The Persuasive Prolife Apologetic Conference for Students will be held on Saturday, May 18, 2024, from 10 am to 2:30 pm at the St. Thomas More Newman Center at the Ohio State University.  Presenters include Trent Horn, author of Persuasive Pro-life and professional speaker for Catholic Answers, and Savannah Marten, executive director of the Ohio Pregnancy Center Coalition. Sponsored by Ohio Right to Life and partnered by the Diocese of Columbus. Registration is $20 per person at www.ohiolife.org.


The U.S. Catholic Bishops instituted the Respect Life Program in 1972 to focus attention on the breakdown of moral, social, and civil structures supporting human life in America. In 1975, the bishops adopted a Pastoral Plan for Pro-life Activities which urges the activation of the pastoral resources of the Church in four specific areas: Spiritual, Education/Public Information, Pastoral Care, and Legislative/Public Policy. That plan was reaffirmed in writing in 1985. In 2001, the bishops adopted the current version, Pastoral Plan for Pro-Life: A Campaign in Support of Life. Statewide, here is a guide from The Catholic Conference of Ohio in the aftermath of the approval of Issue 1 in 2023 entitled, “Building a Culture of Life in Ohio after Issue 1:  A Catholic Approach.

Diocesan Respect Life Program
The Office for Social Concerns serves to implement components of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' Respect Life Program. Office staff research, identify and analyze life issues within the context of Catholic social teaching to determine the impact of issues and to formulate an effective response. Office staff also serve to initiate and develop programs that assist parishes, schools, and organizations in identifying their own respect life needs and aids to formulate an effective response. The Office for Social Concerns provides education, information, leadership training, and community-building opportunities for parish leaders.

Respect Life Program Implementation
The Office for Social Concerns serves as a liaison to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities.

The Respect Life Program:

  • Promotes efforts during Respect Life Month (October). 
  • Respect Life Sunday is the 1st  Sunday of October; 
  • Works with parish Respect Life Coordinators; 
  • Sponsors a Mass at St. Joseph Cathedral, Columbus, with the Bishop on the anniversary of the Supreme Court decisions legalizing abortion in the United States; 
  • Conducts an annual Diocesan Respect Life Conference.
  • Sponsors an annual Diocesan Senior Citizens' Celebration during the month of June.  The bishop serves as celebrant for the Mass. A luncheon follows. 

Jerry Freewalt
Director, Office for Social Concerns
614-241-2540 ex. 1431
[email protected]

Erin Cordle
Associate Director, Office for Social Concerns
614-241-2540 ex. 1432
[email protected]

Angelita Canlas
Administrative Assistant, Office for Social Concerns
614-241-2540 ex. 1434
[email protected]