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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/thedialog.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/30155438\/20260930T1424-OCTOBER-USCCB-RESPECT-LIFE-MONTH-1827490-scaled.jpg\" "\\"PROTEST")
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WASHINGTON \u2014 Bishop Daniel E. Thomas of Toledo, Ohio, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops\u2019 Committee on Pro-Life Activities, urged the faithful to mark Respect Life Month with prayer, deeper reflection and action.<\/p>\n
Respect Life Month is observed every October by the U.S. Catholic Church. This year, the theme chosen is Mary, Mother of Life.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cOur Blessed Mother is our model for upholding the sanctity of all human life in every stage and circumstance. We entrust all our efforts to protect mothers and babies to her motherly care, which we greatly need at this time,\u201d Bishop Thomas said in a Sept. 29 statement.<\/p>\n \u201cToday, with easier access to abortion pills, the abortion rate is tragically climbing, along with increased health risks,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n The Trump administration has sought to pause multiple state lawsuits seeking to roll back Biden administration-era eased restrictions on mifepristone, a drug commonly used for first trimester abortion, but which is also used in some miscarriage care protocols.<\/p>\n Thus far the administration has left that regulation in effect while seeking to block those challenges, pending a promised FDA safety review, resulting in frustration from pro-life advocates.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Food and Drug Administration has enabled a nationwide mail-order abortion industry by allowing the abortion pill to be prescribed in telehealth appointments, sold both at neighborhood pharmacies and online, and often shipped in the mail, circumventing state laws that protect life in the womb,\u201d Bishop Thomas said.<\/p>\n \u201cThis means that more women, many of whom have been misinformed about the nature and risks of the abortion pill, will have an abortion alone at home, without any medical supervision,\u201d he continued. \u201cIt also sets up additional opportunities for exploitation by violent partners or human traffickers. These affronts to human dignity demand our response.\u201d<\/p>\n Bishop Thomas\u2019 statement echoed joint remarks he and Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of Oklahoma City, USCCB<\/a> president, made in early August ahead of the Aug. 18 launch of a nationwide call to prayer and action to mobilize Catholics to address the rising abortion rate and the increased availability of an abortion-inducing drug.<\/p>\n \u201cEvery abortion involves the death of a child and harm to the mother. Now with easier access to abortion pills, the abortion rate is tragically climbing, along with increased health risks,\u201d the prelates said.<\/p>\n In his Sept. 29 statement, Bishop Thomas thanked \u201cthe many thousands of Catholics across the country who have embraced the nationwide invitation to prayer and action on abortion pills.\u201d<\/p>\n He said he wanted to ask the faithful to \u201ccontinue our prayers and advocacy throughout the month of October\u201d and invited them to visit the Respect Life Prayer and Action website, https:\/\/www.respectlife.org\/abortion-pills<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n