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On Thursday, January 31, 2019, the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America released a Statement on the Sanctity of Life.  The complete text appears below.  It is also available on the Assembly web site.

The Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America fully embraces the Statement of the Assembly of Bishops, of which it is a member, and takes this opportunity to reiterate its position on the Sanctity of Life, links to which may be found below.

Statement on the Sanctity of Life
January 31, 2019

The Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America affirms the sanctity of life based on the firm conviction that life begins at the moment of conception. The Assembly remains steadfast in its conviction that any interference in the development of life is a serious issue, and therefore it regularly participates in a variety of relevant events and also releases pertinent statements on the topic.

While recognizing that there are rare but serious medical instances where mother and child may require extraordinary actions, the Assembly of Bishops is deeply concerned that the taking of innocent life through abortion has become an acceptable cultural norm. This phenomenon – increasingly prevalent throughout contemporary societies – was exacerbated by a recent law of the New York State Senate (Bill S.240). The Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America categorically denounces these adverse developments that allow for abortion, under certain unjustifiable circumstances, even within the third trimester of existence.

The Assembly of Bishops further reminds the faithful that Christ is a beacon of hope in this challenging world. Accordingly, the Church is always prepared and willing to support women who are considering abortion to find alternative avenues to alleviate any burden, physical and spiritual. The Church is ever a mother – loving, understanding, nurturing, praying, and protecting all human life.

Related resources from the Orthodox Church in America include