March for Life: the American Bishops Grant Support in Form of Plenary Indulgence

Bishop Michael Burbridge, bishop of Arlington, and Cardinal Donald Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington D.C., published a joint letter to their fellow bishops on December 20, 2017, announcing that all the faithful who “take part in the sacred celebrations, along with the great assembly of people, throughout the whole course of the annual event that is called ‘March for Life,’” can obtain a plenary indulgence under the usual conditions. 

Those who are unable to participate actively are not excluded from this privilege, for according to the letter’s terms:

...the aged, sick and all those who due to a grave reason are not able to leave home will be equally able to obtain a plenary Indulgence,…if they spiritually join themselves to the holy ceremonies, while also having offered prayers and their sufferings or the ailments of their own life to the merciful God.

The episcopal letter ends by hoping that the efforts of this “noble undertaking,” the March for Life, will “bear fruit” and that all will “experience God’s blessings.”