As Lent approaches, Bishop Daniel Thomas, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities, delivered a message aimed at those grappling with the emotional aftermath of abortion. "As we approach Lent, please allow me to speak to all who carry the unbearable sadness and guilt of an abortion experience. Be assured that Jesus keeps on loving you, no matter what," he stated.

Bishop Thomas emphasized the symbolism of Ash Wednesday, noting that the ashes remind believers of their sinfulness but also their value in God's eyes. "The blessed ashes distributed on our foreheads on Ash Wednesday remind us that we are all sinners; broken, imperfect, yet very precious in the eyes of God and so well loved by Him," he explained.

He addressed concerns about judgment within the Church and cited Pope Francis' letter announcing the Jubilee of Hope: "[Judgment] is meant to bring us to a definitive encounter with the Lord." Bishop Thomas encouraged individuals to seek reconciliation through confession and to renew their relationship with Jesus. "This Lent, I personally invite you to come home to Jesus, who eagerly awaits your return, and come home to the Church," he said.

Additionally, Bishop Thomas spoke about hope for those mourning aborted children. He reassured them with words from St. John Paul II's Evangelium Vitae: "God’s gift of hope allows you to expect His comfort as you grieve for the loss of your aborted children."