by Bob Wurzelbacher

In a moment of national policy aimed at strengthening support for women and families, the recent passage of the Pregnant Students’ Rights Act and the Supporting Pregnant and Parenting Women and Families Act in the U.S. House of Representatives represents a profoundly Catholic affirmation of the dignity of every human life and the responsibility society has to those who are most vulnerable. Catholic teaching holds that life—from conception to natural death—is a sacred gift from God, and that the flourishing of families and mothers must be supported not just in rhetoric but in concrete public policy.

The Pregnant Students’ Rights Act directs colleges and universities that receive federal aid to ensure that students who are pregnant or parenting receive clear information about their rights, available resources, accommodations, and how to file a discrimination complaint if unfairly treated because of their pregnancy. Its intent is modest but meaningful: to remove barriers that too often force women to feel they must choose between their education and carrying their child to term. For many young women, the perception that pregnancy will derail their academic and professional futures can create immense pressure—a pressure that harms both mother and child. By guaranteeing access to information and support, this legislation promotes true freedom: the freedom to welcome life without sacrificing personal development or educational goals.

From a Catholic perspective, the Pregnant Students’ Rights Act echoes the Church’s long-standing commitment to “radical solidarity” with mothers and their children, both born and unborn. In a letter to Congress, U.S. Catholic bishops quoted Pope St. John Paul II in urging support for the bill, emphasizing that no woman should feel pressured into ending a pregnancy because she lacks support or resources. Their advocacy reflects the Church’s mission to uphold the dignity of every human person and to strengthen policies that respect life while accompanying those in need with compassion.

The Supporting Pregnant and Parenting Women and Families Act complements this work by affirming states’ authority to use federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds to support pregnancy help centers. These centers offer practical assistance—from prenatal education and counseling to baby supplies, childcare support, and career guidance—to women who choose life for their children but often struggle to find help. Ensuring that public resources are available to such ministries aligns with Catholic social teaching’s emphasis on subsidiarity—the idea that human needs are best met at the most local level possible, with government support when necessary.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) praised both bills in a joint statement, with Archbishop Shelton Fabre, Bishop David O’Connell, and Bishop Daniel Thomas noting that “building a culture of life requires helping mothers to be able to welcome their new children.” They underscored that no woman should have to choose “either her child or her future,” a choice the Church believes is ultimately false when society commits to genuine support for pregnancy and parenting.

In a cultural moment often marked by divisive rhetoric, these two bills offer a unifying, life-affirming path forward: compassionate public policy that respects both the sacredness of life and the real needs of women and families across the nation. From a Catholic viewpoint, this is not only right—it is a necessary manifestation of faith in action.

Bob Wurzelbacher is Director of the Offices for Respect Life Ministries and Persons with Disabilities.