USCCB - Pro-Life Activities

About Us

We proclaim that human life is a precious gift from God; that each person who receives this gift has responsibilities toward God, self and others; and that society, through its laws and social institutions, must protect and nurture human life at every stage of its existence.

U.S. Catholic Bishops, Pastoral Plan for Pro-Life Activities, November 2001

The Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities, under the guidance and direction of the Committee on Pro-Life Activities, works to teach respect for all human life from conception to natural death, and organize for its protection.

To serve this goal we:

Develop educational material on pro-life issues
conduct educational campaigns in the Church – e.g.,
- Respect Life Program that begins on the first Sunday of each October
conduct educational campaigns in the public square – radio, print, exhibit
circulate fact sheets and other information on critical issues
publish Life Issues Forum, a biweekly column for Catholic newspapers
publish Life Insight newsletter
encourage and enable programs to meet the needs of pregnant women, children, persons with disabilities, those who are sick or dying, and all who have been involved in abortion
provide dioceses with pro-life liturgical suggestions each month
coordinate/advise on public policy efforts concerning these issues
assist dioceses to implement major pro-life programs

The current Committee serves from November 2009 to November 2012 and is chaired by Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, Archbishop of Galveston-Houston.

The Committee

Members

Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo, Chairman
Archbishop of Galveston-Houston

Cardinal Justin Rigali
Archbishop of Philadelphia

Most Reverend Joseph F. Naumann
Archbishop of Kansas City

Most Reverend Daniel E. Flores
Bishop of Brownsville

Most Reverend William E. Lori
Bishop of Bridgeport

Most Reverend Gregory J. Mansour
Bishop of Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn for Maronites

Most Reverend Robert J. McManus
Bishop of Worcester

Most Reverend Terry Steib, SVD
Bishop of Memphis

Most Reverend Martin D. Holley
Auxiliary Bishop of Washington

Consultants

Cardinal Francis E. George, OMI
Archbishop of Chicago

Cardinal Roger Mahony
Archbishop of Los Angeles

Cardinal Sean P. O'Malley, OFMCap
Archbishop of Boston

Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl
Archbishop of Washington

Most Reverend Charles J. Chaput, OFMCap
Archbishop of Denver

Most Reverend Robert W. Finn
Bishop of Kansas City-St. Joseph

Most Reverend William F. Murphy
Bishop of Rockville Centre

Helen Alvaré, Esq.
Law Professor, George Mason School of Law, George Mason University

Carl Anderson
Supreme Knight, Knights of Columbus

John F. Brehany, Ph.D., S.T.L.
Executive Director and Ethicist, Catholic Medical Association

John M. Haas, Ph.D., S.T.L.
President, National Catholic Bioethics Center

Fr. J. Daniel Mindling
Academic Dean, Mount St. Mary's Seminary

Gail Quinn
Executive Director Emeritus, Pro-Life Secretariat

Moe Wosepka
Executive Director, Montana Catholic Conference

Staff

Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities

Tom Grenchik, Executive Director
Richard Doerflinger, Associate Director
Deirdre McQuade, Assistant Director for Policy and Communications
Susan Wills, Assistant Director for Education and Outreach
Mary McClusky, Special Projects Coordinator
Teresa Mutchler, Executive Assistant
Kimberly Baker, Staff Assistant
Lucy McVicker, Staff Assistant