaboration with the Committee on Human Development and Domestic Affairs (lead agent) for the death penalty
5. Promoting pastoral care and prayer (in collaboration with the Committee on Divine Worship) for those involved in these issues (e.g., aid to pregnant women, post-abortion reconciliation, care and support for terminally ill patients and their families).
   

KEY MISSION RELATIONSHIPS

1. With the other committees and offices of the USCCB, especially concerning life issues
2. With bishop and diocesan offices
3. With national pro life organizations for advocacy in public policy in particular with the National Committee for a Human Life Amendment
4. With governmental bodies
5. With the Holy See and other episcopal conferences