After his November election to chair the U.S. bishops’ pro-life committee, Bishop Michael F. Burbidge spoke of the need to “transform hearts” in part by communicating how the Catholic Church walks with women before, during and after crisis pregnancies. The latest alerts from the Virginia Catholic Conference reflect that approach.
In a Feb. 15 email, the Virginia bishops’ public policy arm urged Catholics to support two pro-life bills that had passed the state house and now faced a pivotal state senate hearing. The Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act would have required providing a child that survives an attempted abortion with “the same life-saving care that any other babies would receive after birth,” the VCC said. Another measure would have provided “pregnant women considering abortion information about alternatives and resources available before making this life-changing decision,” it said. Included prominently in the pre-vote VCC alert was a plug for an array of life-affirming services in Virginia.
“Pregnant and need help? Click here to find pregnancy resources offered by our two dioceses,” the email read.
A link took recipients to a document entitled “A Catholic Response to Women in Need: Diocesan-Affiliated Pregnancy Resources in Virginia.” Two pages illustrated how Catholic organizations support crisis pregnancies, and where counseling or help with housing, medical care, baby resources or adoption services is available. The link appears in the weekly VCC legislative recap emails as well to raise awareness of pro-life resources. For example:
—The Mother of Mercy Medical Clinic provided 327 women with free prenatal medical care in 2021.
—The Gabriel Project served 381 women in need that same year. The ministry benefited “Abby,” a pregnant, young woman who already had two small children at home and faced “considerable pressure to have an abortion,” going 12 weeks without prenatal care. The Gabriel Project paid for prenatal care and provided for her material needs during pregnancy.
—Across the Commonwealth, 951 parents and children were impacted positively by Catholic Charities adoption services.
While both proposals failed to advance in the senate Feb. 16, in more favorable pro-life outcomes, the VCC reported Feb. 17 that a “resolution seeking to enshrine a ‘right to abortion’ in Virginia’s constitution (passed previously by the senate) was defeated in a House subcommittee.”
