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Respect Life resources for priests and deacons. LEADERS' TOOLKIT Clergy This leaders' toolkit is provided to help clergy build a culture of life in their parishes by integrating Respect Life themes throughout the year. The provided resources, ideas, and activities are only suggestions. We encourage you to adapt them as necessary for your parish community. Feel free to get creative as you build "an authentic civilization of truth and love" (Evangelium vitae, 6). Check out our Action Guides for additional ideas and step-by-step instructions for highlighting Respect Life themes year-round! VIEW (Available in English and Spanish) POSTER & PRAYER CARD Consider hanging the Respect Life poster in a prominent place in your parish. The poster features the Eucharist and Jesus’ message in John 10:10, “I came so that they might have life.” The prayer invokes the power of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament to help us defend the gift of human life at all stages. POSTER PRAYER CARD (Available in English and Spanish) HOMILY CONSIDERATIONS Respect Life Month (October 2024) Homily connections are provided for the lectionary readings for each Sunday in October (Respect Life Month). Short bullet points show connections between the readings of the day and the Gospel of life. VIEW & DOWNLOAD (Available in English and Spanish) Catholic Care for the Sick & Dying These homily notes are provided to help priests and deacons preach on the importance of end-of-life care and accompaniment based on the teachings of Samaritanus bonus . These notes can be integrated into a homily at any time during the year and used in full or in part. VIEW & DOWNLOAD (Available in English and Spanish) The Church's Commitment to Mothers in Need These homily considerations are designed to help priests and deacons address the important, sensitive topic of abortion with clarity and authentic compassion that affirms the dignity both of women and of their children. Informed by the research, “Building Catholic Faith and Support for Life” by Heart and Mind Strategies, short bullet points help homilists to weave the Gospel of Life into their message in a compelling way. VIEW & DOWNLOAD Healing After Abortion By the age of 45, as many as 1 in 3 women have had an abortion, and a similar number of men and family members have been involved. Because of this, some members of the clergy are hesitant to preach about Respect Life topics, particularly abortion. However, the merciful words of a priest or deacon can be a pivotal moment in the healing process. Many inaccurately believe that abortion is “the unforgivable sin.” They may be longing to hear that God desires to forgive every sin of those who are sorry, even the sin of abortion. VIEW & DOWNLOAD (Available in English and Spanish) REFLECTION This short reflection unpacks the 2024-2025 Eucharistic Respect Life theme, highlighting how Catholics are called to be lights in the darkness. You can use the reflection to help inspire a homily or talk highlighting Respect Life topics at any time of year. The reflection could also be used as the basis for a "Pastor's Corner" or included in full in the bulletin. Or, feel free to include the reflection in an email newsletter or link to it on the parish website. VIEW & DOWNLOAD (Available in English and Spanish) INTERCESSIONS Prayer is the basis of all our efforts to build a culture of life. The provided intercessions are appropriate for use during Mass in the Prayer of the Faithful. Several of these intentions can be used throughout the year. These intercessions could also be included in lists of prayer intentions published in the bulletin and shared with prayer groups. If you have a regular Holy Hour or parish Rosary, you could consider including them among the opening or closing prayers. "...in our daily prayer as individuals and as a community, praise and bless God our Father, who knitted us together in our mother's womb..." Evangelium vitae, 84 That the life of every person, from conception to natural death, will be protected in our laws and cherished in our hearts; We pray to the Lord: For women and men suffering after abortion: May the Church’s abortion healing ministry, Project Rachel, help them find peace and healing through Christ’s endless mercy; We pray to the Lord: For those nearing the end of life: May they receive care that respects their dignity and protects their lives as they place their hope in the promise of eternal life; We pray to the Lord: May God grant us the wisdom and courage to lovingly protect His gift of human life at every stage, in sickness and in health; We pray to the Lord: Looking for more intercessions to use in your parish year-round? Check out our series of Action Guides , which each include additional intercessions that are connected to annual observances and liturgical feasts. You can also subscribe to our monthly parish liturgical resource, Word of Life . ACTION GUIDES WORD OF LIFE (Available in English and Spanish) BULLETIN BOXES Bulletin boxes are summaries of longer articles that are perfect for including in your weekly parish bulletin or other regular newsletters. They are perfect for use when space is at a premium! (Each bulletin box also includes a web address for those who would like to read the full article.) Consider featuring a different bulletin box in the bulletin each month. You can also mention the Respect Life topic highlighted in the bulletin during your homily. These article summaries cover a wide range of Respect Life topics, and many are pastorally focused. The bulletin boxes are available in English and Spanish. VIEW & DOWNLOAD (Available in English and Spanish) GRAPHICS These and many other graphics are available for use throughout your parish. Feature them in bulletins, newsletters, monitor displays, and more! VIEW ALL (Available in English and Spanish) Models used for illustrative purposes only. Photos courtesy of Wix.com. Excerpts from Evangelium vitae © 1995, Libreria Editrice Vaticana. Used with permission. All rights reserved.

