Offices of Marriage, Family Life & Pro Life

Passing of Nellie Gray, March for Life Found, Mourned by Pro-Life Spokeswoman

WASHINGTON — At news of the death of Miss Nellie Gray, founder and long-time organizer of the annual national March for Life in Washington, Deirdre McQuade, assistant director for policy and communications at the Pro-Life Secretariat of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), offered the following comment:

2012 People of Life Awards to Therapist, Religious Sister

WASHINGTON — A Sister of Social Service and a psychotherapist received the 2012 People of Life Award for lifetime commitment to the pro-life movement, at an August 6 ceremony at the annual Diocesan Pro-Life Leadership Conference in Anaheim, California. The honorees were Vincent Rue, PhD, and Sister Paula Vandegaer, SSS.

Natural Family Planning Awareness Week Begins July 22

WASHINGTON — “Faithfully Yours” is the theme of Natural Family Planning Awareness Week, July 22-28, a national educational campaign of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) on the Catholic teaching on married love and the gift of human life.

Bishop's Urge Congress to Act on Religious Liberty Crisis

WASHINGTON — Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, chair of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities, called on Congress to address the crisis in health care sparked by the Obama administration’s contraceptive/sterilization coverage mandate in an August 3 letter to members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.

Text of Blessing of a Child in the Womb now Available

WASHINGTON — Following Vatican approval, the "“Rite for the Blessing of a Child in the Womb"” is now available for use by dioceses in the United States.

Bishops Welcome Inclusion of Conscience Provisions in House Appropriations Bill

WASHINGTON — The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor/HHS “took a first, urgently needed step toward upholding rights of conscience and religious freedom in our health care system,” by including two key provisions in its appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2013, according to the chairman of the Committee on Pro-Life Activities for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).

Vatican Approves English and Spanish Texts for "Blessing of a Child in the Womb"

WASHINGTON - The Vatican has approved the publication of the "Rite for the Blessing of a Child in the Womb," which will be printed in English and Spanish in a combined booklet and should be available for parishes by Mothers' Day.

Office of Pro Life