Abortion

Church Documents and Teachings

• Selected Quotes from Church Documents, compiled in April 2008
• Catholics in Political Life, USCCB, June 2004 (En Español)
• A Matter of the Heart: On the 30th Anniversary of Roe vs. Wade, USCCB, November 12, 2002 (En Español)
• Pastoral Plan for Pro-Life Activities: A Campaign in Support of Life, USCCB, November 2001
• Living the Gospel of Life: A Challenge to American Catholics, USCCB, November 1998 (En Español)
• 25th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade, Message to Cardinal Bernard Law, Pope John Paul II, December 29, 1997 
• Light and Shadows: Our Nation 25 Years After Roe v. Wade, USCCB, November 12, 1997
• Faithful for Life: A Moral Reflection, USCCB, September 1995
• Evangelium Vitae: On the Value and Inviolability of Human Life, Pope John Paul II, March 25, 1995 (En Español)
• Resolution on Abortion, USCCB, November 7, 1989
• Donum Vitae: Instruction on Respect for Human Life, Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, February 22, 1987 (En Español)
• Declaration on Procured Abortion, Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, November 18, 1974 (En Español)
• Excerpts from Human Life in Our Day, NCCB, November 16, 1968
• Excerpts from Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, Second Vatican Council, November 7, 1965

Basic Information

• Current Abortion Statistics
• Fetal Development
• Abortion Methods
• Abortion: Test Your Grip on Reality [Contains Outdated Material]
• Abortion Laws
• Fact Sheet: Respect for Unborn Human Life: The Church's Constant Teaching
• Fact Sheet: RU-486 - Mifepristone/Misoprostol Abortion
• Fact Sheet: Planned Parenthood Federation of America

Articles and Publications

• Abortion and Catholic Social Teaching, Rev. Thomas D. Williams, L.C.,  2007
• Abortion and Breast Cancer: The Link That Won't Go Away, Angela Lanfranchi, M.D., 2007
• Partial Birth Abortion: A Bridge Too Far, Susan E. Wills, Esq., 2006  
• Roe v. Reason,Richard Stith, J.D., Ph.D., 2005
• Ten Legal Reasons to Reject Roe , Susan E. Wills, Esq.,  2003
• Women Deserve Better Than Abortion, Serrin M. Foster, 2003
• Moving Toward a Culture of Life, Cathleen A. Cleaver, 2001
• In God's Image: Building a Culture of Life, Cardinal John J. O'Connor, 2000
• Choose Life: Toward a Culture of Life in the New Millenium, Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap.,1998
• Partial Birth Abortion:The Writing on the Wall,Susan E. Wills, Esq., 1997
• The Good News: More Than Black and White,Rev. Stephen F. Brett, SSJ, 1996
• The Church's Love Letter to the World, Rev. Richard John Neuhaus, 1996

