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 “boasts” of the most permissive abortion 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 today’s 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.