By Light of the East staff
The official United States bodies of both the Catholic and Orthodox bishops issued statements Friday praising the decision of the Supreme Court to remove abortion as a constitutional right, and return the issue to the democratic process.
In an announcement posted to its website, the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America reiterated a passage from its June 19 address, “On the Sacredness of Human Life and its Untimely Termination,” issued in anticipation of the Supreme Court’s decision: “any act to terminate life in the womb – whether by abortive medications, medical procedures, or destructive behavior – is considered murder, and risks terrible spiritual consequences for those involved.”
Metropolitan Gregory, secretary of the Assembly and head of the American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese of the USA, stated, “It is good that our government sees the moral deficiency in abortion. Now, let us not forget that it is our duty as Church to care for those in need. Therefore, we encourage parishes and humanitarian organizations to expand their services and education in order to shepherd single mothers and couples through difficult situations.”
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops issued its own statement on Dobbs: “This is a historic day in the life of our country, one that stirs our thoughts, emotions and prayers. For nearly fifty years, America has enforced an unjust law that has permitted some to decide whether others can live or die; this policy has resulted in the deaths of tens of millions of preborn children, generations that were denied the right to even be born.”
The Catholic bishops’ statement concludes by pledging to continue the pro-life work of the Church in bringing resources and support to women facing an unplanned, even unwanted pregnancy: “Now is the time to begin the work of building a post-Roe America. It is a time for healing wounds and repairing social divisions; it is a time for reasoned reflection and civil dialogue, and for coming together to build a society and economy that supports marriages and families, and where every woman has the support and resources she needs to bring her child into this world in love.
“As religious leaders, we pledge ourselves to continue our service to God’s great plan of love for the human person, and to work with our fellow citizens to fulfill America’s promise to guarantee the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for all people.”
The Orthodox bishops also reaffirmed their commitment to supporting pro-life work so that every woman facing a crisis pregnancy has the support she needs.