October 1, 2026

As Respect Life Month begins, Massachusetts bishops encourage witness, advocacy

REGIONAL
By Carolee McGrath

People gather outside Planned Parenthood in Springfield to pray an end to abortion, April 3, 2026. (IObserve file photo)

SPRINGFIELD – With October marking Respect Life Month, there are several efforts underway to protect the most vulnerable, especially the unborn. Bishop William D. Byrne is asking the faithful to support a new referendum petition which would suspend and potentially repeal the abortion expansion law passed in the final hours of the legislative session in July. He is also encouraging parishes and ministries to continue their work in “Walking with Moms,” an initiative launched by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, to support women facing an unplanned pregnancy.

Bishop Byrne wrote an Op-Ed in the Republican expressing his grave disappointment and disgust over the passing of the abortion law, under Chapter 188, which removes all restrictions past 24-weeks of pregnancy.

“The legalization of a late term abortion where you can have a baby that could survive outside the womb, killed even outside of a hospital setting, is a horrible undertaking in our state. So there is a petition that is being circulated to repeal this. It’s a long shot, but God likes long shots. We have to get behind it so we can do everything possible, but we also have to walk with moms in crisis,” said Bishop Byrne.

Bishop Byrne also signed on to a letter released by all of the Catholic bishops of Massachusetts: Archbishop Archbishop Richard G. Henning of Boston, Bishop Robert McManus of Worcester, and Bishop Edgar da Cunha of Fall River. In it, they encourage witness, prayer, and advocacy for the unborn and their mothers. They also condemned the new legislation.

“This law is a tragedy, and the Catholic legislators who helped to enact it have caused grave scandal. The Prioritizing Patient Access to Care Act permits abortion throughout pregnancy for any reason, and it allows these grisly procedures—dangerous to mothers and cruel to their unborn children— to be performed in non-hospital settings,” the bishops wrote. “Laws function as teachers. This new law falsely teaches that human beings who are ill or inconvenient are not worthy of life; that motherhood can be incompatible with women’s freedom, well-being, and flourishing; and that no viable alternatives to abortion exist in the face of difficult diagnoses,” the bishops wrote. To read the full letter, go to diospringfield.org

According to Repeal 188, the organization which initiated the repeal effort, 37,289 certified signatures are required for the referendum to qualify for the ballot in 2028. But if 49,716 certified signatures are collected, the law would be suspended until Nov. 2028 when it would be put on the ballot for voters to decide. Signatures are currently being collected, with parishes across the Diocese of Springfield holding petition drives after Mass.

As the bishops have asked Catholics to walk with mothers in crisis, there are several ministries in the Diocese of Springfield that help women and families through pregnancy and beyond providing practical support, such as diapers, wipes, baby clothes and car seats. Bethlehem House in Easthampton; Springfield Pregnancy Care; Clearway Clinic in Springfield; New Direction Women’s Center in Pittsfield; Pregnancy Support Services of Berkshire County and Branches Family Resource Center in Greenfield are pregnancy care centers which assist women and children.

In addition, the 40 Days for Life Campaign is underway and runs through Nov. 1. The peaceful, prayerful campaign relies on public witness in front of Planned Parenthood in Springfield. Individuals or parishes are asked to sign up to cover hours in front of the clinic. The sign-up link can be found on iobserve.org. Since the 40 Days for Life campaign began in 2007, in College Station, Texas, organizers report more than 26,000 babies have been spared from abortion.

October 11 also marks Mercy 4 Life Sunday, a national initiative with a goal of having at least 250 Masses or prayer services on one day for life. More information can be found at https://hosea4you.org/mercy4life/