US Catholics on nine-day campaign for life

January 18, 2013 - The Catholic bishops of the United States have invited the faithful to participate in “Nine Days of Prayer, Penance and Pilgrimage” for life, starting on Saturday, surrounding the 40th anniversary of legalized abortion throughout the country. The Jan. 19-27 event features a youth-friendly novena with daily intercessions, reflections and acts of reparation, as well as facts about abortions. Materials have been published on the website of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Bishops (USCCB) for those who want to participate in the novena. Jan. 22 marks 40 years since the Supreme Court legalized abortion throughout the nation with its decision in Roe v. Wade.
“In addition to our current everyday pro-life efforts, a nation-wide commitment to prayer and penance is essential to ushering in a culture of life,” said Tom Grenchik, executive director of the USCCB Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities . He emphasized the need to “respond to 40 years of the culture of death with great confidence and hope.” More than 55 million unborn children have been killed through abortion since that ruling. Hundreds of thousands of pro-life supporters are expected to flood Washington, D.C., on Jan. 25 for the annual March for Life.
The bishops are asking Catholics to pray and fast for a renewed respect for life in America during the days surrounding the anniversary and the march. The initiative is part of a larger movement by the bishops to encourage prayer for the defense of life, marriage and religious liberty in the United States.