Week in Review
On Monday, a coalition of 160 nongovernmental organizations, led by the Declaration of Casablanca for the Universal Abolition of Surrogacy, sent a letter to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child. The signatories asked the committee to recognize surrogacy as involving the sale of a child and to call for its worldwide abolition. The letter identifies surrogacy as a violation of children’s rights; it grounds that argument in the opening statement: “Surrogacy is defined as the contract by which one or more commissioning parties agree with a woman that she will carry one or more children with a view to their handover at birth, regardless of the name and the terms and conditions of that contract. Surrogacy is thus a process whose object is the commissioning and handover of a child.”
Surrogacy is an arrangement in which a woman carries a child for another person or persons. In traditional surrogacy, the surrogate’s own egg is fertilized; in gestational surrogacy, an embryo created through IVF is implanted in her uterus. Some arrangements include financial compensation. The Catholic Church gravely condemns surrogacy for several reasons, the most important of which include:
- The marital conjugal act should be both unitive (self-giving) and procreative (life-giving) in intention. Artificial insemination and IVF, by their very nature, cannot be self-giving, as the conjugal act does not take place.
- IVF involves the destruction of human embryonic children. It is always illicit.
- Children born via a surrogate are born via contractional arrangement and are treated like material goods. The surrogate mother is commodified for her body to use as a service for bringing new life into the world for someone else.
Olivia Maurel, the spokeswoman for the declaration, is an American-born activist who has fought for the abolition rather than the regulation of surrogacy after learning that she herself was born via surrogacy. Understanding the significant impact that had on her relationships with her parents and with herself, she began researching and learning how surrogacy commodifies the human person as a financial transaction and classifies the child as a “right” rather than a gift. Maurel summarized what the declaration is calling on the UN to do in three points:
- Affirm that remunerated surrogacy (directly or indirectly) constitutes a sale of children within the meaning of the Optional Protocol;
- Call on States parties to take legislative measures to protect children from undergoing surrogacy;
- Encourage the development of an international instrument aimed at the worldwide abolition of this practice.
This letter to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child is significant, as it addresses and condemns the worldwide issue of surrogacy. We must continue to educate, advocate, and pray for those who remain apathetic or supportive of such violations against the human person. Just as we seek an end for abortion, artificial reproductive technologies such as IVF, and contraception, let us too seek the end to acts like surrogacy and any acts that treat human beings as objects rather than acknowledging that they are made in the image and likeness of God.
Hugh Brown Reflects on Recent Meeting with VA Senator
I recently met with Senator Tim Kaine; we spoke for about an hour. He is a husband, father, and lifelong Catholic. The purpose of my requesting the meeting was very simple: I need his help to defeat the two constitutional amendments on Virginia’s ballot this November. One amendment enshrines abortion into the very fabric of the commonwealth’s constitution, and the second destroys the meaning of marriage. Both weave the demonic into the very essence of what Virginia stands for and believes. Both are unacceptable and must be defeated.
Catholic men, Catholic married men specifically, have entered into a covenant with God to keep Christ as our head and to lead our wives, our families, and anyone entrusted to us to Christ. The greater the station in life, the greater the responsibility to God the Father. We lead people to Christ by following His commands and practicing and living the discipline required to be Catholic. It’s done out of love for Jesus and our families, through a deep appreciation of the gift of faith we not only received, but through grace accepted and lived.
Catholicism is Christ’s Church on earth. We live with one foot in the kingdom and one foot here in this place. We do not support abortion; we do not support sin. We don’t dare commit sacrilege by receiving Christ in the Eucharist with mortal sin stained on our soul.
I’m not naïve. We have spent nearly 50 years at ALL calling out men, women, bishops, and cardinals who claim but do not live the Catholic faith but who live lives that lead others directly to hell.
In my opinion, much has been lost. The enemy is embedded in the hearts and souls of those who have lost God’s grace. My hope and my prayer in fearlessly proclaiming the truth of Christ and His teachings with love and strength is that those men who have lost their way will come back. The hour is late, and we need them.
Join me in continuing to pray daily for the conversion of fallen-away Catholics, that they, like the Prodigal Son, return seeking forgiveness and mercy.
