(LifeSiteNews) — India’s Fourth National March for Life was held in Bangalore on August 9, drawing thousands of participants from across the country. Archbishop Francis Kalist, episcopal advisor to CHARIS India and the CBCI-appointed in-charge for the pro-life movement in India, delivered a powerful catechesis to bishops, priests, religious and laity.
Archbishop Kalist highlighted the staggeringly high rate of abortion in India. Referring to a Lancet study that recorded 15.6 million abortions in India in the year 2015 alone, he lamented the “tragedy of abortion” that results in a baby being killed every two seconds in India. In these last ten years, the abortion law has been expanded to permit killing up to 24 weeks for any reason, while courts have increasingly authorized late-term abortions.
Quoting Pope Leo XIV, he encouraged priests and laity to become “fishers of families” and reveal the truth about abortion, contraception and gender ideology instead of observing silence because of “misguided mercy.” Archbishop Kalist implores all those in leadership positions in the Church to “proclaim the Gospel of Life with urgency and courage.”
Read the full text of his catechesis below.
Archbishop Francis Kalist: Fourth National March for Life
Dear Brother Bishops and all my beloved People of God,
Last year, at the National March for Life in Thrissur, I spoke to you about the reality of the culture of death through contraception in our country. We reflected on Casti Connubii, the encyclical of Pope Pius XI “On Chaste Wedlock” written in 1930, and Humanae Vitae, the encyclical of Pope St. Paul VI written in 1968. This year, I wish to address a more specific evil: the tragedy of abortion that is destroying our families.
Many people, especially those in positions of authority — politicians, bishops, priests, religious, lawmakers, members of the judiciary, and medical professionals — remain ignorant of the slaughter of over 1 crore 56 lakh babies every year in India. Over 46,000 children are killed in the womb every day in India. That means that every two seconds, a child becomes a victim of abortion. Even as I speak now, another innocent life is being lost to abortion.
One of the primary responsibilities of bishops and priests is to teach and preach. Sadly, many of us shy away from fulfilling this duty. Many of us are unaware of our responsibility to “speak out for those who cannot speak,” as told in Proverbs 31:8.
On May 18, 2025, Pope Leo XIV, in his homily, said, “It is the responsibility of the bishops, as successors of the apostles and shepherds of Christ’s flock, to be the first to cast their nets into the sea and become ‘fishers of families.’” He further emphasized that the laity are also called to participate in this mission, to become, alongside ordained ministers, “fishers” of couples, young people, children, women, and men of all ages and circumstances, so that all may encounter the one Saviour.
I echo what Pope Leo XIV said to the bishops: become “fishers of families.” And to the laity, I urge you to become fishers of individual members of the family, working together with the bishops and priests. The question we must ask ourselves today is: how many of our shepherds and leaders are truly “fishers of families”? How often have you heard the leadership in the Church: a bishop, priest, or retreat preacher speak about the sin of abortion, contraception, or gender ideology in their catechesis? Sadly, hardly ever. This silence often stems from a lack of conviction or confusion on these critical matters. Instead, in the name of “misguided mercy,” many shepherds have forgotten to speak the truth to families.
I repeat: “misguided mercy” has entered the Church. As Cardinal Robert Sarah once famously said, “Do not deceive people with the word ‘mercy.’ God forgives sin only if we repent of it.” This mercy came at a great cost—the Lord and Saviour of the whole world had to die on the cross to save us from our sins. Please don’t take it for granted.
The next question to consider is how often these issues are addressed in schools, colleges, catechism classes, etc.
Once again, the answer is hardly ever. Many of our teachers are also not convinced about these truths or are confused about them. Pope Benedict XVI once stated, “We wish to make it clear that departure from the Church’s teaching, or silence about it, in an effort to provide pastoral care is neither caring nor pastoral. Only what is true can ultimately be pastoral.”
That’s why Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen cried out, “Who is going to save our Church? Not our bishops, not our priests, not religious. It is up to you, the people. You have the minds, the eyes, and the ears to save the Church. Your mission is to ensure that your priests act like priests, your bishops act like bishops, and your religious act like religious.”
This India’s March for Life is primarily an initiative of the laity. The laity who keep meeting and know the families came and told me, “Your Grace, this is what is happening in our families with regard to faith and morals.” After much deliberations and discussions I got convinced and presented it two times at the CBCI (Catholic Bishops Conference of India) & CCBI (Conference of Catholic Bishops of India) meetings and the bishops readily accepted our proposal to conduct the National March for Life every year in a given diocese.
I have noticed there is a wrong teaching circulating in the Church today: that the pro-life apostolate is just social work. It is not mere social work. It is a profound call to uphold the dignity and rights of the most vulnerable members of society—the unborn children who are killed through abortion, and the elderly who are victims of mercy killing or euthanasia.
While many religious congregations are engaged in works for the poor, the widow, and the orphan, as well as in rehabilitation for substance abuse and other social causes. There are far fewer organisations specifically addressing abortion, such as crisis pregnancy centres. This pro-life ministry, my brothers and sisters, is specifically about defending the rights of the unborn and the elderly. Please understand this.
Therefore, I appeal to all my brother bishops, priests, religious sisters and brothers, and those in leadership positions over Catholic institutions such as colleges, seminaries, formation houses, priests’ retreats, and schools, to proclaim the Gospel of Life with urgency and courage. I highly recommend conducting CHARIS India’s Flesh & Bones and Vita pro-life formation programs, so that the authentic and authoritative teachings of Humanae Vitae, Casti Connubii, Evangelium Vitae, and teachings on gender ideology are made known, ensuring that the sanctity of life is upheld from womb to tomb.
I offer my gratitude to His Grace Archbishop Peter Machado, Vice President of CCBI, for hosting this year’s National March for Life so beautifully, and to Archbishop George Antonysamy of Chennai for agreeing to host the next National March for Life on August 9, 2026. I also thank His Grace Andrews Mar Thazhath, President of CBCI, for his strong conviction and unwavering support for the pro-life ministry in India. Thank you to all pro-life members.
Thank you.
God bless you all!
