“Seeking Life, Mercy, and Healing”
 A Common Statement by Orthodox and Catholic Bishops
 
On January 22nd, Catholic and Orthodox Christians will once again stand in solidarity on the occasion of the 43rd anniversary of Roe v. Wade. As our communities firmly believe in the sanctity of life, the faithful -- along with many people of other traditions and good will -- lament the legal circumstances that facilitate abortion and the cultural phenomena that present abortion as the only choice for expectant mothers experiencing difficult conditions.

We recognize that the choice to abort an unborn child ultimately reflects the broken condition of humanity.

We remind the world of our common teaching that life begins at the earliest moments of conception and that life, at all stages of its development, is sacred. We denounce the termination of a life as a response to unwanted pregnancies or as a method of overcoming social and economic challenges. We embrace the mothers and the couples who, in spite of difficulties, choose to bring their pregnancy to term. At the same time, however, we invite those who may have undergone or facilitated an abortion to turn to Christ with contrite hearts, seeking to overcome their grief through His forgiveness, mercy and healing.

His Eminence, Archbishop Demetrios of America
     Chairman
     Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the USA

Most Reverend Joseph E. Kurtz
     Archbishop of Louisville
     President
     US Conference of Catholic Bishops

Metropolitan Savas of Pittsburgh
     Chairman, Committee for Church and Society
     Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the USA

Timothy Michael Cardinal Dolan
     Archbishop of New York
     Chairman, Committee on Pro-Life Activities
     US Conference of Catholic Bishops