Respect Life Day of Reflection stresses work yet to be done in post Roe v. Wade world

Msgr. E. James Hart speaks at a Respect Life Day of Reflection event at Catholic Center in Fort Worth, Saturday, August 16, 2025. (NTC/Rodger Mallison)

The Supreme Court's 2022 ruling overturning Roe v. Wade engendered celebration among Catholics and pro-life advocates but also gave rise to unexpected consequences, Diocese of Fort Worth Respect Life Coordinator Terri Schauf said.

“It's been challenging for people in pro-life ministry because, after Roe, many volunteers decided we won, we're done, and stepped aside.”

Far from it, Schauf said, given that abortion remains legal in several states and acceptable in the minds of many.

“The truth is, chemical abortion now makes up the majority of abortions in the U.S.,” Schauf said. “Even in states like Texas where abortion is illegal, the abortion pill is frequently and illegally making it into Texas mailboxes.”

The phenomenon of decreased volunteerism is, unfortunately, widespread of late, Schauf added.

“COVID really did a number on volunteerism not just on pro-life ministries but across the board,” Schauf said. “Not just our diocese, but across the nation.”

Schauf praised volunteers from throughout the diocese for their continued efforts during an Aug. 19 Respect Life Day of Reflection at the Catholic Center.

“We know it's been challenging for you all and we're so thankful for pro-life volunteers who remain willing to help.”

In large part, the idea behind the Respect Life Day of Reflection event, Schauf said, was to thank, encourage, and uplift Respect Life and pro-life volunteers throughout the diocese.

“Those involved in pro-life ministry for any length of time, we know how draining that can be,” Schauf said. “We also realized that the doers in the Church also need to be ministered to — to be fed.”

Diocese Director of Evangelization and Catechesis Jason Whitehead elaborated on the challenges pro-life groups now face.

“The repeal of Roe led somewhat to a crisis of identity for Respect Life ministries,” Whitehead said.

Through crises come opportunities, Whitehead added, in this case opportunities for ministry leaders and volunteers of the Church to broaden efforts to catechize and evangelize.

Whitehead to those ends stressed the importance of scriptural knowledge and offered tips to more succinctly and efficiently explain the Catholic faith to others.

Whitehead likened such to the difference between a reservoir and a conduit.

“A reservoir first fills itself up then overflows to the benefit of others,” Whitehead said. “A conduit, however, is a passive instrument, simply a tool through which something flows, keeping nothing for yourself. Ministry burnout always originates by falling into the occupational hazard of being a conduit.”

In sharing the Gospel, it's important to first listen, Whitehead said, to better understand where the other person is coming from.

Whitehead detailed big-picture organizational principles to help volunteers deepen their understanding of the faith and better synthesize the entirety of the faith without bogging down into minutiae.

Monsignor E. James Hart meanwhile stressed the moral and theological need to continue to oppose abortion and contraceptives.

“The killing of innocent children under any circumstances is always evil,” Msgr. Hart said.

Msgr. Hart talked of volunteers still needed and much work remaining.

“2022 in the Year of our Lord saw the overturning of Roe in a historic Supreme Court case addressing the alleged right to abortion in every state for nearly half a century,” Msgr. Hart said. “After a time this great victory of good, right, and light over wrong, evil, and darkness was rightly recognized to be a great turning point.”

Pro-life advocates rightfully celebrated.

“And we rejoice still, as we should,” Msgr. Hart said. “But we must not forget that this victory is not the end of the matter. The cultural climate of 1973 is still with us and abortion is still sanctioned by law in the U.S. Hence we must view the overturning of Roe as the beginning of the end of abortion.”

Msgr. Hart warned of the consequences facing those, including many Catholics, still supportive of abortion.

Schauf dubbed the event, which reached maximum capacity, encouraging.

“Today felt like a renewed call to action,” St. Catherine of Siena parishioner Michele Wiktorski said of the event. “A reminder that we still have to fight the good fight to eradicate abortion. A renewed realization that Roe was a victory, but it didn't end abortion.”