Pro-life prayer intentions with short reflections and action steps. Respect Life Prayer & Action MONTHLY PRAYER GUIDE May 2025 SUBSCRIBE PRINTABLE (Available in English and Spanish.) Pray Our Father, 3 Hail Marys, Glory Be Reflect When a woman finds herself unexpectedly pregnant, the news can come as a shock and bring overwhelming feelings of fear, shame, anxiety, and doubt. Without a strong support system, what should be joyful news, can instead be experienced as a crisis. Often, a woman facing an unexpected pregnancy may not know where she can turn for help and assistance. Pregnancy Help Centers respond to this urgent need every day, embracing expectant mothers with empathy and love. Approximately 2,750 pregnancy help centers across the U.S. offer life-affirming support to pregnant and parenting women in need. These centers “provide a spectrum of care, resources, and material goods to support new mothers—from diapers and layettes, to babysitting and career services, to referrals for housing and food assistance, and personal mentorship and support. Many also provide certain medical services, including ultrasounds, prenatal and postnatal care.”[1] The most recent reports show that in 2022 alone, pregnancy centers served over 3 million clients, providing an estimated $367 million in free goods and services.[2] This work is made possible by the selfless service of those who dedicate themselves to working in pregnancy centers. Their efforts are even more notable when we consider that seven out of ten pregnancy center workers are volunteers who offer their time and talent to surround mothers with the compassionate support they need to welcome and care for their children. 1 Bishop Michael F. Burbidge, “Statement on Pregnancy Help Appreciation Week , ” Nov. 9, 2023. 2 “Pregnancy Centers Offer Hope for a New Generation , ” updated Dec. 2024. Act (Choose one.) Offer this “Prayer for Radical Solidarity ” in thanksgiving for all pregnancy center staff and volunteers. Skip your morning coffee from your favorite café or a lunch outing this week. Donate what you would usually spend on these small treats to your local pregnancy center instead. Offer some other sacrifice or prayer that you feel called to do for this month’s intention. One Step Further Learn how you can support a friend experiencing an unexpected pregnancy: respectlife.org/support-her .

