WelCom June/July 2022
An unprecedented leak took place last month of a draft opinion by the US Supreme Court, suggesting the court may overturn Roe v. Wade, a 1973 decision that broadly legalised abortion in the United States. The court is expected to release its final opinion in late June or early July in the case known as Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which challenges the constitutionality of a law Mississippi adopted in 2018 that bans most abortion operations after the first 15 weeks of pregnancy.
Archbishop José Gomez of Los Angeles, president of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and Archbishop William Lori of Baltimore, chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Pro-Life Activities, invited the faithful around the country to unite in fasting and praying on May 13, the Memorial of Our Lady of Fatima.
The California Catholic Conference released a statement on behalf of Bishop Robert McElroy, of the San Diego Diocese, and all 12 California bishops, asking Catholics and others concerned about the sanctity of life to oppose proposed amendment of the state constitution to create any right to abortion.
‘This is the moment for the Church and its 12 million Catholics to engage with their communities, actively and publicly oppose this amendment, and fulfil our baptismal responsibility to protect life at every stage, and at every opportunity.’