The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has launched a nationwide campaign urging the faithful to pray and take action against the use of abortion-inducing drugs as Respect Life Month begins in October.
Bishop Daniel E. Thomas of Toledo, Ohio, who chairs the USCCB Committee on Pro-Life Activities, issued a call to prayer and reflection on September 29, 2026. The theme for this year’s observance is “Mary, Mother of Life.”
Campaign Launches Amid Legal Battles
The initiative follows a nationwide call to action launched on August 18, 2026, by Bishop Thomas and Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of Oklahoma City. The campaign seeks to mobilize Catholics in response to rising abortion rates and the increased availability of mifepristone.
Mifepristone is a medication used for first-trimester abortions and certain miscarriage care protocols. Its distribution has become a focal point of legal and political conflict between federal administrations.
Demonstrators gathered outside the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in Washington on January 22, 2026, calling on President Donald Trump’s administration to ban the drug. The current administration has sought to pause multiple state lawsuits that aim to roll back restrictions eased during the Biden administration.
Federal regulators have left existing regulations in place while blocking legal challenges, pending a safety review by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Bishops Criticize Telehealth Prescriptions
Bishop Thomas criticized the FDA’s role in facilitating remote access to the medication. He argued that federal policy has created a nationwide mail-order abortion industry.
“The Food and Drug Administration has enabled a nationwide mail-order abortion industry by allowing the abortion pill to be prescribed in telehealth appointments,” Bishop Thomas said in a statement.
The bishop warned that the drug is now sold at pharmacies and online, often circumventing state laws designed to protect life in the womb. He expressed concern that women may undergo abortions alone at home without medical supervision.
Bishop Thomas also cited risks of exploitation by violent partners or human traffickers, noting that remote access removes safeguards present in clinical settings.
Call for Continued Advocacy
The bishops’ committee thanked thousands of Catholics who have already participated in the prayer and action initiative. Bishop Thomas invited the faithful to continue their involvement through the Respect Life Prayer and Action website.
“Our Blessed Mother is our model for upholding the sanctity of all human life in every stage and circumstance,” Bishop Thomas said, linking the month’s Marian theme to the broader pro-life mission.