Invoking the intercession of St. Joseph, foster father of Jesus, we pray for all whose life stories include adoption. Novena to St. Joseph: For Those on the Path of Adoption MARCH 10-18, 2025 EMAIL TEXT MESSAGE SUSCRÍBETE EN ESPAÑOL Artwork: Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C. Invoking the intercession of St. Joseph, foster father of Jesus, we pray for all whose life stories include adoption. Each day includes short Scriptural passages and prayers and focuses on a different group of people who are involved in the adoption process. Participants can download the novena or sign up to receive the daily prayers via email or text message. Resources are available to promote and share the novena in your parish, school, or ministry. NOVENA RESOURCES

Information for attendees of the National Eucharistic Congress about the Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities USCCB Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities en español PAGE CONTENTS Stay Connected Webinar Walking with Moms in Need Project Rachel Ministry Respect Life Store Support Under the guidance of the U.S. Catholic bishops, the Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities works towards a culture that cherishes and protects every human life from conception to natural death. We also provide materials to help Catholics nationwide do the same through prayer , service , advocacy , and formation . This website provides free, digital resources including articles, prayers, action guides, parish toolkits, and more. STAY CONNECTED When you sign up for Respect Life Prayer and Action, you will receive: prayers action alerts to contact Congress and government leaders ways to strengthen a culture of life in your community and more Join thousands of Catholics as we seek to transform our culture. Together, we are powerful! PeopleImages/E+ via Getty Images SIGN UP Stay Connected WEBINAR July 31, 2024 at 8:00 PM (Eastern) Learn how to help your parish celebrate Respect Life Month in October using new, free materials that feature the Eucharist. USCCB staff will walk through the 2024 Respect Life materials , as well as the perennial Respect Life Month Action Guide . RESERVE YOUR SPOT Webinar Walking with Moms in Need WALKING WITH MOMS IN NEED Get everything you need to help your parish increase support for pregnant and parenting moms in need. LEARN MORE PROJECT RACHEL MINISTRY If someone you know suffers and feels alone after abortion, there's compassionate, confidential help from the Church's abortion healing ministry. LEARN MORE Project Rachel Ministry RESPECT LIFE STORE Purchase the new poster and prayer cards featuring the Eucharist and browse other Respect Life materials from the Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities. (Materials are available in English and Spanish.) SHOP Respect Life Store SUPPORT The work of the USCCB Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities is supported by People of Life —the pro-life action campaign of the Catholic Church in the United States. You can support People of Life with a tax-deductible donation through our direct mail campaign . #iGiveCatholicTogether also accepts funds to support People of Life. LEARN MORE Support

May all who support or participate in abortion experience a conversion of heart to seek and receive the Lord’s boundless mercy. DAY 6 January 21 ESPAÑOL INTENTION May all who support or participate in abortion experience a conversion of heart to seek and receive the Lord’s boundless mercy. PRAYERS Our Father, 3 Hail Marys, Glory Be REFLECTION When God fashioned the human person in His own image and likeness, He destined us for eternal life with Himself. Yet because of the sin of our first parents, death entered the world. The book of Genesis recounts the first occasion in which a person takes the life of another, as Cain violently kills his brother Abel. This instance of brother rising up against brother “at the very dawn of history is thus a sad witness of how evil spreads with amazing speed” (Evangelium vitae 8). Since this time, disregard for human life has continued to spread. When we, like Cain, allow sin to find a place in our hearts, we become blinded to the truth. Sometimes this blindness might be so deep that we fail to recognize the undeniable humanity of preborn children. We may even tragically believe the lie that abortion is an act of compassion. But we know that “life, especially human life, belongs only to God: for this reason whoever attacks human life, in some way attacks God himself” (EV 9). Let us pray that all who support abortion will encounter the transforming love of the Father and, with repentant hearts, seek His mercy. ACTS OF REPARATION (Choose one.) Smile. Ask God today for the grace to be extra joyful and to share the light of Christ with those most in need of His love and mercy. Make an act of faith, hope, or love . Offer some other sacrifice, prayer, or act of penance that you feel called to do for today’s intention. ONE STEP FURTHER Evangelium vitae (The Gospel of Life ) was written to reaffirm the value and inviolability of every human life and to appeal to all people to respect, protect, love, and serve every human life. A brief summary highlights key themes and foundational teachings from the papal encyclical, exploring how the Church’s teachings regarding human life are at the heart of Jesus’ entire Gospel message. Excerpts from Evangelium vitae (The Gospel of Life) , nos. 8-9 © 1995, Libreria Editrice Vaticana. Used with permission. All rights reserved. Copyright © 2023, USCCB, Washington, DC. All rights reserved.

