SW News: On the 48th anniversary of the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision, the bishops of New Jersey have announced a day of prayer and fasting on Friday, January 22, to end abortion.

The statement jointly released by Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, David M. O’Connell, Dennis J. Sullivan, Kevin J. Sweeney, James F. Checchio, Kurt Burnette and Yousif Habash read: “As we mark this tragic event in our nation’s history, we remember the millions of lives lost to abortion and pray for the mothers and fathers left to suffer the tragic effects.”

The bishops asserted that the Catholic Church is committed to protecting life, right from the time of conception to natural death and assured that they will “work vigorously to ensure the laws of our state and country protect and defend the intrinsic dignity of all people.”

They concluded the statement by seeking the intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe, who is the patroness of the Americas and Protectress of the Unborn, to “intercede on our behalf that these efforts to end abortion are guided by mercy, compassion, and above all charity.”

Archbishop of San Francisco, Salvatore Cordileone, has also invited the Catholics of his diocese to observe the “Day for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children,” on January 22, to pray and do penance for all the crimes done against the unborn.