W H A T | Press Conference: Catholic Church Response to Overturning of Roe v. Wade
W H E N | Saturday June 25, 2022, 10 am
W H E R E | Mount St. Mary Seminary and School of Theology
6616 Beechmont Ave. Cincinnati, OH 45230
Release Date: June 24, 2022
Roe v. Wade Overturned: Positive Step Toward a Culture of Life
The Archdiocese of Cincinnati welcomes the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization overturning the Roe v. Wade decision of 1973
The Archdiocese of Cincinnati will hold a press conference, including the Archbishop of Cincinnati, Most Reverend Dennis M. Schnurr, tomorrow, Saturday, June 25 at 10am at Mount St. Mary Seminary and School of Theology. The press conference will be held in the main building at the seminary. In addition to Archbishop Schnurr the Director of the Respect Life Office and several Catholic professionals will be offering comments in their area of expertise. All media are invited to attend.
Archbishop of Cincinnati, Most Reverend Dennis M. Schnurr, released the following letter to the faithful today:
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Today’s Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which reverses the Roe v. Wade decision of 1973, is a welcome and potential watershed moment in the history of the United States. This decision means that states, including Ohio, now have the option to legally protect the most vulnerable of all human beings: babies in the womb.
The constant teaching of the Catholic Church is that human life begins at conception. God alone is the Author and Lord of life. Therefore, the intentional taking of innocent human life is intrinsically evil and must always be opposed. Modern science only strengthens the Church’s opposition to abortion, as advancements in genetics and prenatal imaging increasingly demonstrate that a unique human life begins at conception.
For the past 50 years, Catholics and other people of good will have peacefully prayed in front of abortion clinics, marched in Washington, D.C. and petitioned their lawmakers, hoping that the blessed day would come when communities would no longer be required by law to sanction the killing of innocent human beings in the womb. Equally important, we have assisted women in unexpected or crisis pregnancies with material resources and personal accompaniment, both during pregnancy and after their child is born. Expectant mothers can face many challenges, including lack of support from the father, financial strains, concerns about her own health and that of her child, and pressures from family and friends. Thank you to the pregnancy centers, Catholic Charities, St. Vincent de Paul conferences, Catholic healthcare systems and other wonderful pro-life ministries that have steadfastly walked with women in need, helping them navigate these difficult circumstances.
For a listing of the many resources available for women in unexpected or crisis pregnancies in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, please go to https://catholicaoc.org/forlife.
Despite these efforts, more than 65 million innocent children have lost their lives to abortion in the United States since Roe v. Wade. This sad fact demonstrates the desperate need for conversion of hearts and minds to a culture of life in our country, one that respects the inherent dignity and sacredness of every human being from conception to natural death.
The reversal of Roe v. Wade will not by itself bring about this conversion, but prayer and a joyful outpouring of love and support for pregnant women, especially those most in need, will bring us closer. No woman should feel so alone, coerced or hopeless that she chooses to end her child’s life through abortion. I urge everyone in our archdiocese to both pray for and actively assist all expectant mothers. Together, let us redouble our commitment to caring for women, children and families so that abortion is not only illegal, but unthinkable.
O Blessed Mother, you received the good news of the incarnation of Christ, your Son, with faith and trust. Grant your protection to all pregnant mothers facing difficulties.
Guide us as we strive to make our parish communities places of welcome and assistance for mothers in need. Help us become instruments of God’s love and compassion.
Mary, Mother of the Church, graciously help us to build a culture of life and a civilization of love, together with all people of good will, to the praise and glory of God, the Creator and lover of life. Amen.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Most Reverend Dennis M. Schnurr
Archbishop of Cincinnati
The Catholic Church remains committed to supporting women & families
The Catholic Church in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati seeks to create a culture of life infused with Christian love in action. Below are some of the local agencies and services empowering women and families facing crisis pregnancies or in need of family support.
Assisting Women who are Pregnant:
- Women’s Care Centers / Pregnancy Care Centers / Family Life Centers: More than 35 centers in the Cincinnati and Dayton/Miami Valley area provide a broad range of services for women facing unexpected pregnancies. A complete list of centers in the Cincinnati and Miami Valley area can be found here.
- Holy Family Prenatal Care: accompaniment and assistance for pregnant women
- Rustic Hope: provides personal assistance and resources to moms as needed
- Old St. Mary’s Pregnancy Care Center: provides bible studies, classes and resources for expectant mothers, all focused on affirming the sacredness of every human life
- Walking with Mom’s in Need: program helping connect pregnancy care centers with Catholic parishes to foster better support for women in need
- Respect Life Groups in Church Parishes: provides parishes with opportunities to put parish pro-life convictions into action
Assisting Families and Children:
- Catholic Charities of Southwest Ohio: provides parenting classes and family services as well as food pantries in rural areas
- Catholic Social Services of the Miami Valley: provides parenting and pregnancy support
- Society of St. Vincent de Paul: provides services to community members in need, inclusive of food, clothing, beds, pharmaceuticals, and basic needs
- Respect Life Office of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati: helps Catholic organizations, parishes, families, and our community at large foster a consistent ethic of life
Offering Hope and Healing to Mothers and Families:
- Project Rachel: offers confidential post-abortive healing to those who have been affected by abortion
- Heaven’s Gain: offers support to families suffering the death of a baby at any gestational age including premature birth or at the newborn stage
- Reviv: offers practical and emotional support to families of a child that receives a life-altering or life-threatening diagnosis
Media Resources
Livestream link to the press conference can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwI1n_b0Y7Y
The July issue of The Catholic Telegraph, the magazine of the archdiocese, is themed, Walking with Moms. Online content from the issue can be found here.
Additional resource information for women, families and children can be found at https://catholicaoc.org/forlife.
In addition to the press conference, Catholic professionals from several fields are available to the media for interviews. Areas to explore include prenatal care, abortion pill reversal, and moral theology. Please contact Jennifer Schack to arrange.
Jennifer Schack
Director of Media Relations
Archdiocese of Cincinnati
Office | 513.263.6618
Cell | 859.512.5626
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The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati is the 44th largest Catholic diocese in the country, with more than 440,000 Catholics, and has the fifth largest Catholic school system in terms of enrollment with more than 40,000 students. The 19-county territory includes 208 parishes and 111 Catholic primary and secondary schools.
A PDF of the Press Release is available here: Roe v. Wade Overturned P.R. June 2022
