USCCB - Pro-Life Activities

Abortion
"Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception. From the first moment of existence, a human being must be recognized as having the rights of a person---among which is the inviolable right of every innocent being to life." CCC 2270

Table of Contents

Church Documents and Teachings
Basic Information
Articles and Publications
Columns and Commentary
Specific Abortion Issues
Testimony and Letters
News Releases and Statements
Additional Resources

Church Documents and Teachings

Selected Quotes from Church Documents, compiled in April 2008
Catholics in Political Life, USCCB, June 2004 (En Español)
A Matter of the Heart: On the 30th Anniversary of Roe vs. Wade, USCCB, November 12, 2002 (En Español)
Pastoral Plan for Pro-Life Activities: A Campaign in Support of Life, USCCB, November 2001
Living the Gospel of Life: A Challenge to American Catholics, USCCB, November 1998 (En Español)
25th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade, Message to Cardinal Bernard Law, Pope John Paul II, December 29, 1997
Light and Shadows: Our Nation 25 Years After Roe v. Wade, USCCB, November 12, 1997
Faithful for Life: A Moral Reflection, USCCB, September 1995
Evangelium Vitae: On the Value and Inviolability of Human Life, Pope John Paul II, March 25, 1995 (En Español)
Resolution on Abortion, USCCB, November 7, 1989
Donum Vitae: Instruction on Respect for Human Life, Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, February 22, 1987 (En Español)
Declaration on Procured Abortion, Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, November 18, 1974 (En Español)
Excerpts from Human Life in Our Day, NCCB, November 16, 1968
Excerpts from Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, Second Vatican Council, November 7, 1965

Basic Information

Articles and Publications

Abortion and Catholic Social Teaching, Rev. Thomas D. Williams, L.C., 2007
Abortion and Breast Cancer: The Link That Won't Go Away, Angela Lanfranchi, M.D., 2007
Partial Birth Abortion: A Bridge Too Far, Susan E. Wills, Esq., 2006
Roe v. Reason, Richard Stith, J.D., Ph.D., 2005
Ten Legal Reasons to Reject Roe , Susan E. Wills, Esq., 2003
Women Deserve Better Than Abortion, Serrin M. Foster, 2003
Moving Toward a Culture of Life, Cathleen A. Cleaver, 2001
In God's Image: Building a Culture of Life, Cardinal John J. O'Connor, 2000
Choose Life: Toward a Culture of Life in the New Millenium, Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap.,1998
Partial Birth Abortion:The Writing on the Wall,Susan E. Wills, Esq., 1997
The Good News: More Than Black and White,Rev. Stephen F. Brett, SSJ, 1996
The Church's Love Letter to the World, Rev. Richard John Neuhaus, 1996

Columns and Commentary

Light and Shadows in the Cause of Life, by Susan Wills, May 27, 2011 (En Español)
Upholding a Right Not to Kill, By Richard Doerflinger, Life Issues Forum, April 29, 2011 (En Español)
Taxpayer funding and Planned Parenthood , By Vicki Evans, Life Issues Forum, April 1, 2011 (En Español)
A Grisly Business , by Tom Grenchik, Life Issues Forum, March 18, 2011 (En Español)
Finding Truth and Peace this Lent, by Susan E. Wills, Life Issues Forum, March 4, 2011 (En Español)
Ending Abortion Through Adoption, by Mary McClusky, Life Issues Forum, February 4, 2011 (En Español)
Mental Health Risks and Abortion, by Kimberly Baker, Life Issues Forum, February 4, 2011
Healing an Abortion-Wounded Nation , by Deirdre McQuade, Life Issues Forum, January 21, 2011
Too Many of Whom ?, by Richard M. Doerflinger, Life Issues Forum, December 24, 2010
Voices From the Womb, by Mary McClusky, Life Issues Forum, November 26, 2010
Pro-Life America by Deirdre A. McQuade, Life Issues Forum, May 29, 2009 (En Español)
Dear Congress: Protect Laws that Protect Life by Deirdre A. McQuade, Life Issues Forum, January 16, 2009 (En Español)
4 Out of 5 Adults Surveyed... Would Limit Abortion by Deirdre A. McQuade, Life Issues Forum, January 9, 2009 (En Español)
Fatalism Can Be Fatal by Susan E. Wills, Life Issues Forum, October 17, 2008
What Reduces Abortions? by Richard Doerflinger, Life Issues Forum, October 10, 2008
Free for Me, But Not for Thee?, by Richard M. Doerflinger, Life Issues Forum, September 19, 2008
Reducing Abortions by Promoting Abortions?, by Tom Grenchik, Life Issues Forum, September 5, 2008
Agenda-Driven Science, by Susan E. Wills, Esq., Life Issues Forum, August 22, 2008
Supreme Court Out of Touch with the Mainstream on Abortion, by Deirdre A. McQuade, Life Issues Forum, January 25, 2008
The Courage of One, With Support of Many, by Mary Jaminet, Life Issues Forum, November 30, 2007
Lying About Safe Abortions, by Richard M. Doerflinger, Life Issues Forum, October 19, 2007
In the Interest of the Child, by Richard M. Doerflinger, Life Issues Forum, July 27, 2007
The Resolution to the Resolution, by Tom Grenchik, Life Issues Forum, July 13, 2007
Abortion - The First Human Rights Abuse, by Ken Ong, Life Issues Forum, June 15, 2007
Profiting from Death at Any Cost, by Mary Jaminet, Life Issues Forum, June 1, 2007
Blessed is the Fruit of Your Womb, by Deirdre A. McQuade, Life Issues Forum, May 18, 2007
First, Do No Harm, by Susan E. Wills, Esq., Life Issues Forum, March 9, 2007
Post Abortion Healing Is Possible, by Deirdre A. McQuade, Life Issues Forum, February 23, 2007
Protecting the "Pro-Life" Label, by Mary Jaminet, Life Issues Forum, February 9, 2007

