“Bearing the Face of Jesus” A Pastoral Letter from the Bishops of South Dakota

Bearing the Face of Jesus

A Pastoral Letter from the Bishops of South Dakota on Protecting the Human Dignity of Preborn Children

June 24, 2023

The Catholic Bishops of South Dakota have released a pastoral letter marking the first anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in the case of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which overturned Roe v. Wade and allowed South Dakota to protect preborn children from the violence of abortion.

“Today we celebrate the fact that South Dakota protects women and children with some of the most life-affirming laws of any political jurisdiction in the world,” said Bishop Peter Muhich of the Diocese of Rapid City and Bishop Donald DeGrood of the Diocese of Sioux Falls.

The bishops expressed concern, however, that South Dakota’s positive progress could be reversed if a pro-abortion amendment is added to the state constitution. The bishops warned the proposed amendment would “strike down most of South Dakota’s protective laws and impose a legal regime of unlimited abortion-on-demand in our state.”

Bishop DeGrood and Bishop Muhich challenged the faithful to take practical actions to save the lives of preborn children. “At this decisive moment in our state’s history, we call on Christians and all persons of good will to reject the proposed abortion amendment that would usher in a new ‘culture of death’ in South Dakota.” The bishops also implored South Dakotans to “help build a ‘culture of life’ in our state by supporting the many organizations that help women who are facing difficult pregnancies.”

Click here to read the the bishops’ pastoral letter, entitled “Bearing the Face of Jesus.”

– The South Dakota Catholic Conference