Today is a tragic day for women, children and families in Ohio. We mourn that the dignity of human life remains concealed by the duplicity of a culture of death. Though this is a day of sorrow, we are never without hope. St. Paul tells us that it is in hope that we were saved and, “if we hope for what we do not see, we wait with endurance.”
Asking for God’s protection and mercy, we must look ahead. Despite the obstacles this amendment presents, the Catholic Church in Ohio will continue to work for policies that defend the most vulnerable, strengthen the child-parent relationship, and support women in need. As we pray for the conversion of minds and hearts to the gospel of life, we recommit ourselves to defending children in the womb and supporting women in need. The Catholic Church and faithful will never grow weary in our mission to help women and families flourish through ministries such as Walking with Moms in Need and other local organizations that provide material and spiritual support and through advocacy with policymakers.
We, the Catholic bishops of Ohio, are grateful to the Catholic faithful, clergy and all people of goodwill whose actions in this campaign demonstrated our commitment to honoring and upholding the dignity of life. Your sacrifices prove that the Church will never abandon her mission to support human life. We will persevere in this mission until every preborn child is protected, every pregnant woman is supported, and every human life receives respect, dignity and justice.
With you in Christ Jesus,
Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr, Archdiocese of Cincinnati
Bishop David J. Bonnar, Diocese of Youngstown
Bishop John Michael Botean, St. George Byzantine Catholic Diocese
Bishop Paul J. Bradley, Diocese of Steubenville
Bishop Bohdan J. Danylo, Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of St. Josaphat in Parma
Bishop Earl K. Fernandes, Diocese of Columbus
Bishop Edward C. Malesic, Diocese of Cleveland
Bishop Daniel E. Thomas, Diocese of Toledo
Bishop Michael Woost, Diocese of Cleveland
Click here to read a related statement from Bishop Edward Malesic about the approval of Issue 1.