Pope Leo XIV's apostolic journey to France from September 25 to 28, 2026, focused on defending the dignity of every human life, challenging French lawmakers on assisted dying, abortion, and surrogacy, and emphasizing that no human life is disposable. During his visit, he engaged with the sick and disabled in Lourdes, delivered a speech at UNESCO warning about the impact of AI on human dignity, and celebrated a Mass in Paris attended by over 800,000 people, including altar servers with Down syndrome, highlighting his global voice for the vulnerable. The pope's visit sparked renewed debate over France's assisted-dying legislation, with his strong defense of life receiving widespread attention, including from President Emmanuel Macron, who attended Mass with him despite political opposition; Pope Leo also condemned euthanasia and abortion as threats to human dignity and called for medicine to reject programmed death, reinforcing his role as a prominent advocate for the disabled, elderly, unborn, and vulnerable in society.
Louisiana, Alabama, and Arkansas filed a lawsuit in the Supreme Court against New York, Massachusetts, and California challenging abortion shield laws that protect providers who mail abortion pills to patients in states with abortion bans. This legal action marks the first time states with abortion bans have directly sued states with abortion shield laws, escalating the conflict between states with opposing abortion policies.
The Restoration of America Foundation (ROAF) released a report urging the Trump administration to enforce the 1873 Comstock Act to stop mail-order abortion pills, which they claim are being shipped into red states without in-person exams due to blue state shield laws and FDA policy changes. ROAF estimates that mail-order abortion drugs were responsible for over 300,000 abortions in 2025 and calls on the Department of Justice to withdraw the Biden administration's legal opinion that exempts mailing these drugs from the Comstock Act, arguing that enforcement would effectively ban mailing abortion drugs nationwide.
The Hyde Amendment, first enacted by Congress on September 30, 1976, protects federal Medicaid funds from being used for abortions and has saved approximately 2.7 million lives since its inception. Despite this, some health insurance plans under the Affordable Care Act violate the Hyde Amendment by covering elective abortions, leading to calls for Congress to make the Hyde Amendment permanent through legislation like the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act (HR 7).
Arkansas, Louisiana, and Alabama have filed an original action before the U.S. Supreme Court and a federal lawsuit against New York, California, and Massachusetts to challenge pro-abortion 'shield laws' that protect abortionists mailing abortion drugs to pro-life states.
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill announced federal lawsuits against New York, California, and Massachusetts for enabling mail-order abortions by refusing to extradite abortionists charged with sending abortion pills into Louisiana, where elective abortion is banned. The state argues that these 'shield' laws violate Louisiana's sovereignty and criminal laws, citing cases where mailed abortion drugs resulted in the deaths of babies and harm to women, and is also challenging the FDA's 2023 policy allowing telehealth prescribing and mail delivery of abortion pills in federal court.
In 1976, Congressman Henry Hyde introduced the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits the use of federal funds for abortions except when the mother's life is at risk, and it has since saved an estimated 2,646,474 lives according to the Charlotte Lozier Institute. Despite ongoing challenges and attempts to remove it, efforts continue to make the Hyde Amendment permanent through legislation like H.R.
Pro-life shareholders at the FedEx annual meeting introduced a resolution urging the company to evaluate and potentially prohibit the shipping of abortion drugs like mifepristone due to legal and reputational risks, though the FedEx board opposed the resolution. Similar shareholder actions have been taken with UPS and Costco, highlighting concerns about the shipment of abortion pills into states with laws protecting unborn children, despite federal laws like the Comstock Act that restrict mailing abortion-related items.
Two same-sex couples in the UK face losing their frozen embryos after sperm donors withdrew consent, as UK law allows donors to withdraw consent before embryo transfer, leading to embryos being discarded after a cooling-off period if consent is not restored. New Zealand has partially addressed this issue by limiting donor consent withdrawal to before embryo creation under certain guidelines, but gaps remain in the law regarding embryo storage, consent, and disposal, prompting calls for reforms to protect embryos and prioritize children's rights in assisted reproduction and surrogacy legislation.
California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a package of pro-abortion bills into law, including measures that allow non-physicians to perform abortions past the first trimester and require chemical abortions on community college campuses. Despite previously vetoing a bill related to extradition of abortionists, Newsom supports expanding abortion access and protections for abortion providers, while critics highlight the increased health risks and lack of adequate medical infrastructure for these policies.
California Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed Assembly Bill 2164, which would have prevented future governors from honoring extradition requests for abortion providers charged in other states, despite the bill passing both legislative chambers with significant support. Newsom previously refused to extradite Dr.
More than 3,000 pro-life advocates gathered in Vilnius, Lithuania, on September 26 for the country's second March for Life, featuring personal testimonies, speeches, and musical performances that emphasized the dignity of every human life, especially unborn children. Church leaders and international speakers highlighted the importance of practical support for families, the role of fathers, and the need for a culture of life grounded in faith and community support amid ongoing political debates over reproductive legislation in Lithuania.
Abortion abolitionists have introduced bills in many states to prosecute women for abortion, but no prosecution bill passed a committee or reached a legislative house floor this year. These efforts overlook law, history, tradition, and law enforcement experience before Roe v.
During his Apostolic Journey to France, Pope Leo XIV condemned assisted suicide and euthanasia laws, calling them 'false compassion' and emphasizing the inalienable dignity of the human person. He urged the healthcare community to care for suffering individuals rather than eliminate them, criticizing recent French legislation legalizing assisted dying and warning against the moral dangers of such laws.
Pope Leo XIV stated during his visit to France that assisted dying is not 'normal' and emphasized that causing death should not be regarded as acceptable, even under the guise of compassion. He made these remarks in response to France's recent legislation legalizing assisted dying for certain patients, highlighting that what is legal is not necessarily moral.
