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Home » News » Pro-Life This Week – May 1, 2026

Pro-Life This Week – May 1, 2026

Week in Review

The Back-and-Forth Court Ruling on Mifepristone and Why It Matters

American Life League has been closely following the back-and-forth court rulings regarding the distribution of mifepristone, the first in a two-drug abortion pill regimen. Here is a brief recap:

Last Friday, a Fifth Circuit Court in Louisiana granted a stay (or pause) on the 2023 FDA rules, which allowed the abortion drug mifepristone to be sent in the mail through telehealth appointments and pharmacies. Danco and GenBioPro, pharmaceutical companies that manufacture mifepristone, filed appeals to the US Supreme Court asking that the stay from the Fifth Circuit Court be lifted. Not even 72 hours later, the US Supreme Court temporarily reinstated the mailing of mifepristone through Monday, May 11. The Supreme Court will issue a new ruling on this case no later than Monday.

So, what does all of this mean and why does it matter? 

First and foremost, preborn babies continue to be the primary victims of this murderous drug, often combined with misoprostol. Mifepristone is the first drug taken in the abortion pill regimen. It cuts off the progesterone to the tiny baby in the womb and starves her to death. Misoprostol, a drug used as part two of the regimen, causes the mother’s body to contract and expel her dead child. 

The FDA states that the combination of the drugs is to be used for an abortion within the child’s first 10 weeks of life, though Planned Parenthood and others ignore this recommendation and often prescribe it up through 12 weeks gestation.

This attempt from Louisiana’s Fifth Circuit Court is a step in the right direction. However, while the court’s ruling would stop the mailing of mifepristone through telehealth and pharmacies within the US, mifepristone would still be available through in-person appointments and through unlicensed third-party sellers who continue to mail them. If Louisiana wins this case, the abortion pill would not suddenly become illegal.

As American Life League pointed out in its 2024 report Beneath the Surface: Exposing the Abortion Pill Drug Cartel, mifepristone is being distributed from third-party sellers, many of whom live in other countries and ship the drug in discreet envelopes through the mail. This goes beyond the 2023 REMS rules and requires action by federal agencies to stop this from happening. 

Additionally, a day after the initial ruling from the Fifth Circuit Court, Planned Parenthood affiliates were already promising to continue abortion through the mail by offering misoprostol only for abortions.

Evil does not rest. But neither will those who fight for the truth. This is why it is crucial for all of us to remember that our fight to defend the sanctity of human life is a spiritual battle, with our efforts to change the hearts and minds of those so misguided by fear, euphemisms, and lies. 

As Our Lord teaches us in scripture, “For God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26). Because we are moved by God to protect the preborn and change hearts and minds, we must continue our efforts to work and pray for the end to all methods of abortion. 

American Life League will continue to monitor this case. Please join us in praying that the Supreme Court will seek justice, truth, and the common good when issuing its new ruling on the case.

Using Art to Promote the Sanctity of Life

In 2022, 85-year-old Elaine Barker saw a pro-life sculpture advertised in a newspaper. She knew immediately that God was calling her to get the sculpture for her parish in Haverhill, Massachusetts. This weekend, four years after first learning of the piece, Elaine will finally see her dream become a reality.

The sculpture is titled Life and portrays a pregnant mother, often believed to be Mary, cradling a tiny preborn child in her “world-shaped womb.” The baby is surrounded by mirrored steel that reflects the face of anyone looking into it, calling to mind every person’s beginning as a preborn baby and the humanity of every child before birth.

Timothy Schmalz, the sculpture’s designer, said he wanted to create a piece that shares the beauty and sacredness of life. “Every line of the piece is designed in a way to pull you into that space,” he said. “It’s not only a sculpture of the unborn; it’s a sculpture of everyone who sees it.”

Elaine, who says she loves life, was determined to bring the sculpture to her parish, despite its $35,000 price tag. Her pastor agreed, as long as she could find the funding.

First, she felt led to call Schmalz. They had a nice conversation, which was later continued when they reconnected at the National Eucharistic Congress in 2024, but Elaine still needed funding for the sculpture. Then, on a pilgrimage to Rome in April 2025, a fellow traveler overheard Elaine talking about her efforts. This person called her after she returned home and offered to send the parish $35,000 for the sculpture, as long as the donation remained anonymous. Elaine then raised more than $7,000 from the community to pay for the base, and the order was placed.

Life has been installed at The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC, and there are plans to place it at the Texas state capitol and near the Church of the Nativity in Israel. Through Elaine’s efforts, All Saints in Haverhill will be the first parish in the US to feature this beautiful sculpture. Its unveiling is fittingly set for Mother’s Day weekend.

The parish intends to further its pro-life advocacy by selling miniature versions of the piece and donating some of the proceeds to a local pregnancy help center.

When asked what she wants the sculpture to accomplish at her parish, Elaine said, “I hope that it will help people to believe that the sanctity of life is so important, and it begins right at conception, when they see that baby, Jesus Christ, in the womb of Mary, His mother.”

ALL in the News

The 2026 Spring edition of Celebrate Life Magazine is out and available for free download. Check out the latest updates and articles here!

Susan Ciancio, editor of Celebrate Life Magazine and director of the Culture of Life Studies Program—ALL’s Pre-K-12 pro-life education program—wrote an article about the Culture of Life Studies Program. You can read it here!

Susan’s article about the Culture of Life Studies Program was also published in Catholic365.

Susan wrote an article about a recent documentary entitled The Story of Everything and how it explores the connection between science and faith. It was published in Catholic World Report.

Susan also wrote an op-ed entitled “Motherhood Is Increasingly Under Attack in Today’s Culture.” It was published by LifeSiteNews.

Twice a week, Judie’s commentaries are distributed to an expansive media list. The list contains over 100 media outlets such as Fox News, The Federalist, Breitbart, and The Daily Caller, among others. Judie’s commentaries are each featured on the front page of ALL.org. 

Pro-Life Education

Culture of Life Studies Program

The Golden Rule and Love for Those Who Hurt Us: This booklet introduces students to the part of Jesus’ teaching from the Sermon on the Mount known as the Golden Rule. Why is this a crucial teaching for children to learn? It forms the earliest foundations of pro-life teachings. When children learn empathy, when they see others through God’s eyes, and when they come to understand that all people have value, they begin to live these truths. They then go out into the world and follow this Golden Rule. They treat others with dignity and respect. They protect the vulnerable. They live their faith proudly. Download for just $3! ORDER HERE

ALL’s Education Materials

Pray to End Abortion Car Magnet: Reach people you don’t know and who may never hear a pro-life voice. These 6” x 4,” oval-shaped car magnets feature an adorable baby and will tell the world that you care about babies and their moms and want to end abortion. SHOP NOW

Pro-Life Social Media

May Crowning . . . with a Crane

In the month of May, faithful Catholics honor the Blessed Mother as Queen of Heaven and Earth. Families, schools, and churches gather around a Marian statue and place a crown of flowers upon her head. But what if the statue is taller than a downtown office building?

No single person has a permanent honor of placing the crown from year to year. The privilege is given to a seminarian, university president, or other distinguished member of the Mount St. Mary’s community willing to brave the heights. Crane services are donated by the crane owners. 

If your HOA and local zoning ordinance approve it, go for it!