¡Únete a MILES que rezan por la protección de la vida humana del 16 al 24 de enero, 2024! 9 DÍAS POR LA VIDA ¡Reza por la protección de la vida humana! 16 al 24 de enero de 2025 Recibe correo electrónico Recibe mensajes de texto Subscribe in English 9 Días por la Vida es una novena por la protección de la vida humana. La intención de cada día va acompañada de una breve reflexión y una sugerencia para la acción que ayuden a construir la cultura de la vida. Los participantes pueden bajar la novena o inscribirse para recibir las oraciones diarias por correo electrónico o mensaje de texto. ¡Los recursos están disponibles para promover y compartir la novena en sus parroquias, escuelas o ministerios! (Este sitio digital está en inglés, pero los materiales están disponibles en inglés y en español.) NOVENA RECURSOS

IMAGE GALLERY These graphics are made for use on social media and websites, in parish bulletins and newsletters, etc. They may be used without further permission provided these reproduction guidelines are followed. Each image is provided in English and Spanish and can be downloaded directly. If you need files in a different format, please email prolife@usccb.org . PROMOTIONAL GRAPHICS View and Download All Versions FLYERS View and Download All Versions BRANDING ASSETS View and Download All Versions

An unexpected pregnancy can be a difficult and frightening time, and it’s important that your friend knows you are thinking of her and supporting her. 10 WAYS TO SUPPORT HER WHEN SHE'S UNEXPECTEDLY EXPECTING I had been brought up to believe that life is always a gift, but it certainly didn’t feel like one when I gazed in shock at a positive pregnancy test. As a mom who had my first baby in college, I know that an unexpected pregnancy can sometimes bring fear, shame, and doubt. However, I also know that an unexpected pregnancy can bring joy, excitement, awe, gratitude, and deeper love than I knew was possible—not to mention the little bundle who inspires these sentiments! About nine months after looking at that pregnancy test, I received the very best gift I have ever been given: my daughter, Maria*. Scroll down for other formats of this article! Order An unexpected pregnancy might be confusing along the way, but life—though at times difficult—is ultimately beautiful. Perhaps one of your friends has become pregnant unexpectedly. As someone who has been there, I encourage you to support your friend in her new journey of being a mother. Not sure how to help or what to say? Here are ten tips: 1. Be available. An unexpected pregnancy can send a woman into crisis mode. If your friend just found out she is pregnant, she may not be thinking clearly, and she may feel she has no control over anything at the moment. Be aware of how she is responding to you. Listen to her and let her know you love her and are there for her any time she needs you. Don’t pass judgment on her either interiorly or through words or body language. 2. Respond positively. When a woman experiencing challenging circumstances confides she is pregnant, the reaction of the first person she tells tends to set the tone for her decision-making. Avoid responding with shock or alarm, and be calm and understanding. Let her know you’re there for her and that it’s going to be okay. Pay close attention to her emotional state, and act accordingly. Depending on where she is emotionally, it may or may not be helpful to congratulate her at that time. However, it is always important to affirm that every person’s life—including her child’s and her own—is precious and beautiful no matter the circumstances. 3. Be honest. The journey through an unexpected pregnancy is not easy, and it’s okay if you don’t know the perfect words to say. Just be honest. Let her know you are there for her, and ask her how she is feeling and how you can support her. It’s a good way to open the door to communicate, and she may be grateful for the opportunity to talk freely with someone. She might become emotional at times, but be patient—let’s not forget hormones; the struggle is real. 4. Offer specific help. Don’t be afraid to ask her if she needs help with anything or to make specific offers to help. For example, you might offer to help with cleaning, finding a good doctor, or running to the store to pick up the one food that won’t make her feel sick. But remember to read her cues, and make sure you’re not being overbearing. 5. Set up a support system. In addition to the standard baby registry, you can help her get other kinds of support by lining up much-needed, practical help. Think outside the box. Food = love, so take advantage of websites that allow friends and family to sign up to make meals, send food deliveries, or simply donate money. Some websites can even help organize other assistance like rides to the doctor, babysitting other children she may have, or help around the house. You can also look into what programs and assistance may be sponsored by your local diocesan pastoral care or Respect Life offices. 6. Tell her she is beautiful. She may be feeling physically, spiritually, and emotionally drained with this pregnancy. Take the time to reassure her of her beauty, both inside and out, especially when morning sickness might make her feel otherwise. 