Cardinal calls for prayer, penance as Roe anniversary approaches
January 21, 2013
Cardinal Seán O'Malley of Boston, chairman of the Committee on Pro-Life Activities of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, has issued a statement commemorating the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision, which struck down state laws protecting the lives of unborn children.
“January 22, 2013 marks the 40th anniversary of the tragic US Supreme Court rulings Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton,” he said. “Without grounding in the Constitution, law or human rights, these decisions have made it legal for the past forty years in the United States to end the life of an unborn child. Since then 55 million children never had the chance to be born. The scope of this loss is staggering, yet the Court and many in our society relegate it to a matter of personal choice.”
“Our nation greatly needs our prayers and personal sacrifices,” he added. “The evil of abortion inflicts unimaginable pain, but Jesus offers us healing and renewal. He came not to condemn us, but to free us from the burden of the wrongs we have done so that all might be saved. His Divine Mercy knows no limits; we need only to ask his forgiveness.”
Cardinal O’Malley invited Catholics to take part in the pro-life novena recently announced by the US bishops.
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Further information:
- Cardinal O’Malley Calls For Prayer And Penance To Mark Roe V. Wade Anniversary (USCCB)
- US bishops announce 9 days of prayer, penance around Roe anniversary (CWN, 1/17)
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