Columns and Commentary

• Light and Shadows in the Cause of Life, by Susan Wills, May 27, 2011 (En Español)
• Upholding a Right Not to Kill, By Richard Doerflinger, Life Issues Forum, April 29, 2011 (En Español)
• Taxpayer funding and Planned Parenthood , By Vicki Evans, Life Issues Forum, April 1, 2011 (En Español)
• A Grisly Business , by Tom Grenchik, Life Issues Forum, March 18, 2011 (En Español)
• Finding Truth and Peace this Lent, by Susan E. Wills, Life Issues Forum, March 4, 2011 (En Español)
• Ending Abortion Through Adoption,by Mary McClusky, Life Issues Forum, February 4, 2011 (En Español)
• Mental Health Risks and Abortion,by Kimberly Baker, Life Issues Forum, February 4, 2011
• Healing an Abortion-Wounded Nation ,by Deirdre McQuade, Life Issues Forum, January 21, 2011
• Too Many of Whom?, by Richard M. Doerflinger, Life Issues Forum, December 24, 2010
• Voices From the Womb, by Mary McClusky, Life Issues Forum, November 26, 2010
• Pro-Life America by Deirdre A. McQuade, Life Issues Forum, May 29, 2009 (En Español)
• Dear Congress: Protect Laws that Protect Life by Deirdre A. McQuade, Life Issues Forum, January 16, 2009 (En Español) 
• 4 Out of 5 Adults Surveyed... Would Limit Abortion  by Deirdre A. McQuade, Life Issues Forum, January 9, 2009 (En Español) 
• Fatalism Can Be Fatal by Susan E. Wills, Life Issues Forum, October 17, 2008
• What Reduces Abortions? by Richard Doerflinger, Life Issues Forum, October 10, 2008
• Free for Me, But Not for Thee?, by Richard M. Doerflinger, Life Issues Forum, September 19, 2008
• Reducing Abortions by Promoting Abortions?, by Tom Grenchik, Life Issues Forum, September 5, 2008
• Agenda-Driven Science, by Susan E. Wills, Esq., Life Issues Forum, August 22, 2008
• Supreme Court Out of Touch with the Mainstream on Abortion, by Deirdre A. McQuade, Life Issues Forum, January 25, 2008
• The Courage of One, With Support of Many, by Mary Jaminet, Life Issues Forum, November 30, 2007
• Lying About Safe Abortions, by Richard M. Doerflinger, Life Issues Forum, October 19, 2007
• In the Interest of the Child, by Richard M. Doerflinger, Life Issues Forum, July 27, 2007
• The Resolution to the Resolution, by Tom Grenchik, Life Issues Forum, July 13, 2007
• Abortion - The First Human Rights Abuse, by Ken Ong, Life Issues Forum, June 15, 2007
• Profiting from Death at Any Cost, by Mary Jaminet, Life Issues Forum, June 1, 2007
• Blessed is the Fruit of Your Womb, by Deirdre A. McQuade, Life Issues Forum, May 18, 2007
• First, Do No Harm, by Susan E. Wills, Esq., Life Issues Forum, March 9, 2007
• Post Abortion Healing Is Possible, by Deirdre A. McQuade, Life Issues Forum, February 23, 2007
• Protecting the "Pro-Life" Label, by Mary Jaminet, Life Issues Forum, February 9, 2007

Specific Abortion Issues

• Abortions in Military Hospitals
• Abortion Non-Discrimination/Conscience Rights
• Born-Alive Infants Protection Act
• Freedom of Choice Act
• International Abortion Issues
• Parental Rights  
• Partial Birth Abortion
• Post-Abortion Healing
• Roe v. Wade
• Women and the Culture of Life

Testimony and Letters

• Cardinal DiNardo Letter to the Senate on HR-2354, November 14, 2011
  
• Cardinal DiNardo Letter to Congress Concerning the "Protect Life Act", HR 358, October 12, 2011
• Cardinal DiNardo Letter on Defunding Planned Parenthood, April 13, 2011
  Hearing on HR-3: No Taxpayer Funding of Abortion Act, Testimony to House Subcommittee on the Constitution of the House Judiciary Committee, Richard Doerflinger, February 8, 2011 (Oral Testimony)
  Cardinal DiNardo Letter in Support of HR-3, January 21, 2011
• Cardinal DiNardo Letter in Support of HR-358, January 21, 2011
• Letter to Congress Urging Support of HR5939, by Cardinal DiNardo, August 20, 2010
  Issues of Life and Conscience in Health Care Reform: An Analysis of the "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act" of 2010, May 24, 2010
• Letter to House Appropriations Committee on Abortion Funding in the District of Columbia Cardinal Justin Rigali, June 30, 2009
• On Retaining Pro-Life Laws, Letter to Congress, Cardinal Rigali, February 5, 2009
• On Executive Orders Regarding Abortion Letter to President-Elect Obama, Cardinal George, January 16, 2009
• Roe v. Wade Hearing, Testimony to House Committee on the Judiciary, Helen Alvare
  On Constitutional Amendment Protecting Unborn Human Life, Testimony to Sub-Committee on Constitutional Amendments of the Senate Committee, USCCB, March 7, 1974
  Testimony of Cardinal John Krol
  Testimony of Cardinal Timothy Manning
  Testimony of Cardinal Humberto Medeiros
  Testimony of Cardinal John Cody
  On Constitutional Amendment Protecting Unborn Human Life, Testimony to Sub-Committee on Civil and Constitutional Rights of the House Sub-Committee on the Judiciary, USCCB, March 24, 1976
  Testimony of Archbishop Joseph Bernardin
  Testimony of Cardinal Terence Cooke

