As Respect Life Month kicked off, Archbishop Nelson Perez of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia tweeted about its importance in the Catholic Church.

“October is Respect Life Month!” Perez tweeted. “Please join me in praying for the renewal of respect for life this month and always! May God bless you abundantly.” 

Meanwhile, Archbishop William E. Lori, of Baltimore, outlined the Church's stance against abortion, and called for a revival of the culture of life as a key focus for the month.

“It is the time for a renewal and rededication of our efforts to build a culture of life and civilization of love,” Lori said, according to a release from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). Lori is the former chair of the USCCB. “Justice requires that the basic protections of the law against violence be extended to the pre-born child... a world in which all are welcome requires not only justice, but compassion, healing, and above all, unconditional love.”  

Lori said Catholics must “shift the paradigm to what St. Pope John Paul II described as ‘radical solidarity,’ making the good of others our own good, including especially mothers, babies (born and unborn), and families throughout the entire human lifespan.”

He mentioned the Dobbs v. Jackson ruling earlier this year as a starting point for the Church to pray for pro-life legislation in the states.

“Our Church understands that parents, children, and families need help not just during pregnancy, but throughout the whole of life’s journey because millions of Catholics already accompany their neighbors in such circumstances,” he continued.

The Catholic Church has long stood against abortion, regardless of evolving biological theories about when exactly life begins, USCCB says. According to the Catechism, "Since the first century the Church has affirmed the moral evil of every procured abortion. This teaching has not changed and remains unchangeable. Direct abortion, that is to say, abortion willed either as an end or a means, is gravely contrary to the moral law" (No. 2271) 

A May Gallup Poll found that the majority of Americans do not support unrestricted access to abortion. Half (50%) of respondents said they believe abortion should only be legal under certain circumstances, and 13% of respondents believed abortion should be illegal in all circumstances. A third (35%) of respondents believed abortion should be legal in all cases. 

RespectLife.org has materials to help Catholics better understand the gift of human life and to rebuild the culture of life both within and outside the Church. The group’s website includes a parish webinar, Respect Life poster, Prayer for pregnant mothers, an action guide and other resources. 

“Our work for the cause of life is more spiritual than it is political,” Los Angeles Archbishop Jose Gomez, who also is president of the USCCB, tweeted about Respect Life Month. “We believe that our God is a God of love. Let us ask him today in our rosary to open our hearts to the love for all life, even those hardest to love.”