7. Help her recharge and relax. First-time mothers may have difficulty crossing that threshold into their new life as a mother. Your friend may be fearful that her life is “over,” so help her see it’s okay—good, actually—to still focus on herself sometimes. Even though she is a mother, she will still continue to be a woman, so affirm that it’s healthy and important to take care of herself—not only physically, but emotionally, as well. Help her to do things she really enjoys. Take her out for a nice meal, a movie, or a day of pampering. 8. Reassure her it’s okay (and good) to be happy. It can be hard to be happy about a pregnancy that many people see as unfortunate timing at best and totally irresponsible at worst. Even if your friend wants to be happy about her bundle of joy, she may not feel she “deserves” to show that happiness. Get excited about her pregnancy in front of her, and she may just feel comfortable enough to share her own excitement with you. Also, continue to show your interest and excitement throughout her pregnancy. Ask questions about her developing child. What is she learning at her doctor appointments? What names is she considering? Ask her what she thinks her baby looks like. Does she think they will have her eyes? 9. Encourage her. Society tends to focus on ways that an unexpected pregnancy can be challenging. Help your friend to think of the benefits. Remind her of the fluttering kicks, somersaults, and maybe even dance moves her son or daughter will be rocking once they grow a little more. With moms’ groups and opportunities for play dates, there’s a whole new social world to explore. And there are plenty of benefits to being a young mom—like having more energy to chase her kids around. 10. Point out some real-life role models. Many amazing young mothers and birthmothers have experienced unexpected pregnancies and still followed their dreams. Other women have discovered that, even when unable to follow their lives as planned, something beautiful and good came out of the twists in the road, bringing opportunities, growth, and joy they hadn’t imagined. Point your friend to some of the many websites, blogs, and social media accounts dedicated to supporting young mothers. And let’s not forget Mary, whose “yes” to bearing Jesus affected the course of history. The Blessed Mother is a great person to pour her heart out to, and she’s a powerhouse of intercessory prayer. An unexpected pregnancy can be a difficult and frightening time, and it’s important that your friend knows you are thinking of her and supporting her. Although the tips mentioned can be helpful, don’t forget the most important thing is to pray. Even if it’s just a quick two-second prayer, prayer is the most effective way we can help. Pray for her, for her child, and for guidance in how you can give her the best possible support. Also, pay attention to how your friend feels most loved. One person might appreciate encouraging words, while another might feel more supported if you wash the dishes. Simple things—letting her know that you care and are always ready to listen, that you are available to help her, that you are praying for her—can give hope and courage when she might otherwise feel alone. Your support might be the only support she receives. Even if we never know how, the smallest things we do can change someone’s life. You can make a difference in her life. Will you? ______________ The author is now a married mother of four who works as an advocate for young mothers facing unexpected pregnancies. She had her first baby in college and is a proud Catholic who supports life in every circumstance and at every stage. Heartbeat International provides a directory of pregnancy services, which is accessible at www.heartbeatinternational.org/worldwide-directory . You can learn about setting up parish-based support for women who are pregnant and need assistance by visiting the websites for The Gabriel Project (www.gabrielproject.org ) and Elizabeth Ministry (www.elizabethministry.com ), which have chapters across the country. For more information about how you can help, or for information about help that may be available, such as pregnancy care centers, maternity homes, and other assistance, contact your local diocesan Respect Life office. A list of diocesan Respect Life Ministry offices can be found at www.usccb.org/about/pro-life-activities/diocesan-pro-life-offices.cfm . *Name changed for privacy. BULLETIN BOX Perfect for use when space is at a premium! A quarter-page summary of this article is available for use in bulletins and newsletters. Each bulletin box includes the website for accessing the full article. Color English Spanish Grayscale English Spanish BULLETIN INSERT This article is also available as a double-sided PDF flyer. Download and print for use in bulletins, as a classroom or ministry supplement, or in a Respect Life display. Color English Spanish Grayscale English Spanish BROCHURE You can order copies of this article as tri-fold brochure for distribution at parishes, diocesan events, and more! Order English Spanish FULL ARTICLE TEXT The full text of the article can be downloaded as a Word document. Articles can be reproduced with proper accreditation in bulletins, newspapers, and wherever else you would like to share them! Microsoft Word Document English Spanish

