A transition is a moment for reflection. The transition at the head of the Archdiocese of New York is no different. As Archbishop Ronald Hicks assumes the role that Pope John Paul II once called “archbishop of the capital of the world”, this reflection should take place beyond New York. As I watched Timothy Cardinal Dolan and Archbishop-designate Hicks at their first press conference, it reminded me of a specific promise that has been passed from one Big Apple Archbishop to the next, for decades. According to Aleteia, this promise was first presented by Archbishop Terrance Cook and was reiterated by John Cardinal O’Connor: an unequivocal promise to stand with pregnant women and their unborn children.

In a 1984 address, O’Connor stated, “I can assure every woman facing an unplanned pregnancy that the Archdiocese of New York will give you free, confidential help of highest quality … It makes no difference if you are Jewish, Protestant, Catholic, Orthodox, Muslim, of any other religion or no religion at all. The Archdiocese of New York is prepared to do everything in its power to help you and your unborn baby, to make absolutely certain that you need never feel that you must have an abortion.”

Throughout his tenure in New York, Cardinal Dolan affirmed this promise. He created the “Walking with Moms in Need” program to help connect families to the resources available through the Archdiocese. At his own 2019 press conference, he reiterated the commitment.

Catholic charities across New York have delivered on this promise. From Catholic hospitals to the Sisters of Life ministry and maternity homes to Catholic Charities and the Catholic Guardian Services, the Archdiocese and its partner organizations have been on the front lines of serving women and families. Pregnancy resource centers in New York are part of a national network of nonprofits that provide over $400 million in support to pregnant women and their families, according to the Lozier Institute. This includes over 6.3 million diapers, nearly 5 million baby outfits, a wide range of medical services, and over 373,000 new cans or bottles of baby formula.

The Archdiocese of New York is not only taking a charity-based approach toward delivering on the promise to families; the New York State Catholic Conference boasts a comprehensive pro-life, pro-family agenda. Its “Radical Solidarity” agenda focuses on maternal and prenatal health, child tax credits, childcare expansion, paid family leave, affordable housing, nutrition, and aid and support for victims and women vulnerable to domestic violence. This bold policy platform reaches beyond partisan lines to put forward policy prescriptions to help New Yorkers at all stages of life.

Bishop Hicks brings to New York a strong record of caring for life at all stages. He has spoken at the March for Life in Illinois and spoke out in defense of pregnancy resource centers in his diocese. He has shown care for life beyond the womb, including expressing his solidarity with immigrant and refugee communities and his opposition to Illinois’ new law allowing assisted suicide. In his 2022 statement on the overturning of Roe v. Wade, Hicks praised the ruling while also calling Catholics in his diocese to take their own action to walk with their neighbors in need.

He wrote, “Throughout his papacy, Pope Francis has urged us to embrace the ‘culture of encounter’ by pausing, meeting with, and accompanying those in need on their journey. What is a more promising example of such an encounter than expectant new moms and their babies?” As we reflect on this moment of transition, I have no doubt that Hicks will continue the promise—and the work—of his predecessors. The question for all of us—including those of us outside of his diocese—is whether we are willing to proclaim and support this same promise in our lives.

Do we, as individuals, live our lives and share the Gospel in a way such that, if one of our neighbors faced an unexpected pregnancy or faced financial difficulty, they would know that we would provide unconditional support? Has our local parish taken steps to support local pregnancy centers, and to provide a welcoming environment for pregnant women and young families? As someone looks down at an unexpected “positive” on their pregnancy test and goes to pick up their phone and decide what to do next, do they know what will happen if they choose to call their local Catholic church or Archdiocese? As our legislators take votes on issues like housing, nutrition, maternal and prenatal healthcare, have they heard from their Catholic constituents and know that these too are pro-life priorities? Or are these legislators comfortable with their partisan stereotypes of what it means to be pro-life?

Based on the statistics that I cited earlier, there is heroic work happening on the ground across America. We have the infrastructure and resources to walk with families in need. This is a moment for each of us to lift our voices in support of the Archdiocese of New York’s promise and to live that promise in our hearts and in our lives. As we pray for Ronald Hicks as he begins his journey in the Archdiocese of New York, let’s also pray for our own conversion.

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