A Message from Archbishop Henning of Boston, Bishop McManus of Worcester,
Bishop da Cunha of Fall River, and Bishop Byrne of Springfield:

Pope Leo XIV is currently visiting Uruguay, Latin America’s most secular country.

On Saturday he addressed President Yamandú Orsi, public officials and diplomats, and he told them that “the unborn already belong to the human family,” explaining that protecting unborn children must be accompanied by support for mothers, fathers and families. He challenged his listeners to understand that illness, disability, physical pain, and the loss of autonomy do not diminish a person’s value. 

His words equally apply to Massachusetts. Having read the Governor’s editorial defending her decision to override the results of the Repeal188 efforts, we respectfully and passionately disagree that abortion, the taking of human life, may be considered health care. We also disagree that there is an emergency requiring the further expansion of the existing and already radically permissive law.

We call upon the legislators who crafted and passed this bill, and all men and women of good will, to reconsider the troubling state of our culture and its utilitarian and merciless approach to the elderly, the sick, the vulnerable, and the unborn. As Pope Leo put it: “The right to life is the indispensable foundation of every other human right.”

We are grateful to the coalition partners and volunteers who worked against time and many other obstacles in the Repeal188 effort, and we are grateful to the many voters who participated and raised their voices in the defense of the dignity of every person, no matter how small.

We continue to ask the Catholic communities in this state to promote life and to assist and accompany expectant mothers and fathers in distress or in crisis. We long to see a culture where both mother and child receive the best medical care and the loving support of the family and the community. We long to see the Lord’s own command “Choose life!” embraced and lived (cf. Deut. 30:19-20).

Our work continues as we heed the call of the Gospel to defend life at all stages. We pray for our Governor and legislators that the Lord may inspire wise and compassionate leadership. We call upon all to support families, especially those in crisis, and to build a culture that supports and loves every member of the human family.

Archbishop Richard G. Henning, Archdiocese of Boston
Bishop Robert J. McManus, Diocese of Worcester
Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., Diocese of Fall River
Bishop William D. Byrne, Diocese of Springfield

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