The Catholic bishops of the United States are inviting Catholics to join a focused effort of prayer and action to stop the spread of abortion pills.

The effort comes as data have shown an overall rise in abortion rates, despite the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2022 decision in the Dobbs v. Jackson case, which overturned its previous 1973 decision in Roe v. Wade.

Some reports in recent months have claimed the number of abortions in the U.S. has nearly doubled, with telehealth prescriptions and federally-protected mail-order pharmaceuticals a principal reason cited for the increase.

“The Food and Drug Administration has enabled a nationwide mail-order abortion industry,” said Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of Oklahoma City, who is President of the USCCB.

Bishop Daniel E. Thomas of Toledo, chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Pro-Life Activities, joined Coakley in the statement.

The USCCB announced the initiative in a press release on Tuesday, which said the campaign is to run from August 18 through the end of October, traditionally observed as Respect Life Month in the United States.

“Every abortion involves the death of a child and harm to the mother,” the prelates said in their joint statement on Tuesday.

“Now,” the prelates said, “with easier access to abortion pills, the abortion rate is tragically climbing, along with increased health risks.”

Coakley and Thomas said the mail-order scheme allows “abortion pills to be prescribed in telehealth appointments and sold both at neighborhood pharmacies and online, circumventing state laws that protect life in the womb.”

“This leaves women vulnerable to suffering an abortion alone at home,” the prelates said, “without any medical supervision.”

“It also sets up additional opportunities for exploitation by violent partners or human traffickers,” they said.

In addition to invoking the intercession of St. Joseph, Defender of Life, the bishops encourage participants to learn more about the dangers of abortion pills at their Respect Life Prayer and Action website.

The bishops are also encouraging participants to share information about the dangers of abortion pills and sign up to send messages to pharmacies, distributors, and pharmaceutical companies.

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