Archbishop Wenski Defends Life, Faith & Religious Freedom in Tampa

Archbishop Thomas Wenski called on members of the Florida Council of Catholic Women (FCCW) to defend the sanctity of life, religious freedom, and families during a conference in Tampa on Oct. 9, 2026. Wenski urged attendees to "guard the house," extending this call to protect their hearts, the Church, families, and communities.

In a homily, Wenski emphasized a consistent pro-life stance that goes beyond opposing abortion. He echoed Pope Leo XIV's call for moral consistency, stating that opposing abortion while supporting the death penalty or disregarding immigrants contradicts the Gospel of Life. Wenski specifically commended the FCCW for their efforts to defeat Amendment 4, an abortion measure in Florida.

Wenski also addressed concerns about In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) legislation, warning that current practices can treat human life as a commodity through embryo selection. He called for opposition to the death penalty, citing Florida's high rate of executions as a devaluation of human life. "We cannot remain silent while Florida continues state executions at an alarming pace," Wenski said.

The Archbishop also discussed religious freedom, recounting an instance where state officials threatened scholarship funding for Catholic schools if they did not implement state-defined vaccine policies. "Under the First Amendment of our nation’s Constitution, the state does not get to interpret Catholic theology or tell the bishops how to run our ministries," Wenski stated. He urged resistance to state attempts to compromise institutional autonomy.

Wenski concluded by speaking on the importance of defending families, particularly in light of deportation policies that he said separate families. He noted that Florida's bishops have spoken out against the trauma and fear these actions inflict on children and communities. Wenski encouraged the women to be strong defenders of faith and truth, urging them to "fill the world with the light, love, justice, and absolute truth of Jesus Christ."