Statement by Mike O’Dea, Founder of the Christ Medicus Foundation, and Louis Brown, Esq, Executive Director
For Immediate Release
June 24, 2022
Mike O’Dea, founder of the Christ Medicus Foundation and Louis Brown, Esq., its Executive Director, are overjoyed about the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in the Dobbs case to overturn Roe v. Wade and move our America towards a civilization of love and justice. Mr. O’Dea has been on the forefront of the pro-life movement for decades through his work at the Christ Medicus Foundation and his leadership with pregnancy centers and pro-life medical centers. Mr. Brown has been working to defend and protect the sanctity of life, human dignity, and civil rights in health care and to expand Christ-centered health care access for all people for most of his career.
Mr. Brown said the following this morning in reaction to the Supreme Court’s decision: “I am full of joy and thanksgiving to God for an official end to Roe v Wade, a dark moral stain on America that undermined the dignity and sanctity of life, undermined the legal civil rights movement, and did unspeakable harm to millions of unborn children and millions of mothers. The Supreme Court’s historic Dobbs decision is a truly just decision because it recognizes that there never has been a right to an abortion under the Constitution, that Roe v. Wade did extraordinary damage to the rule of law and the democratic process, and that abortion instead of being a legal right is an act that has hurt the lives of countless mothers and unborn children.”
Mr. O’Dea added the following: “Praise the Lord. It is a great day for America. It has been a long, long journey for my wife Peggy and I in advocating for pregnant mothers and their unborn children. We have been praying and working to see Roe v. Wade overturned for decades. We are so grateful to be alive to assist in this new beginning to return to a culture of life and to build a civilization of love in our great country. Our journey began at a marriage conference in 1978 when we were discerning where Christ was calling us to serve. Peggy was moved in a very special way by the Holy Spirit to focus our marriage in serving mothers facing a crisis pregnancy. We first began our apostolate by bringing mothers into our home and caring for them during their pregnancy. We learned from these mothers that we could do so much more by being engaged with them before abortionists lured them into their killing centers. To help protect these women and children, we established Mother and Unborn Baby Care and the Problem Pregnancy Center to compete for the lives of mothers and babies who were being destroyed by the baby killers. Through the grace of God, we were able to be Christ for many women and save their babies and them from the tragedy of abortion. Peggy also was moved to open a home for mothers with a crisis pregnancy.
“Over time, the more I got involved in the pro-life movement and health care industry focusing on the unborn and their families, the more I realized that ’so goes health care so goes our culture, our faith, our families, and our nation.’ I discovered that pro-life plans were few and that there was an insidious movement to force all health plans to pay for abortion and other procedures that enforce the culture of death and undermine marriage and family values. This is when the Christ Medicus Foundation was established to be a voice for human dignity and religious freedom in health care.
“We are overwhelmed with joy and hope with Roe v. Wade being overturned. The possibility of serving more moms and saving more babies and giving back unborn babies their right to life has been our dream for almost 45 years. Now there is great hope for all of us together to restore protection for God’s most precious gift, the gift of life.”
Mr. Brown continued, “The Dobbs decision is a watershed moment in America. Today, at the Christ Medicus Foundation, we rededicate our mission to defend the sanctity of life, medical conscience rights, and the civil rights of all in health care and renew our efforts to bring about greater health and healing for all people at all stages of life, from conception to natural death. We will continue to pray and work to support mothers and their children and to collaborate with pro-life medical centers and faith-based health care institutions that provide the healing of love of Christ for the physical, spiritual, emotional, and whole person health of patients. Now more than ever we need to expand Christ-centered Catholic health care that brings whole person health and healing to patients, especially in urban and rural areas that remain underserved. We call on all Catholics, fellow Christians, and people of goodwill to pray and work even harder to support Catholic and pro-life medical practices and to care for and serve pregnant women, their children, and all families in your community.
“It is even more important than ever that more Catholics participate in Catholic pro-life healthcare options and choose health options centered in God’s love that bring greater wellness, healing, and wholeness. This is the work we are doing at Christ Medicus through our CURO Catholic Health Care Community. Now is the time for us as a Church, as individuals, as families, and as business owners and employers to divest out of health care options that subsidize abortion and to participate in Christ-centered Catholic care,” Mr. Brown concluded.
The Christ Medicus Foundation shares Jesus Christ’s healing love in health care. We champion religious freedom for medical professionals and patients. We promote Christ-centered pro-life medical care, and we offer our CURO Catholic health care community for medical needs and whole-person wellness. Founded in 1997, the Christ Medicus Foundation works to accomplish its mission in religious freedom and medical conscience through promoting public policy and education, supporting Christ-centered pro-life medical centers and our CURO health care community.
PRESS CONTACT: Kathy Dempsey for Christ Medicus Foundation