Judge Matthew R. Byrne, known for his pro-life stance and refusal to join the Ohio Supreme Court's dismissal of an appeal over the state's six-week abortion ban, was confirmed by the Senate to a lifetime federal judgeship for the Southern District of Ohio on September 15, 2026.
Missouri pastors, led by Wesley Vance and joined by Senator Josh Hawley, unveiled a Declaration for Life at the inaugural Missouri Prayer Breakfast, calling on senators to sign a pledge against chemical abortion pills like mifepristone. Hawley introduced legislation to ban mifepristone, citing high rates of adverse effects, and challenged all senators to take the pledge, while Missouri voters prepare to decide on Amendment 3, which would repeal the 2024 abortion amendment.
A Massachusetts bishop has instructed his priests to meet privately with Catholic politicians who supported recent abortion legislation, urging them to repent and warning them not to receive Communion until they change their public stance. The bishop also directed that if these individuals present themselves for Communion after being warned, they must be denied the Eucharist to prevent scandal, with this policy taking effect after the November elections.
Pro-life leaders, including Family Research Council President Tony Perkins, sent a letter to FDA nominee Heidi Overton urging her to complete the ongoing study on mifepristone and restore safety measures if confirmed by the Senate. During her confirmation hearing, Overton acknowledged the importance of adhering to statutory safety and efficacy standards for medications, while pro-life advocates expressed concerns about the safety of abortion pills, risks of abuse, and the undermining of state laws protecting unborn life.
California Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed Assembly Bill 2164, which would have prohibited the governor from honoring extradition requests from other states seeking to prosecute individuals involved in abortions or gender transition procedures banned in those states. Newsom stated that extradition is an executive function and expressed concern about setting a precedent that would limit the authority of future governors, despite supporting protections for reproductive and gender-affirming healthcare services.
The NSW Legislative Council voted down the Abortion Law Reform Amendment (Sex Selection Prohibition) Bill 2025 by 21-16, which would have prohibited abortion for sex selection and reinforced an existing NSW policy principle. The Australian Christian Lobby emphasizes the need for political advocates to be well-informed, clear in their explanations, and committed to long-term conviction in protecting unborn children, working across the political spectrum to pursue meaningful protections for unborn life.
California Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed legislation (AB 2164) that would have codified an extradition ban for 'legally protected health care activity,' including abortion and gender-affirming health care services, citing concerns over executive authority and extradition powers. The veto surprised abortion activists and bill supporters while pleasing opponents of transgender medical procedures, with the governor avoiding direct mention of abortion and transgender care in his veto message and emphasizing the importance of preserving executive discretion on extradition matters.
The estate of a 26-week-old aborted baby settled a wrongful death lawsuit for $200,000 against late-term abortionist Curtis Wayne Boyd and others in New Mexico, marking the first payout of its kind under state law treating the unborn as persons. The lawsuit claimed the mother was under the influence of methamphetamine and could not give valid consent, and both the mother and the baby's estate sued, with the court recognizing the baby as a person entitled to compensation despite abortion remaining legal in the state.
The University of New Mexico is negotiating to purchase Alta Vista Hospital in Las Vegas, NM, with funds that would include abortion services as part of a taxpayer-funded reproductive health center. This move follows legislative appropriations and ongoing efforts to expand abortion access in rural New Mexico, including the construction of a UNM-run abortion center in Las Cruces and a strategic project to integrate abortion services into broader healthcare facilities in the state.
Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey signed legislation effective November 2026 allowing abortion after 24 weeks based on physicians' subjective professional judgment, permitting termination up to birth. Shortly after, she promoted expanding postpartum care and a program called Welcome Family to support mothers and families, raising questions about the state's role in both late-term abortion and newborn welfare monitoring.
California Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed Assembly Bill 2164, which would have codified and strengthened protections for abortion providers against extradition to pro-life states, despite having previously signed an executive order with similar protections in 2022. Newsom explained his veto by stating that extradition is an executive function and expressed concern about setting a precedent that would limit the authority of future governors, a decision that drew criticism from abortion rights advocates.
The UK House of Commons recently defeated a physician-assisted suicide bill after a four-hour debate, with lawmakers urged to vote their conscience due to concerns about vulnerable populations such as poorer communities and those with disabilities. The bill would have allowed adults with less than six months to live in England and Wales to apply for assisted suicide, requiring approval from two doctors and an expert panel, but similar legislation has been repeatedly stopped by the House of Lords over the past two years.
Missouri voters will decide on Amendment 3 in November to repeal a 2024 amendment that legalized abortion through all nine months of pregnancy and to prohibit gender transition surgeries for minors, aiming to restore previous pro-life protections in the state. In Idaho, Prop 1 seeks to remove current abortion bans by establishing a right to abortion up to viability with expanded exceptions, and pro-life advocates urge voters to reject this amendment to maintain the state's abortion-free status.
A study published in JAMA Network claimed that total abortion bans were associated with a 4.3-percentage point increase in suicidal ideation among female students, but expert Michael New noted there was no statistically significant increase in actual suicide attempts among teen girls in pro-life states. The study's limitations include examining only five states for one year and not considering factors like sexual activity or age, leading New to argue that the research is not comprehensive and does not prove abortion bans cause higher suicidality among teen girls.
Efforts to support pro-life candidates and oppose federal funding for Planned Parenthood in the upcoming election, focusing on swing states like Georgia, North Carolina, Michigan, Ohio, Texas, and Alaska. It emphasizes the importance of winning key congressional seats to renew measures that defund Planned Parenthood and advance pro-life legislation.