Children are meant to serve as an outgrowth of a couple’s love, but reproductive technologies reduce that gift to a product. CHILDREN AS COMMODITIES “Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen. This is your pilot speaking. … I have two pieces of news to report, one good and one bad. The bad news is that we are lost. The good news is that we are making excellent time.” — Author Unknown In 1971, the renowned physician and medical ethicist, Dr. Leon Kass, used this parable to illustrate the coming wave of assisted reproductive technologies, hailed by science as a final triumph over infertility; scientists were on the verge of creating children outside the womb and inside the laboratory. Dr. Kass feared that we had not given adequate consideration to the question of how this might affect the couples pursuing these methods and the children produced from them. Forty years later, we’re just beginning to understand the consequences of such technologies. Scroll down for other formats of this article! Order Consider Natalie,* a thirty-year-old woman living in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. Throughout her childhood and adolescent years, she suffered from depression and endured severe adjustment difficulties, feeling as if she never truly belonged in her family. When she was seventeen years old, she discovered that she was conceived through a process known as commercial surrogacy. Natalie’s parents had contracted with another woman to become pregnant using her father’s sperm and the woman’s own egg, bear her for nine months in her womb, and then hand her over to them. After questioning why her parents lied to her, Natalie became estranged from them, hurt that money, rather than the expression of marital love, was the context in which she was brought into the world. Now consider Amy, who was eight years old when her parents told her they would be divorcing. Her father attempted to gain custody of her older sister, but not her. The reason? Amy was conceived via an anonymous sperm donation, and her father was not interested in maintaining a relationship with a child who was not biologically his offspring. Such a scenario highlights the many complexities of donor conception, by which a child is intentionally severed from his or her biological parents with little consideration of the long-term consequences of such a decision. These true stories represent the sad realities often faced both by those who choose to pursue assisted reproductive technologies and by children conceived through them. Unfortunately, when couples face the heartbreaking challenge of infertility, they may not know where else to turn. When couples are unable to bear children, very often there is an understandable feeling of great loss. It is essential to note that “the Church has compassion for couples suffering from infertility and wants to be of real help to them. At the same time, some ‘reproductive technologies’ are not morally legitimate ways to solve those problems.”[1] No doubt, those who are tempted to avail themselves of such technologies almost always plan to accept and cherish the child to be conceived in this manner. Nevertheless, the child is brought into existence through a technological process and not through a loving act of marital intercourse. The inevitable result is that the child is initially treated as an object created for the parents’ self-fulfillment instead of welcomed as a gift of God. Since the advent in 1978 of IVF (in vitro fertilization), by which children are “conceived” by technicians working in labs, the floodgates have been opened to bringing about reproduction through egg and sperm donation and surrogate pregnancies. Yet these technologies are fraught with medical, legal, and moral complications that are often either unknown or too easily dismissed. What many people don’t realize is that, in addition to the financial burden, assisted reproductive technologies can also present significant health risks. A February 2014 analysis in the British Medical Journal found that women who use IVF are more likely to suffer “gestational diabetes, fetal growth restriction, pre-eclampsia, and premature birth.”[2] Children conceived through IVF are likely to have higher blood pressure, vascular difficulties and other health problems.[3] Moreover, IVF and surrogacy subject women to grueling rounds of hormones, shots, and painful procedures with minimal chances of success. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the overall failure rate of IVF in the United States is nearly seventy percent.[4] Yet the demand for “designer babies” and the commercialization of childbearing continues to increase. Parents who are spending tens of thousands of dollars to conceive children now have the option of picking the “best” sperm or egg to maximize their investment. However, “children are not parents’ possessions to manufacture, manipulate, or design; rather, they are fellow persons with full human dignity, and parents are called to accept, care for, and raise them to be new members of God’s family and his Kingdom. Children deserve to be ‘begotten, not made.’”