Nationwide Invitation to Prayer for the End of Abortion and Protection of Women and Pre-Born Children

March 14, 2024

WASHINGTON - On behalf of Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio President, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and Bishop Michael F. Burbidge Chairman, USCCB Committee on Pro-Life Activities, USCCB shares the following announcement of a Nationwide Invitation to Prayer for the End of Abortion and Protection of Women and Pre-Born Children.

On March 26, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in a case that has the potential to make a major impact in the widespread accessibility of chemical abortion (abortion pills). Chemical abortions are now the most common form of abortion in the United States.

The case is in response to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) promoting the availability of chemical abortion while ignoring risks to women and violating federal law. In short, the FDA has enabled a nationwide mail-order abortion industry and turned neighborhood pharmacies into chemical abortion providers.

While the Supreme Court case is not about ending chemical abortion, it can restore limitations that the FDA has overridden. When a Supreme Court decision is released, probably in June, we can expect a public and political reaction similar to the Dobbs decision that overturned Roe v. Wade.

The USCCB Committee on Pro-Life Activities is inviting Catholics to join a focused effort of prayer for the end of abortion and the protection of women and preborn children, beginning on March 25, the eve of the oral arguments, and the anniversary of St. John Paul II's landmark, pro-life encyclical, The Gospel of Life (Evangelium vitae). In particular, we will invoke the intercession of St. Joseph, Defender of Life with this prayer (en español):

Dearest St. Joseph, at the word of an angel, you lovingly took Mary into your home. As God's humble servant, you guided the Holy Family on the road to Bethlehem, welcomed Jesus as your own son in the shelter of a manger, and fled far from your homeland for the safety of both Mother and Child. We praise God that as their faithful protector, you never hesitated to sacrifice for those entrusted to you. May your example inspire us also to welcome, cherish, and safeguard God's most precious gift of life. Help us to faithfully commit ourselves to the service and defense of human life -especially where it is vulnerable or threatened. Obtain for us the grace to do the will of God in all things. Amen.

We ask Catholics to offer this prayer daily, from March 25 through June, when a decision is expected. Online and print versions of the prayer can be found at www.respectlife.org/prayer-to-st-joseph. Additional background information and other resources can be found online at: www.usccb.org/prolife/nationwide-invitation-prayer

Thank you for responding to this invitation to prayer for an end to all abortions and for the protection of women and preborn children. St. Joseph, Defender of Life, pray for us!

View this Media Advisory on USCCB's website.

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