Thousands of our fellow citizens will travel to our nation’s capital this month for the 52nd National March for Life.
As the joyous presence of the faithful at last year’s March proved, Christians and people of goodwill cannot abandon our national advocacy for constitutional justice in upholding the human right to life for all.
For decades, the parish halls, gyms, and cafeterias of our diocese have served as places of rest for those traveling from afar to pray and make their voices heard at the March for Life. My heartfelt thanks go out to the clergy and faithful of our diocese who continue to accommodate the needs of our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Thanks are also due to the clergy and faithful of our diocese who organize parish trips to the National Mall. Your earnest dedication to organizing the people of God around a cause as dear to the Church as the sanctity of unborn human life is a powerful witness to a righteous cause.
The U.S. Supreme Court’s 2022 Dobbs decision, which reversed the unjust Roe v. Wade decision of 1973, was the greatest pro-life victory of our lifetimes. Nevertheless, our work to abolish abortion on the federal level continues. As Christians, we have a unique responsibility to encourage officials in each branch of America’s federal government — executive, legislative, and judicial — as well as all our public officials at the state and local levels, to recognize and uphold the constitutional rights of every member of the human family.
I am grateful that the faithful of our diocese have continued to demonstrate what it means to serve as pro-life witnesses to a culture in need of the Lord’s healing.
The Gabriel Project offers life-affirming pregnancy assistance through its confidential helpline, peer accompaniment, and practical support in the form of prenatal care and financial assistance.
Project Rachel continues to provide compassionate care to those affected by abortion through holy hours, prayer support and post-abortion healing retreats.
The Northern Virginia Baby Box initiative gives moms in the area a safe and confidential way to make a gift of their child to adoptive parents through Virginia’s safe haven law.
The clergy and the faithful of the diocese have continued to serve as witnesses for life through their courageous and peaceful advocacy for alternatives outside of abortion facilities and by spiritually adopting the many unborn children in danger of abortion. We all should join in the work of spiritual accompaniment for children whose lives are at stake, encourage schools and other organizations in their area to pray for babies in danger of abortion, and provide assistance to mothers and families in need throughout our diocese.
We also continue to organize the faithful of our diocese through the Virginia Catholic Conference, which, among other vital activities, addresses legislation and executive actions related to the sanctity of life. The faithful of our diocese have continued to write letters, offer testimony, and distribute educational materials as a part of engaging the political process with the goal of ensuring Virginia recognizes the equal dignity of all our brothers and sisters no matter their age or circumstance.
The faithful also continue to pray the Respect Life Novena during the last week of October, the month when the bishops of our country devote particular attention to the sanctity of life through guided prayer intentions and suggested actions to help build a culture of life.
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington, meanwhile, remains steadfast in its care for adoptive parents and mothers and families who are experiencing unplanned pregnancies or parenting through unexpected situations.
We also are blessed in our diocese with the expertise and generosity of theologians and counselors who give of their time to offer guidance and support to those seeking direction amid the death of a parent, an unplanned pregnancy, and other difficult situations.
I am grateful for the contributions of all those in our diocese who feel drawn to helping post-abortive women, praying for vulnerable children still in the womb, and addressing the harms of abortion and remedying its devastating effects in public life.
We are blessed that the Lord has offered the people of our diocese so many ways to contribute to the cause for life. If you are not already involved in a pro-life apostolate and are looking for ways to offer your time or resources to the cause, I ask you to prayerfully consider how you can give of yourself to protect human life and advance the human right to life.
