July 29, 2026

Catholic bishops of Massachusetts statement against late-term abortion bill

REGIONAL
Staff report

SPRINGFIELD – After the Massachusetts House of Representatives passed a bill removing legal limits of late term abortions last week, Bishop William D. Byrne joined with Archbishop Richard G. Henning of Boston, Bishop Robert J. McManus of Worcester, and Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha of Fall River, July 29, to release a statement expressing disappointment and urging the Massachusetts Senate not to pass the bill before them.

According to the Massachusetts Catholic Conference (MCC), the legislation would remove the 24-week limit on abortion, allowing procedures later in pregnancy. Currently, the law permits abortion after 24 weeks if a doctor deems it necessary to preserve the life of the mother; if it is necessary to preserve the mother’s physical or mental health; or if there is a fetal anomaly.

Full text of the statement of the Roman Catholic Bishops of Massachusetts:

On July 22, 2026, the Massachusetts House of Representatives passed legislation which removed all remaining legal limits on late-term abortions in the Commonwealth. In these final days of the legislative session the Massachusetts Senate is considering the same question of late-term abortions. Late-term in this case means abortion after 24 weeks of pregnancy and up until the birth of the child. 

As Catholic bishops we have a moral responsibility to present and uphold Catholic teaching and the sacred God-given dignity of every human life from conception to the natural death.

The proposed elimination of any legal restraint on late-term abortion is, in our judgement, a radical measure which is gravely immoral. Our hope is that the state Senate will not follow the House on this measure.

 Life is beautiful! We invite the Catholic community to pray for a renewal of reverence for all human life. We reaffirm the Church’s call to its own community and to civil society to provide the resources to welcome and cherish the gift of life, as well as to accompany women and families who have known the tragedy of abortion. Let there be room in our hearts for the most vulnerable among us. May we recall and live the Lord’s own word, “whatsoever you do for the least of these you do to me.”

 We join Pope Leo in his prayer intentions for the month of July as he implored the Lord Jesus to help us love life as He does, “with tenderness, fidelity, and self-giving.” We uphold his call, “May we proclaim, in words and action, that every human life is worth the total gift of ourselves.”