080522 DobbsSt. Vincent de Paul in Charlotte is among the Catholic parishes across western North Carolina educating parishioners and encouraging them to get involved with pro-life work, especially the “Walking With Moms in Need” program. This “Love Them Both” banner, designed by the Diocese of Charlotte Office of Family Life, was recently displayed along Park Road in front of the church, and educational materials were made available for parishioners to distribute and use. Diane Hoefling, who serves on the parish’s Respect Life committee, said the campaign is meant to inspire Catholics to “be prayerfully and politically active in assuring North Carolina protects its most vulnerable citizens, innocent human life in the womb,” and to “provide help and encouragement to mothers in a crisis pregnancy.” (Photo provided by Diane Hoefling) CHARLOTTE — In the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision overturning Roe v. Wade, efforts are ramping up across the Diocese of Charlotte to increase support for pregnant women and to advocate for new laws that will protect life in North Carolina.
More than 30,000 lives were lost to abortion in North Carolina in 2020, according to state health figures – over a third of them in the Charlotte region. And with abortion remaining a legal option, the state is already becoming a destination for women from surrounding states seeking to terminate the life of their unborn child.
“The Diocese of Charlotte is profoundly thankful for the Supreme Court ruling…but even with this step forward, our work to protect the dignity of all human life continues,” Bishop Peter Jugis said in a letter to the diocese’s 92 parishes in anticipation of the Supreme Court ruling. “To that end, we must redouble our efforts to assist women in choosing life for their unborn children.”
The diocese’s pro-life ministries and Office of Family Life are seeing increasing interest from people and organizations who want to help women choose life for their unborn child. Pregnancy resource centers, and parish-based programs such as “Walking with Moms in Need,” created by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, are stepping up outreach and efforts to assist women and parents.
“There is great excitement about the possibilities for new pro-life legislation in North Carolina and across the country,” said Father Ascik, director of the diocesan Family Life office and pastor of St. Mary, Help of Christians Parish in Shelby. “At the same time, there is a sense that we need to stay focused and that we need to expand our efforts to ensure we are supporting pregnant women and parents.”
Debbie Capen predicts pro-life ministries will be busier than ever and worries about new opportunities for conflict in the emotional debate. She serves as executive director of Charlotte’s MiraVia, which has served more than 10,000 women and parents – providing classes, supplies and a residential program for pregnant women and new mothers.
“When I heard the news from the Supreme Court, I immediately went before Our Lord and gave heartfelt thanks and praise – but I knew that there was no time to celebrate,” Capen said. “We have been humbled by the outpouring of support from the community.”
At Charlotte’s St. Matthew Church, one of the largest parishes in the country with some 30,000 parishioners, the Walking with Moms in Need program has been particularly busy since the ruling.
“I have been in many meetings at the parish about ways to expand our outreach to moms in need,” said Melissa Scanlon, who coordinates the parish’s program.
“Our priests and administration have always done great work to support mothers and families and are strongly supporting increasing those efforts. Volunteers are ready to get into action. I am excited to see where God is leading us in this time.”
Scanlon heard similar enthusiasm at a recent meeting of pro-life leaders from around the diocese.
“There was a general sentiment that we need to show up for the mothers in our community with love now more than ever,” she said. “Despite what you may read about Catholics not wanting to ‘do the work,’ I have seen quite the opposite response and am encouraged about us leading the way forward.”
Father Ascik encourages pro-life advocates to remain steadfast in their work, despite some incidents of damage and confrontation at churches and pregnancy resource centers elsewhere.
“Opposition to pro-life legislation seems to come from fear – fear of what it will mean for our society to welcome the unborn child,” he said. “Fear of what we might have to give, or what we might have to sacrifice for the sake of life.
“Some of these fears are understandable, but we must not let fear drive a wedge between mother and child. The unborn child is not the enemy of her mother. We do not have to choose between mother and child – we can welcome, love and protect them both. This is what pro-life work is all about.”
— Kimberly Bender and SueAnn Howell, Catholic News Herald
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The Diocese of Charlotte operates more than 50 ministries and programs, providing over $7 million in social services annually to children and families.
The diocesan Office of Family Life encourages any pregnant or parenting mother in need, or anyone who is interested in helping moms in need, to contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..