The Most Reverend Jeffrey J. Walsh, bishop of Gaylord, has issued the following statement in response to today’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization that overturns Roe v. Wade:
“In God’s Providence, the Supreme Court decision in the Dobbs v. Jackson case was issued on the same day our Catholic Church celebrates the Solemnity of Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. Today’s scripture passage read at Mass, from Ezekiel 34:11-16, prophetically reveals the love of God in stating: ‘I myself will pasture my sheep; I myself will give them rest, says the Lord GOD. The lost I will seek out, the strayed I will bring back, the injured I will bind up …’ In light of abortion law being returned to the states and their democratically elected representatives, it should be our earnest desire to bind up the injuries inflicted from the unjust 1973 Roe v. Wade decision and move forward with the confident assurance of the Good Shepherd guiding us to greener pastures.
“May we together seize this moment and finally realize the tremendous harm done to our common sense and humanity to have legally sanctioned over 62 million abortions in the past 49 years. May we take to heart the wisdom expressed by Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta who said abortion is the ‘greatest destroyer of love and peace.’ Our prayers and efforts to build a culture of life have been heard and we rejoice. Knowing that the love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus was most profoundly expressed from the Cross, we must also be ready to forge our love from the cross of our polarized abortion politics. Misunderstandings, distortions and rejection did not stop our Lord from loving. Love casts out fear.”
Bishop Walsh joins his brother bishops from Michigan in issuing a further joint statement below, with a more extensive reflection on today’s historic Dobbs decision.
“In God’s Providence, the Supreme Court decision in the Dobbs v. Jackson case was issued on the same day our Catholic Church celebrates the Solemnity of Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. Today’s scripture passage read at Mass, from Ezekiel 34:11-16, prophetically reveals the love of God in stating: ‘I myself will pasture my sheep; I myself will give them rest, says the Lord GOD. The lost I will seek out, the strayed I will bring back, the injured I will bind up …’ In light of abortion law being returned to the states and their democratically elected representatives, it should be our earnest desire to bind up the injuries inflicted from the unjust 1973 Roe v. Wade decision and move forward with the confident assurance of the Good Shepherd guiding us to greener pastures.
“May we together seize this moment and finally realize the tremendous harm done to our common sense and humanity to have legally sanctioned over 62 million abortions in the past 49 years. May we take to heart the wisdom expressed by Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta who said abortion is the ‘greatest destroyer of love and peace.’ Our prayers and efforts to build a culture of life have been heard and we rejoice. Knowing that the love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus was most profoundly expressed from the Cross, we must also be ready to forge our love from the cross of our polarized abortion politics. Misunderstandings, distortions and rejection did not stop our Lord from loving. Love casts out fear.”
Bishop Walsh joins his brother bishops from Michigan in issuing a further joint statement below, with a more extensive reflection on today’s historic Dobbs decision.
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WEATHER POLICY: In the case of inclement weather, usually indicated by Harbor Springs Public Schools closing, Mass, Adoration, and any other events scheduled that day will be cancelled.
Child Protection in the Diocese of Gaylord
