Today, June 24, 2022, the United States Supreme Court offered a ruling that struck down Roe vs. Wade. The New York State Catholic Conference offered the following statement:
We give thanks to God for today’s decision of the United States Supreme Court in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. This just decision will save countless innocent children simply waiting to be born.
On this historic day, our gratitude extends to the millions of heroic Americans who have worked tirelessly toward this outcome for nearly a half-century. Women and men, children and adults, believers and non-believers, people of every culture and background have advocated for life. They have been a charitable and compelling voice for the voiceless, and today, their voice has been heard.
As Catholics, we have prayed and fasted, held vigils, offered Masses, and peacefully witnessed in these last five decades. We have joined others in educating schoolchildren, opening pregnancy care centers, walking with mothers, offering post-abortion counseling, and marching, year after year, to the United States Supreme Court to witness for life. Today, our voice has been heard.
With the entire pro-life community, we are overjoyed with this outcome of the Court. However, we acknowledge the wide range of emotions associated with this decision. We call on all Catholics and everyone who supports the right to life for unborn children to be charitable, even as we celebrate an important historical moment and an answer to a prayer.
We must remember that this is a judicial victory, not a cultural one. The culture remains deeply divided on the issue, which will be evidenced by the patchwork of state statutes pertaining to abortion across the country. To change the culture and build a culture of life, we need to enact family-friendly policies that welcome children, support mothers, cherish families and empower them to thrive. We outlined our vision for a pro-life New York in our recent statement, available here, and we rededicate ourselves to helping every expectant mother to carry her baby to term.
Building a culture of life is not solely the responsibility of the government or those heroic individuals working on the front lines, in crisis pregnancy centers and other ministries. All of us need to respect the dignity and sanctity of human life in everything we do: in how we treat our children, spouses and parents; in the way we behave in our place of work; in sum, how we live Jesus’ two great commandments to love God and love our neighbor.
Love, charity and reverence for human life from the moment of conception through natural death - these will build and sustain a culture of life.
Millions of Americans have worked tirelessly for almost 50 years towards this outcome. We thank them with every fiber of our being. Their vital work continues, and we commit ourselves to it.
| Timothy Cardinal Dolan Archbishop of New York | Most Rev. Edward B. Scharfenberger Bishop of Albany | Most Rev. Robert J. Brennan Bishop of Brooklyn |
| Most Rev. Michael W. Fisher Bishop of Buffalo | Most Rev. Terry R. LaValley Bishop of Ogdensburg | Most Rev. Salvatore R. Matano Bishop of Rochester |
| Most Rev. John O. Barres Bishop of Rockville Centre | Most Rev. Douglas J. Lucia Bishop of Syracuse | And the Auxiliary and Emeritus Bishops of NYS |
Our own Bishop, Most Revereand Robert J. Brennan, released his own pastoral letter on this Supreme Court decision which can be found on this diocesan link. We invite you to read our Bishop's thoughts on this issue, which includes a call to promote solidarity. "We must accompany those most afraid and in need," Bishop Brennan tells us, "especially women and families facing unexpected or difficult pregnancies."
At Catholic Charities of Brooklyn and Queens we join with our own Bishop in celebrating this ruling and pledge to continue working to support pregnant women and young families here in our community.
