National Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children - Remembering Over 63 Million Babies Killed in Abortion
WASHINGTON – On January 22, 1973, the Supreme Court of the United States legalized abortion nationwide in its decision on Roe v. Wade. Bishop Daniel Thomas of Toledo, Ohio, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities called on the faithful to pray “Our united prayers, sacrifices, and efforts to protect human life and heal the wounds inflicted by abortion remain as important as ever,” on the anniversary of the court’s decision.
SEE ALSO: 9 Day Prayers for Life: https://www.catholicnewsworld.com/2026/01/us-bishops-invite-catholics-nationwide.html
SEE ALSO: 9 Day Prayers for Life: https://www.catholicnewsworld.com/2026/01/us-bishops-invite-catholics-nationwide.html
Prayer to St. Joseph for Life: https://www.respectlife.org/prayer-to-st-joseph
2026 USCCB Statement - “...life is still gravely threatened by legalized abortion as it continues to be aggressively promoted at the state and federal level" https://www.catholicnewsworld.com/2026/01/us-bishops-pro-life-chair-bishop-thomas_13.html
January 22 marks the 53rd anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court decision making abortion legal in all 50 states. Highlights of Bishop Thomas' statement follow:
“January 22 marks the anniversary of the tragic U.S. Supreme Court decision, Roe v. Wade, that legalized abortion nationwide and led to the loss of over 65 million children and immeasurable harm to their parents and family members. This solemn day is commemorated each year with the observance of the Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children for prayer, penance, and our personal recommitment to the cause of life.
“We continue to give thanks to God for the opportunity to defend human life in law through the overturn of Roe in 2022. Since that time, we have seen several pro-life victories. Most recently, at the national level, Congress acted heroically last year in largely defunding Planned Parenthood of federal taxpayer dollars. Meanwhile the Administration has reversed several of its predecessor’s pro-abortion policies.
“Despite these successes, human life is still gravely threatened by legalized abortion as it continues to be aggressively promoted at the state and federal level. Many challenges remain, including pro-abortion ballot initiatives, the increased use and availability of abortion pills, and the need to protect the Hyde Amendment to keep taxpayer funded abortion out of national health care bills. We must continue to support pregnant and parenting mothers in need and offer spiritual and emotional help to all who have participated in abortion. Our united prayers, sacrifices, and efforts to protect human life and heal the wounds inflicted by abortion remain as important as ever.
“We continue to give thanks to God for the opportunity to defend human life in law through the overturn of Roe in 2022. Since that time, we have seen several pro-life victories. Most recently, at the national level, Congress acted heroically last year in largely defunding Planned Parenthood of federal taxpayer dollars. Meanwhile the Administration has reversed several of its predecessor’s pro-abortion policies.
“Despite these successes, human life is still gravely threatened by legalized abortion as it continues to be aggressively promoted at the state and federal level. Many challenges remain, including pro-abortion ballot initiatives, the increased use and availability of abortion pills, and the need to protect the Hyde Amendment to keep taxpayer funded abortion out of national health care bills. We must continue to support pregnant and parenting mothers in need and offer spiritual and emotional help to all who have participated in abortion. Our united prayers, sacrifices, and efforts to protect human life and heal the wounds inflicted by abortion remain as important as ever.
With quotes from a release of the USCCB from 2022
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