(LifeSiteNews) — After the unexpected announcement to cancel the annual Youth Rally and Mass for Life in January 2023, Bishop Joseph Strickland of Tyler, Texas publicly opposed the plan and emphasized the need for national pro-life efforts, even after the overturning of Roe v. Wade that rejected granting a constitutional “right” to abortion.
The Archdiocese of Washington and Cardinal Wilton Gregory recently decided to cancel the first post-Roe Youth Rally and Mass for Life, an event that previously drew thousands of young people across the country to the nation’s capital, celebrating life and praying for an end to abortion. The rally has been the precursor to the National March for Life to the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. for over 25 years.
In an earlier release announcing the cancellation of the Youth Rally and Mass for Life, the archdiocese did not provide a clear reason for its decision.
Bishop Strickland posted his reaction to the decision on Twitter yesterday, expressing disappointment in the plan.
“I must protest this cancellation,” he wrote. “We have an extremely anti-life President & we cancel our national voice? Yes to state efforts but we desperately need a national voice for life at this critical time.”
I must protest this cancellation. We have an extremely anti-life President & we cancel our national voice? Yes to state efforts but we desperately need a national voice for life at this critical time. 🙏🙏🙏 https://t.co/FSuiKJI8uq
— Bishop J. Strickland (@Bishopoftyler) November 15, 2022
As host of The Bishop Strickland Show, the bishop has repeatedly encouraged Catholics to defend the unborn and stressed the importance of unity within pro-life efforts. Last year, he also attended the National Men’s March in Baltimore, joining men from across the country to pray and march for an end to abortion.
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