News Releases and Statements

• Bishops' Pro-Life Official Hails House Passage of 'Protect Life Act' October 14, 2011
  

• USCCB Welcomes House Passage of ‘No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act’ May 5, 2011
• Bishops to Congress: At a Time of Painful Budget Cuts, Defunding Planned Parenthood ‘Not One of Those Hard Choices’ April 14, 2011
• Permanent Ban on Abortion Funding Long Overdue, Says USCCB in House Testimony February 8, 2011
• Bishops Support Three Bills to Strengthen Protections for Life and Conscience January  24, 2011
• Cardinal Rigali Protests Move to Fund Abortion in District of Columbia June 30, 2009
• Cardinal George Praises President Obama’s Promise to Support Conscience Clauses, Seeks to Work With Administration on Goal May 22, 2009
• Pro-Life E-Mail Campaign to Congress Expands National Postcard Campaign Effort March 4, 2009
• Cardinal Rigali to Congress: Keep Existing Pro-Life Laws February 5, 2009
• Massive Nationwide Pro-Life Postcard Campaign Underway February 4, 2009
• Gallup Poll: Most Americans Disapprove of Mexico City Policy Reversal February 3, 2009
• President Obama's Reversal of Mexico City Policy "Very Disappointing," Says Pro-Life Committee Chair January 23, 2009
• Bishops Urge New President to Keep Laws on Conscience Rights,
  Foreign Aid for Abortion, Embryonic Stem Cell Research January 19, 2009
• Legal Protection for Unborn, Support for Mothers Both Needed, Say Cardinal Rigali and Bishop Murphy October 21, 2008
• Joint Statement by Cardinal Justin Rigali and Bishop William Murphy October 21, 2008
• On Abortion and the African American Family, Bishop Martin Holley, October 15, 2008
• Cardinal Rigali Urges Respect for Human Life, Opposition to "Freedom of Choice" Act September 30, 2008
• Pro-Life Chair to Congress: "We Can't Reduce Abortions By Promoting Abortion" September 22, 2008
• Pro-Life Chair to Congress: We Can't Reduce Abortions by Promoting Abortion" September 22, 2008
• Bishops To Take Up Abortion and Politics At November Assembly September 10, 2008
• Bishops Respond to Senator Biden's Statement Regarding Church Teaching on Abortion September 9, 2008
• Bishops' Pro-Life Office Debuts Stem Cell Research, Abortion Ads September 5, 2008
• Church Teaching Against Abortion Constant Through Centuries, Says New Resource September 2, 2008
• Bishops Respond to House Speaker Pelosi's Misrepresentation of Church Teaching Against Abortion  August 26, 2008
• Cardinal Thanks President Bush for Pledge to Veto Pro-Abortion Laws May 4, 2007
• Second Look Project launches "Supreme Court Countdown" Campaign On Partial-Birth Abortion January 19, 2007
• U.S. Bishops Urge Amnesty International To Reject Abortion Initiative; Proposal Threatens To Divide Human Rights Advocates  November 20, 2006
• Latest Guttmacher Institute Report At Odds With Itself May 3, 2006
• Statement of the Committee for Pro-Life Affairs NCCB, 1973
• Pastoral Message of the Administrative Committee NCCB,1973
• Pro-Life Constitutional Amendment Resolution of the NCCB, November 13, 1973