Archbishop asks faithful to join statewide novena for defeat of medication abortion bill

A pro-life sign is displayed during the 2019 annual March for Life rally in Washington Jan. 18. (CNS photo/Tyler Orsburn)

 July 30, 2019
Catholic San Francisco
 
Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone is asking the faithful of the Archdiocese of San Francisco to join a statewide novena for the intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe Aug. 3–11, to defeat a "dangerous and unprecedented" piece of legislation, Senate Bill 24, which would require California State and University of California college health centers to supply medication abortion.

The archbishop's request for support in Our Lady's "powerful intercession" was communicated  to pastors of the archdiocese July 30 in a letter from Valerie Schmalz, director of the Office of Human Life & Dignity.

SB 24 is on the verge of passage when the Legislature returns from its summer recess on Aug. 12, Schmalz wrote. It would then go to Gov. Gavin Newsom for his signature.
 
A similar bill was passed last year but vetoed by then-Gov. Jerry Brown.

If SB 24 becomes law, the state's public colleges and universities would have to provide RU-486, a chemical compound that, taken in pill form, can induce abortion in women up to 10 weeks pregnant by blocking the hormone progesterone needed to sustain a pregnancy.

It involves two types of medication: RU-486 itself, which is mifepristone, and a prostaglandin, known as misoprostol, that stimulates uterine contractions, and is taken two days after the first pill to expel the fetus.

The archbishop will celebrate a Mass for the conclusion of the novena at 9 a.m., Aug. 11, at St. Mary’s Cathedral.

The initiative was begun by Sacramento Bishop Jaime Soto. The Archdiocese of Los Angeles, and dioceses of San Jose, Stockton, Orange and San Bernardino are among those participating.
 
A special web page, Novena To Stop SB 24, has more information, including downloadable versions of the novena, a fact sheet and a link to a Catholic Legislative Network letter to lawmakers.

Catholic News Service contributed.