The U.S. Senate is expected to vote this week on a resolution that could impose abortion-on-demand nationwide without any limits, require taxpayer funding of abortion, put women’s opportunities and spaces at risk of being opened to men (such as in sports, locker rooms, prisons, and shelters), and undermine the religious freedom of people and organizations of faith to carry out their important missions – potentially even requiring Catholic hospitals and health workers to perform abortions and gender procedures on children. On top of these harms, the Senate’s process for this proposal – which attempts to declare that the misnamed “Equal Rights Amendment” (ERA) is a ratified part of the U.S. Constitution – is unconstitutional.

After election results were in, Gracie Skogman, Wisconsin Right to Life’s legislative/PAC director, stated, “We are disappointed and truly troubled about the election of Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice-elect Janet Protasiewicz, who made her support of abortion front and center during her campaign. Although she has shown herself time and time again to be the opposite of an impartial jurist, we call on her to keep her personal values and opinions out of the courtroom and refrain from legislating from the bench.”

In response to the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, Speaker Nancy Pelosi has scheduled another House vote to try to enshrine abortion on demand in federal law through the so-called Women’s Health Protection Act, H.R. 8296.

WASHINGTON - In response to the Supreme Court of the United States issuing its ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore, chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Pro-Life Activities issued the following statement:

“For two years now, Catholic churches have been attacked and vandalized at an alarming rate. In July of 2020, we strained to understand this violence. In October of 2021, we called on elected officials to condemn the attacks. This past January, we prayed that all religious communities would be free to worship without fear. Only rarely have the motives been clear; when they were, it was often opposition to the Church’s teachings on life in the womb..."

In response to the leak of a draft opinion in the Supreme Court case of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on Pro-Life Activities issued the following call to prayer.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) is urging Catholics to contact their members of Congress, asking that they pass the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (S. 1486), which would make the workplace safer for pregnant workers and their unborn children by requiring employers to provide pregnant employees with reasonable accommodations.

“The failure to advance this extreme measure today is a tremendous relief..." Archbishop Lori issues following statement.

The Supreme Court of the United States is scheduled to hear oral arguments in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health, on the Mississippi law banning abortion after 15 weeks. The question before the Court is whether all pre-viability bans on elective abortions are unconstitutional.

The Diocesan Office of Pro-Life is supported through a generous bequest from Monica Meyer.  Each year, money from the Monica Meyer Fund is awarded for Respect Life Anti-Abortion programs in the Diocese of Green Bay. Click here to learn more about the grant and application.

The “Women’s Health Protection Act” (H.R. 3755/S. 1975) would impose abortion on demand, at any stage of pregnancy. It would apply nationwide—even in states that don’t want it. Even modest and popular pro-life laws at every level of government—the federal, state, and local level—would be on the chopping block. This includes parental notification for minor girls, informed consent, and health or safety protections for abortion facilities.

Statement on the recent Texas abortion law

The House and Senate are moving forward on a “human infrastructure” bill. The bill is likely to include things that many Catholics support, including expanded health care coverage. But there is serious concern that such health care proposals will fund elective abortion. Democratic leadership is using a rare process known as “budget reconciliation”, which would allow this “human infrastructure” bill to become law with a simple majority vote (most legislation requires 60 votes in the Senate to move forward).

Congress is trying to force Americans to pay for abortion. The Hyde Amendment and similar laws have protected taxpayers from funding elective abortion for 45 years. Now, powerful members of Congress want to take away these laws that both Democrats and Republicans have supported for nearly half a century. Billions of taxpayer dollars could be used to pay for abortion. TAKE ACTION - Sign the petition to Congress!

Senate Bill 228 (Senator Patrick Testin, R-Stevens Point), which allows the use of alkaline hydrolysis to dispose of human remains in Wisconsin. For Catholics, the human body is the manifestation of God’s image and the burial of the dead is a corporal work of mercy, honoring the sacredness of the body. Alkaline hydrolysis does not treat the deceased of Wisconsin with the reverence and respect that each person deserves.

The Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act (H.R. 619) has again been introduced in Congress to protect babies from infanticide. Some states have passed laws to expand abortion and to repeal laws providing specific protections for babies born alive after surviving an attempted abortion. The Born-Alive Act would provide these specific protections nationwide to help prevent newborns from being killed or left alone to die.

Bishop David L. Ricken encourages everyone in the diocese to educate themselves and defend the faith by weighing in on proposed legislation, especially "The Equality Act." The following links and resources can assist in developing a well-formed conscience and advocating for justice.