The National Guard / Flickr
CV NEWS FEED // The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) voiced opposition to a provision in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would require women to register for the military draft. They also reiterated their support for pro-life policies.
In the Dec. 4 letter addressed to congressional leaders, Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, Bishop Daniel E. Thomas, and Bishop Mark Seitz emphasized the importance of preserving the option of military service for women rather than making it mandatory.
“The USCCB has long held that the practice of making military service an option for women, but not an obligation, has served us well as a society,” the bishops wrote, citing a 1980 statement on the issue.
They continued, “As a result, we oppose the Senate bill’s provision requiring women be automatically registered to the Selective Service.”
Additionally, the bishops restated their 2023 call for Congress to reject policies allowing federal funding for abortion through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Department of Defense (DOD), advocating instead for measures that protect life and support families.
“We urge Congress to provide authentic support for women, children, and families while ensuring that federal resources are not used to facilitate, promote, or provide abortion,” the bishops wrote.
They later added that the USCCB “urges retention of the provision in the House NDAA which would prohibit payment and reimbursement by the DOD for expenses relating to abortion services.”
The bishops also criticized the proposed expansion of insurance coverage for in vitro fertilization (IVF). They reiterated their concerns about “the destruction or interminable freezing of millions of unborn children” and their support of “restorative reproductive fertility methods, which are an ethical and comprehensive approach to address the root causes of infertility and which are often more effective and affordable [than IVF].”
The bishops also called on congressional leaders to prioritize supporting Afghan allies, calling for pathways to permanent residency for those relocated to the U.S. and additional protections for those still at risk.
“We reaffirm the moral imperative to provide full and permanent integration for those already relocated to the United States,” the bishops wrote, “and to continue facilitating lawful pathways for those who remain outside of the country and vulnerable to persecution because of their assistance.”
