By Bishop David Ricken | On Mission
Hello, my dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
My friends, on the morning of July 2, to my great sadness our Wisconsin Supreme Court struck down the state’s 1849 law making abortions once again legal in our state.
As Catholics, Christians and all people of good will, we must continue to witness to the value, dignity and sacredness of every human life from conception until natural death. In the words of Pope Leo XIV (then Bishop Prevost, Bishop of Chiclayo, Peru), “We cannot build a just society if we discard the weakest — whether the child in the womb or the elderly in their frailty — for they are both gifts from God” (Homily, Chiclayo, 2019). We must speak up for those “gifts of God” who do not have a voice and whose cry goes unheard.
I have seen firsthand the sorrow and devastation that abortion causes for women, men and our entire society. I have spoken with women who have shared their pain of having had an abortion. Many of them had repented of the sin of abortion but found it hard to receive the healing and love of God for them following this tragic act.
We, as a Church, walk with all mothers and fathers through the long road of healing. The pain inflicted by abortion is real and the Church stands ready and willing to walk with all those suffering.
As a pro-life community, we stand with and walk with all those who need our assistance. From the young woman who just found out she is pregnant and does not know what to do, to the woman who had an abortion decades ago and wants to know if she is forgiven by God and can experience healing, to the father who may regret his role in supporting the abortion or who feels helpless to prevent it from happening, to a world that just wants to know what is the right way to go when it comes to life.
Abortion is the social justice issue of our day; we must confront this evil with our prayer and good works. Again, Pope Leo XIV reminds us as he did the Vatican Diplomatic Corps in May, “No one is exempted from striving to ensure respect for the dignity of every person, especially the most frail and vulnerable, from the unborn to the elderly, from the sick to the unemployed, citizens and immigrants alike.” Let us love one another as Christ loves us.
If you have had an abortion and you are reading this now, please know that I and the Church desire to walk with you on the road to healing and forgiveness. You are loved by God. He never stopped loving you and will never stop loving you. The pain you feel is real, and it is a pain that Jesus wishes to take on himself so that you can experience his love and forgiveness.
Healing is possible, and the Church community provides a host of resources to walk with you. Pregnancy resource centers are on the front lines of offering support to anyone who comes to their doors. Catholic Charities in the Diocese of Green Bay and throughout the state can provide healing resources, counseling and adoption services to anyone needing help. Many churches are walking with moms in need and providing assistance and referrals to the many resources available.
If you are pregnant and unsure where to turn, please stop by your church or call a pregnancy resource center for assistance. We love you and want to help. If you are pregnant and do not know what to do, you are not alone. Let us walk with you to find life and wholeness for yourself and for your baby.