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July 29, 2026Catholic Bishops of Massachusetts Statement Against Late-term Abortion Bill
On July 22, 2026, the Massachusetts House of Representatives passed legislation which removed all remaining legal limits on late-term abortions in the Commonwealth. In these final days of the legislative session the Massachusetts Senate is considering the same question of late-term abortions. Late-term in this case means abortion after 24 weeks of pregnancy and up until the birth of the child.
As Catholic bishops we have a moral responsibility to present and uphold Catholic teaching and the sacred God-given dignity of every human life from conception to the natural death.
The proposed elimination of any legal restraint on late-term abortion is, in our judgement, a radical measure which is gravely immoral. Our hope is that the state Senate will not follow the House on this measure.
Life is beautiful! We invite the Catholic community to pray for a renewal of reverence for all human life. We reaffirm the Church’s call to its own community and to civil society to provide the resources to welcome and cherish the gift of life, as well as to accompany women and families who have known the tragedy of abortion. Let there be room in our hearts for the most vulnerable among us. May we recall and live the Lord's own word "whatsoever you do to the least of these you do to me."
We join Pope Leo in his prayer intentions for the month of July as he implored the Lord Jesus to help us love life as He does, “with tenderness, fidelity, and self-giving.” We uphold his call, “May we proclaim, in words and action, that every human life is worth the total gift of ourselves.”
+Most Reverend Richard G. Henning, Archbishop of Boston
+ Most Reverend Robert J. McManus, Bishop of Worcester
+Most Reverend Edgar M. da Cunha, Bishop of Fall River
+Most Reverend William D. Byrne, Bishop of Springfield