Ocean County Leader

Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Vice President JD Vance spoke at the 20th Annual National Catholic Prayer Breakfast in Washington, DC. During his address, Congressman Smith expressed gratitude to his wife Marie for her role as a pro-life leader and her recovery from a major health challenge last year. He also acknowledged their daughter Elyse and her husband Julio, who are expecting their third child.

Smith thanked the Catholic Prayer Breakfast leadership for the event and emphasized the importance of embracing "co-responsibility to the mission of the Church." He quoted St. John Paul II's encouragement to defend life with determination.

Highlighting abortion as an existential threat, Smith stated that it has become a "weapon of mass destruction" with over 66 million abortions since 1973 in the United States. He called for exposing abortion methods and risks associated with medication abortion, criticizing past administrations for failing to highlight these issues.

Smith noted progress since Roe v. Wade was overturned, mentioning laws protecting unborn children in half of U.S. states and executive orders by former President Trump supporting pro-life policies. He advocated for support of pregnancy care centers while criticizing Planned Parenthood.

Quoting St. Mother Teresa, Smith concluded by emphasizing that acceptance of abortion leads to violence rather than love.