ALL in the News
Today marks the start of the Culture of Life Studies Program’s annual Pro-Life Essay Contest! Last year, we received the most entries we have ever seen for this contest. This year, we hope even more young people will enter! Visit prolifeessay.com for prompts, prizes, and directions!
To announce the launch of the essay contest, Susan Ciancio, director of the Culture of Life Studies Program, joined host Jerry Cirino on the popular pro-life podcast From the Median. She also published articles about it with Catholic World Report and Catholic Mom.
Additionally, Susan published an article about World Alzheimer’s Month with Catholic365.
This week, the bimonthly Wednesday STOPP Report was published. Among the latest news comes an announcement of a new Planned Parenthood facility in Montana.
Katie Brown Xavios, ALL’s national director, regularly posts updates about American Life League and its important work on social media channels X and LinkedIn. Follow her accounts to stay up to date.
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
All Shapes and Sizes: Learning about the Beauty and Dignity of People with Disabilities and Other Challenges: In this downloadable booklet, children explore why every human being is precious, regardless of appearance, abilities, age, health, or background. Through engaging stories, thoughtful discussions, hands-on activities, and Catholic teaching, this four-week unit study helps children see the beauty in each person and recognize that being different is something to celebrate, not fear. Designed for kindergarten and older, All Shapes and Sizes introduces children to Down syndrome, autism, the dignity and beauty of the elderly, and the importance of caring for people who are sick or facing challenges. Along the way, children are encouraged to grow in compassion, respect, and love for their neighbors. Now on SALE for just $8. ORDER HERE
ALL’s Education Materials
Pro-Abortion Catholics Prayer Card: This beautiful card contains a powerful prayer for the conversion of all so-called “pro-abortion Catholics” in public office. We pray that they will immediately stop support for all forms of abortion and infanticide and that they will respect the sanctity of the Holy Eucharist by not receiving Holy Communion until they have reconciled themselves with God and amended their lives to never again act or speak in defense of these grave sins. Featuring a stunning image of Christ, this 2.75 in. x 5.5 in. prayer card is just .08. Order in bulk and save! SHOP NOW
Pro-Life Social Media
Bishop Burbidge Takes a Bold Stand against Virginia’s Two Evil Ballot Initiatives
This Sunday, Bishop Michael Burbidge of the Diocese of Arlington in Virginia, asked his diocesan priests to do something they have never done before. At every Sunday Mass, the priests were asked to read a letter from the bishop condemning the two ballot initiatives that will appear in Virginia’s midterm elections this fall.
In the letter, Bishop Burbidge proclaimed the sanctity of human life and the true union between one man and one woman. The bishop also released a video of himself reading the letter. It went viral, as it is one of the boldest stances a bishop has ever taken against ballot measures that seek to defile human life.
🚨A RARE MOVE by a Virginia Bishop Ahead of Election Day “Catholic Bishop Michael Burbidge says he has never before asked every priest in his diocese to do what he requested this weekend: read a letter at Mass urging Catholics to oppose two Virginia constitutional amendments on abortion and marriage.” “Across 70 parishes serving more than 430,000 Catholics in Northern Virginia, worshippers heard Burbidge warn against what he called ‘two dangerous ballot initiatives’—proposed constitutional amendments that Virginians will decide Nov. 3. Early voting begins Friday.” “The effort follows a joint statement Burbidge issued with Richmond Bishop Barry Knestout in August. In his latest letter, Burbidge urged parishioners to pledge to vote at https://t.co/kJzKhv4RZd, cast ballots early beginning Friday, and encourage their family, friends, and colleagues to oppose the amendments.” … MORE:⬇️ https://t.co/DdCxpfV172 Video: Statement of Bishop Burbidge Instructing Catholics to Vote ‘No’ on Virginia Ballot Questions 1 & 2
— Virginia News Vanguard (@VaNewsVanguard) September 14, 2026
Please pray that Virginians will vote NO on both of these evil measures, and pray for Virginia’s priests and Bishop Burbidge, that they will continue to boldly proclaim the dignity and sanctity of all human beings.