The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has asked the faithful to invoke the intercession of St. Joseph, Defender of Life, for an end to all taxpayer funding of abortion.

In a July 24 announcement, the USCCB emphasized that people should not be forced to pay for the killing of unborn children or the facilities that murder them and encouraged Catholics to say a prayer to St. Joseph, Defender of Life, each day leading up to October 1, the first day of Respect Life Month.

The U.S. bishops’ announcement comes after a federal judge blocked part of President Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (BBB) that bans federal tax dollars going through Medicaid to any organization that commits abortions for reasons other than rape, incest, or supposed threats to the mother’s life for one year.

“Americans should not be forced to pay for the killing of preborn children or fund the clinics that kill them,” the statement said. “The USCCB Committee on Pro-Life Activities is inviting Catholics to join a focused effort of prayer to stop taxpayer funding of the abortion industry. In particular, we will invoke the intercession of St. Joseph, Defender of Life.”

However, the USCCB has faced criticism for providing little funding to pro-life efforts and for even giving money to pro-abortion groups.

READ: US bishops have been funding pro-abortion, Marxist groups with parishioners’ money for decades

Prayer to St. Joseph, Defender of Life

Dearest St. Joseph, at the word of an angel, you lovingly took Mary into your home. As God’s humble servant, you guided the Holy Family on the road to Bethlehem, welcomed Jesus as your own son in the shelter of a manger, and fled far from your homeland for the safety of both Mother and Child. We praise God that as their faithful protector, you never hesitated to sacrifice for those entrusted to you.

May your example inspire us also to welcome, cherish, and safeguard God’s most precious gift of life. Help us to faithfully commit ourselves to the service and defense of human life — especially where it is vulnerable or threatened. Obtain for us the grace to do the will of God in all things. Amen.

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