[5] In other words, children have the right to be conceived within the context of an act of marital love, not created in a laboratory by scientists. How then do we best respond to couples struggling with infertility? First, we must acknowledge their pain and accompany them in their suffering. Second, we should offer them opportunities to continue exploring the possibility of parenthood. Many causes of infertility can be addressed through medical assistance that is fully in accord with Catholic teaching. Adoption is also a viable alternative for couples seeking to raise children, as it lovingly serves children who urgently need homes and families to love and care for them. For couples who choose not to pursue these options, their active service in ministries and communities where they are needed should be better welcomed. As Pope St. John Paul II reminded us, “It must not be forgotten … that, even when procreation is not possible, conjugal life does not for this reason lose its value. Physical sterility in fact can be for spouses the occasion for other important services to the life of the human person.”[6] While infertility may be a profoundly painful process for many, the Church calls the couple to consider that this experience may ultimately lead to new ways of experiencing God’s love and plan for their love to be life-giving in other ways, even if they are unexpected. The very technologies that some believed would solve the age-old problem of infertility have, in fact, raised more questions than answers—questions about the meaning and purposes of children, and the limits and detriments of technology when it intervenes in the most intimate of human relationships. Children, after all, are meant to serve as an outgrowth of a couple’s love, but instead, reproductive technologies reduce that gift to a product. To ignore the concerns raised by some reproductive technologies and to move forward with them anyway would be to take matters into our own hands and to act against this great design. So instead, “in love, hope, and prayer, … let us be open to God’s gift of life and love in marriage, with profound respect for the dignity of all God’s children.”[7] *Names have been changed to protect the privacy of those mentioned. To learn more about the Church’s teachings on the morality of reproductive technologies, visit “Life-Giving Love in an Age of Technology” at www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/what-we-believe/love-and-sexuality/life-giving-love-in-an-age-of-technology.cfm . [1] U.S. Catholic Bishops, Life-Giving Love in an Age of Technology, (USCCB, 2009). http://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/what-we-believe/love-and-sexuality/life-giving-love-in-an-age-of-technology.cfm. [2] Esme I Kamphuis, S Bhattacharya, F van der Veen, professor, B W J Mol, A Templeton, “Are We Overusing IVF?” British Medical Journal (2014). http://www.bmj.com/content/348/bmj.g252. [3] Ibid. [4] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, American Society for Reproductive Medicine, Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology, 2010 Assisted Reproductive Technology Fertility Clinic Success Rates Report (Atlanta: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2012). http://www.cdc.gov/art/ART2010/PDFs/ART_2010_Clinic_Report-Full.pdf. [5] U.S. Catholic Bishops, Life-Giving Love in an Age of Technology. [6] Pope St. John Paul II, On the Role of the Christian Family in the Modern World: Familiaris Consortio (Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 1981), no. 14. [7] U.S. Catholic Bishops, Life-Giving Love in an Age of Technology. * Excerpt from Familiaris Consortio (On the Role of the Christian Family in the Modern World). © 1981 Libreria Editrice Vaticana. Used with permission. All rights reserved. BULLETIN BOX Perfect for use when space is at a premium! A quarter-page summary of this article is available for use in bulletins and newsletters. Each bulletin box includes the website for accessing the full article. Color English Spanish Grayscale English Spanish BULLETIN INSERT This article is also available as a double-sided PDF flyer. Download and print for use in bulletins, as a classroom or ministry supplement, or in a Respect Life display. Color English Spanish Grayscale English Spanish BROCHURE You can order copies of this article as tri-fold brochure for distribution at parishes, diocesan events, and more! Order English Spanish FULL ARTICLE TEXT The full text of the article can be downloaded as a Word document. Articles can be reproduced with proper accreditation in bulletins, newspapers, and wherever else you would like to share them! Microsoft Word Document English Spanish