Specific Abortion Issues

Testimony and Letters

Cardinal DiNardo Letter on Defunding Planned Parenthood, April 13, 2011
Hearing on HR-3: No Taxpayer Funding of Abortion Act, Testimony to House Subcommittee on the Constitution of the House Judiciary Committee, Richard Doerflinger, February 8, 2011 (Oral Testimony)
Cardinal DiNardo Letter in Support of HR-3, January 21, 2011
Cardinal DiNardo Letter in Support of HR-358, January 21, 2011
Letter to Congress Urging Support of HR5939, by Cardinal DiNardo, August 20, 2010
Letter to House Appropriations Committee on Abortion Funding in the District of Columbia Cardinal Justin Rigali, June 30, 2009
On Retaining Pro-Life Laws, Letter to Congress, Cardinal Rigali, February 5, 2009
On Executive Orders Regarding Abortion Letter to President-Elect Obama, Cardinal George, January 16, 2009
Roe v. Wade Hearing, Testimony to House Committee on the Judiciary, Helen Alvare
On Constitutional Amendment Protecting Unborn Human Life, Testimony to Sub-Committee on Constitutional Amendments of the Senate Committee, USCCB, March 7, 1974

On Constitutional Amendment Protecting Unborn Human Life, Testimony to Sub-Committee on Civil and Constitutional Rights of the House Sub-Committee on the Judiciary, USCCB, March 24, 1976

News Releases and Statements

USCCB Welcomes House Passage of ‘No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act’ May 5, 2011
Bishops to Congress: At a Time of Painful Budget Cuts, Defunding Planned Parenthood ‘Not One of Those Hard Choices’ April 14, 2011
Permanent Ban on Abortion Funding Long Overdue, Says USCCB in House Testimony February 8, 2011
Bishops Support Three Bills to Strengthen Protections for Life and Conscience January 24, 2011
Cardinal Rigali Protests Move to Fund Abortion in District of Columbia
June 30, 2009
Cardinal George Praises President Obama’s Promise to Support Conscience Clauses, Seeks to Work With Administration on Goal
May 22, 2009
Pro-Life E-Mail Campaign to Congress Expands National Postcard Campaign Effort March 4, 2009
Cardinal Rigali to Congress: Keep Existing Pro-Life Laws February 5, 2009
Massive Nationwide Pro-Life Postcard Campaign Underway February 4, 2009
Gallup Poll: Most Americans Disapprove of Mexico City Policy Reversal February 3, 2009
President Obama's Reversal of Mexico City Policy "Very Disappointing," Says Pro-Life Committee Chair
January 23, 2009
Bishops Urge New President to Keep Laws on Conscience Rights,
Foreign Aid for Abortion, Embryonic Stem Cell Research January 19, 2009
Legal Protection for Unborn, Support for Mothers Both Needed,
Say Cardinal Rigali and Bishop Murphy October 21, 2008
Joint Statement by Cardinal Justin Rigali and Bishop William Murphy October 21, 2008
On Abortion and the African American Family, Bishop Martin Holley, October 15, 2008
Cardinal Rigali Urges Respect for Human Life, Opposition to "Freedom of Choice" Act
September 30, 2008
Pro-Life Chair to Congress: "We Can't Reduce Abortions By Promoting Abortion" September 22, 2008
Pro-Life Chair to Congress: We Can't Reduce Abortions by Promoting Abortion" September 22, 2008
Bishops To Take Up Abortion and Politics At November Assembly September 10, 2008
Bishops Respond to Senator Biden's Statement Regarding Church Teaching on Abortion September 9, 2008
Bishops' Pro-Life Office Debuts Stem Cell Research, Abortion Ads September 5, 2008
Church Teaching Against Abortion Constant Through Centuries, Says New Resource September 2, 2008
Bishops Respond to House Speaker Pelosi's Misrepresentation of Church Teaching Against Abortion August 26, 2008
Cardinal Thanks President Bush for Pledge to Veto Pro-Abortion Laws May 4, 2007
Second Look Project launches "Supreme Court Countdown" Campaign On Partial-Birth Abortion January 19, 2007
U.S. Bishops Urge Amnesty International To Reject Abortion Initiative; Proposal Threatens To Divide Human Rights Advocates November 20, 2006
Latest Guttmacher Institute Report At Odds With Itself May 3, 2006
Statement of the Committee for Pro-Life Affairs NCCB, 1973
Pastoral Message of the Administrative Committee NCCB,1973
Pro-Life Constitutional Amendment Resolution of the NCCB, November 13, 1973

Additional Resources

Please see our Catalog page for our printed resources on abortion.

Please visit the www.secondlookproject.com website for related information.