Bishop Bradley expresses sadness with Issue 1 passage

Bishop Paul J. Bradley, apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Steubenville, joined his brother bishops throughout the state of Ohio, and expressed sadness over the unfortunate passage of the Issue 1 amendment yesterday. “Ohio joins a growing number of other states to lose sight of the intrinsic value of human life. If life is not protected in what should be the safest place imaginable, the mother’s womb, life is at great risk outside the womb. God help us,” Bishop Bradley said.

The bishop said, “Today is a tragic day for women, children, and families in Ohio. We mourn that the dignity of human life remains concealed by the duplicity of a culture of death. Though this is a day of sorrow, we are never without hope. St. Paul tells us that it is in hope that we were saved and if we hope for what we do not see, we wait with endurance.

“Asking for God’s protection and mercy, we must look ahead. Despite the obstacles this amendment presents, the Catholic Church in Ohio will continue to work for policies that defend the most vulnerable, strengthen the child-parent relationship, and support women in need. As we pray for the conversion of minds and hearts to the gospel of life, we recommit ourselves to defending children in the womb and supporting women in need,” Bishop Bradley said. He added, “The Catholic Church and faithful will never grow weary in our mission to help women and families flourish through ministries such as Walking with Moms in Need and other local organizations that provide material and spiritual support and through advocacy with policymakers.”

Bishop Bradley said he is grateful to the Catholic faithful, clergy, and all people of goodwill “whose actions in this campaign demonstrated our commitment to honoring and upholding the dignity of life. Your sacrifices prove that the Church will never abandon her mission to support human life. We will persevere in this mission until every preborn child is protected, every pregnant woman is supported, and every human life receives respect, dignity, and justice.”