Drawing from the personal experience of a mother who placed her child for adoption, this article gives nine pointers for offering ongoing support to expectant mothers considering adoption. ACCOMPANYING EXPECTANT MOTHERS CONSIDERING ADOPTION 25 years ago I gave birth to a baby boy and … lovingly placed him into the waiting arms of his parents. …I pray that his life has been full of joy, laughter, and abundant love. My thoughts and prayers also turn to my beautiful family and friends that lifted me up then and now. – Maya* Order Maya discovered she was pregnant six months into her freshman year of college. When her son was born, she placed him with a very kind adoptive family; she “just knew they were the right choice.” Now, years later, Maya emphasizes the importance of offering ongoing support to expectant mothers considering adoption. Would you know how to do so? Maya makes the following suggestions. 1. Let compassion guide your actions—always. Consider whether your words and actions consistently convey understanding, compassion, and empathy. Would a woman facing an unexpected pregnancy know she could turn to you? If you are a parent, consistently reinforce to your children that you love them unconditionally and they can come to you with anything. 2. Do not pit adoption against abortion. As Cardinal O’Malley once noted while chair of the bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities, to a pregnant woman in crisis, adoption is often seen as worse than either raising or aborting an unexpected baby. Placing a child for adoption is “perceived as a kind of double death. First, the death of self by carrying the baby to term,” and second, “the death of the child thru ‘abandonment.’” Be aware that “studies suggest that in pitting adoption against abortion, adoption will be the hands-down loser.”[1] So first focus on encouraging her that she can carry this baby to term. 3. Reassure her that she can “breathe.” In an unexpected pregnancy, decisions begin to accumulate quickly, which can be stressful and overwhelming. Reassure her that she doesn’t need to resolve everything right away. She will eventually have to make decisions on parenting or adoption, but for now, she can just breathe. Maya explains this reassurance helped her consider what she wanted for her life, which, in turn, made it possible for her to consider adoption. 4. Love her for herself. In some of her friendships, Maya remembers, “I ceased to be Maya at that time. I was just ‘that pregnant friend’.” Show your expectant friend or family member you love her for her own sake, and affirm that she is not defined by her pregnancy. She is still herself, and she will continue to be herself after the pregnancy. 5. Affirm that adoption is a loving choice. As alluded to earlier, adoption is sometimes negatively portrayed or perceived as abandonment; this misperception is reinforced by the phrase, “giving the baby up for adoption” (an expression many don’t know is insensitive). Your friend or family member is likely experiencing a number of conflicting emotions. Let her know that placing a child for adoption is a loving and generous option that shows her long-term motherly care. In placing, she gives her child the gift of a family, and gives that family the gift a child. 6. Help her see beyond her pregnancy. A woman who becomes pregnant unexpectedly may feel as though her world is ending. To women with an unplanned pregnancy, Maya says, “This is survivable. Have hope.” Help your pregnant friend set and work towards goals that extend beyond the nine months of her pregnancy. At the same time, be particularly careful not to trivialize her motherhood or the difficulties she may be facing. 7. Be present. Invite her to spend time with you, and don’t be afraid to invite her to join group outings. If you are concerned for her comfort, don’t cease inviting her (which can be unintentionally hurtful); be honest about your concern, and ask her what she needs. Maya continues to cherish those friendships in which nothing changed because of her pregnancy—from frequent phone calls and movie nights to invitations to watch her team’s volleyball games. 8. Reach out. Maya explains that the mother, as well as her family members, need support; the baby’s grandparents, aunts, and uncles are affected, too. Sometimes people may not know what to say, so they don’t say anything; break the silence. Express your support to the expectant mother as well as to her family. Communicate you are there for them, and ask how you can be supportive. They may not have an answer or respond right away, but keep showing you care (unless they ask you to stop). Pray for them, mail a note, send brownies or a gift card to an activity that is not pregnancy-related, or make other creative, thoughtful gestures. 9. Keep reaching out, and encourage her to seek support services, if needed. Maya also emphasizes the need for continued support of the birth-mother and her family after the placement. Some birth-parents grieve after the placement. It doesn’t mean the decision was wrong, but simply that the experience was life-changing. These can be very normal emotions. Be aware that this season of transition can be difficult as the mother and her family mourn the baby’s absence and adjust to a new normal. Encourage her to seek “aftercare services” offered by adoption agencies, if needed. Every situation is different, so the manner of appropriate support will vary, but the need for continuing compassion remains the same. Help them hold onto hope. May we show others God’s tender loving care through faith strengthened by prayer and lived out in love. *Name changed to protect privacy. [1] Cardinal Seán P. O’Malley, OFM Cap. “Homily, Opening Mass, 2013 National Prayer Vigil for Life.” Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, DC. United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. http://www.usccb.org/about/pro-life-activities/january-roe-events/cardinal-sean-p-omalley-opening-mass-2013-national-prayer-vigil-for-life.cfm

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