In the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s ruling on abortion rights, and in light of Religious Freedom Week, the Diocese of Allentown reminded women that options exist to help them cope with an unplanned pregnancy.

“Many women facing unexpected pregnancies may feel like they have no options and that abortion is the only way forward,” the diocese said in a Facebook posting. “As a pro-life community, we can support local pregnancy centers where they exist, through our time and our charity.”

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) says the theme for this year's Religious Freedom Week, which started Monday, is Life and Dignity for All. The USCCB maintains that the point of freedom is to be able to serve one another, through such things as health care, fostering or supporting adoption services. The USCCB also encourages Americans to pray for and support persecuted Christians in other parts of the world, such as China.

In conjunction with that, the USCCB encouraged Catholics to show support for local pregnancy centers. They can do that by volunteering or donating, and the bishops said that these centers "are vital in our construction of a culture of life and removing a false choice between promoting the life of the mother and that of the child."

The USCCB promotes Walking with Moms in Need as a way to better understand the needs of pregnant women. Walking with Moms in Need, established in 2020, supports women who are pregnant or already mothers. It is a nationwide program, but it is also parish-based, with an emphasis on communities supporting local women and helping to connect them with agencies and resources they need.

“Whether or not our communities have pregnancy centers, we can also find and share other resources with pregnant and parenting women,” the diocese said online. “During this Religious Freedom Week, we pray that women facing unplanned pregnancies will continue to have access to support from people who help them choose life.”