The California Catholic Conference, which represents nearly 11 million Catholics , nearly 30 percent of the state’s residents, issued the following statement June 24 in response to Dobbs vs. Jackson ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court:

“Today is a day to give thanks and celebrate. The California Catholic Conference of Bishops profoundly welcomes the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which has affirmed our dearly held belief that life is precious, valuable, and should be protected, and that states have a compelling interest to protect the unborn and limit abortion. This has been our prayer, the Church’s prayer, for the last 50 years.

“While we celebrate this decision – the culmination of prayer and decades of legislative advocacy, life-affirming events, committing time and resources to pregnancy centers, and walking with families facing an unplanned pregnancy – in many ways, our work has just begun.

“The Dobbs ruling is a brightly shining ray of light and hope in the war on the sanctity of life, but the battle and the work are far from over.  Extreme abortion-expanding legislation is working its way through the Capitol, and the governor has promised to enshrine abortion into the state constitution. The state is compounding its efforts to make abortion affordable, accessible, and convenient without any talk of equitable services for women who look forward to their child’s birth or for those who are already mothers. Such a stance will make ending a life easy but keeping one more difficult.

“In turn, we must redouble our efforts to reverse the state’s prioritization of abortion in favor of helping women raise their children despite daunting circumstances….

The above comes from a June 24 posting in the Southern Cross from San Diego.