Maryland Catholic Conference

As the new associate director for Respect Life Advocacy at the Maryland Catholic Conference, Diane Arias has jumped with both feet into the legislative session that began in January.

The Maryland General Assembly has again taken up bills that would legalize physician-assisted suicide, or euthanasia, with committee hearings scheduled on House Bill 0403 and Senate Bill 0443 in early February.

As Maryland’s General Assembly considers bills permitting physician assisted suicide and that would allow voters to decide on whether to enshrine abortion as a constitutional right in the state, Maryland’s Catholic bishops led a Prayer Vigil for Life and Lawmakers on March 9 at St. Mary in Annapolis.

More than 1,000 people braved a cold, steady rain at the Maryland March for Life, which began at St. Mary in Annapolis and ended with a rally on Lawyer’s Mall in front of the State House.

Before the Prayer Vigil for Life and Lawmakers March 30 at St. Mary’s Church in Annapolis, Wilmington Bishop William E. Koenig reflected on the importance of prayer and action in confronting abortion and promoting a culture of life.

On the evening of March 30 a few blocks from the Maryland State House, about 90 people gathered to pray for a two-fold purpose at St. Mary’s Church in Annapolis at the Prayer Vigil for Life and Lawmakers. “As people of faith and followers of Christ, we turn to prayer,” said Baltimore Archbishop William E. Lori, one of five Catholic bishops  serving Maryland who attended the vigil.