Cardinal Gregory Cancels Youth Rally for Life After Pro-Life Event Marks 25 Years

National   |   Mary Rooke   |   Nov 15, 2022   |   6:40PM   |   Washington, DC

The Youth Rally and Mass for Life 2023 has been canceled, the Archdiocese of Washington announced Tuesday.

Wilton Cardinal Gregory, Archbishop of The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington, decided to end the event after 25 years to focus on local pro-life work, according to the Youth Rally and Mass for Life notice page on the Archdiocese’s website.

“After a consultation process that involved dialogue with other dioceses, ministry leaders, and the partners who assist the Archdiocese in hosting the annual Rally and Mass, The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington has decided not to move forward with hosting the larger multi-Diocese Rally,” the cancellation noticed stated.

The letter told pro-life youth that “as difficult a decision as it was to cancel” the rally that draws in thousands every year, the Archdiocese of Washington still “support[s] their local work and pray[s] for their success” and asked for groups who’ve planned to come to the youth rally to continue supporting the National March for Life at the National Mall and attend the Vigil Mass at The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.

Bishop Joseph E. Strickland of Tyler, TX, denounced the move by the Archdiocese of Washington, arguing that the cancelation could hurt the pro-life voice nationally.

“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,” the Texas Bishop tweeted.

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Joe Biden signed an executive order in July that, among other things, provides aid to women traveling out of state to receive abortions and ensures more expansive access to medical abortions. Biden called the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade “terrible, extreme” and “so totally wrongheaded.”

Biden also praised Kansas voters for defeating a pro-life measure restricting abortion during the state’s primary election. “In a decisive victory, voters made it clear that politicians should not interfere with the fundamental rights of women,” Biden said at the White House. And the voters of Kansas sent a powerful signal that this fall the American people will vote to preserve and protect the right and refuse to let them be ripped away by politicians.”

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington and the March for Life did not respond to the Daily Caller’s request for comment.

LifeNews Note: Mary Rooke writes for Daily Caller. Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience.