From the Office of the Bishop
May 7, 2021
As a young priest, I encountered many people, men and women both, who were profoundly wounded by abortion. Their painful experiences led me to get involved in the pro-life movement, as I came to realize in a deeper way the personal and societal effects of abortion. Almost fifty years after Roe v. Wade, 66 million lives have been snuffed out at the very beginning of their existence and countless individuals have been spiritually, emotionally, and psychologically damaged by this profound violence; we still have legal abortion in the United States, with many of our national leaders embracing a pro-abortion position, including self-professed Catholics.
Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone, the Archbishop of San Francisco, issued a pastoral letter on May 1, entitled, “Before I Formed You in the Womb, I Knew You.” A timely reflection on the moral evil of abortion, the need to challenge political leaders who are pro-abortion — especially those who profess Catholicism — and the linkage between the Eucharist and communion with the Church in her doctrinal and moral teaching, “Before I Formed You in the Womb, I Knew You” invites us to reflect on these important issues and to deepen our commitment to building a culture of life in our country and world. I encourage you to read and pray over this pastoral letter, which can be found here: https://sfarchdiocese.org/inthewomb
We are grateful for our government leaders who seek to build a civilization of love, respect, compassion and justice for all people, especially the unborn, the poor, the suffering, and the marginalized. We pray for those leaders who pursue government policies and laws which seek to further entrench abortion rights and other assaults on innocent human life. St. John Paul II opined, “A nation that kills its own children has no future.” May we all have a deep conversion to the love and practice of the universal moral law which God has written upon the human heart. The flourishing of the common good, the spiritual health of our society and our very future as a country depend on it.
Blessings and prayers,
+Donald J. Hying
Bishop of Madison