By CatholicPhilly Staff • Posted April 23, 2026

Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez released the following statement April 23 following the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania’s ruling on the use of public funding for abortion.

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“As Metropolitan Archbishop of Philadelphia, I am deeply disturbed and saddened by the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania’s recent ruling overturning our state’s ban on the utilization of public funding for elective abortions. In effect, the court is forcing all taxpayers to fund abortions and proclaiming a constitutional right to end the life of an unborn child.

As Catholics, we believe that life is God’s most precious gift and that we share a responsibility to uphold its sanctity for all people from conception to natural death.

The Church’s strong commitment in this regard is a holistic one.

We advocate strongly for the unborn, who cannot speak for themselves. At the same time, we work tirelessly to care for the needs of the hungry, the poor, the sick, the immigrant, the elderly, the oppressed, and all those who are marginalized with dignity and grace.

It is my hope and prayer that immediate action will be taken to reinstate the ban on public funding for abortions, and that all Pennsylvanians will work to sustain a true culture of respect for life.”

Most Reverend Nelson J. Pérez, D.D.
Archbishop of Philadelphia