Exiit qui seminat
Respect Life Sunday
The Catholic Church in the United States observes October as
"Respect Life Month", an opportunity for us as a Church and a
country to "consider more deeply why every human life is
valuable and reflect on how to build a culture that protects life
from conception to natural death." The month is kicked off on
the first weekend of October designated as Respect Life
Sunday. As Archbishop Lori, the Chairman of The United
States Conference of Catholic Bishops' Committee on Pro-Life
Activities writes, “it is the time for a renewal and rededication
of our efforts to build a culture of life and civilization of
love.” The Pro-Life landscape has radically changed in light of
the Supreme Court's decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's
Health and the ending of Roe v. Wade. But even in light of this
victory over the culture of death, our role as a Church as the
defender of human life continues, especially in states in which
Abortion on Demand continues. Now more than ever, we, as a
people of faith, we are challenged to "practice radical
solidarity and unconditional love" for pregnant and parenting
mothers. Because, unlike what the critics say, the Catholic
Church is NOT Pro-life only until a child is born and then
mothers and families at risk find themselves abandoned. We
are called to accompany them throughout their lives and to
assist others to give them everything they need to not only
survive, but thrive. So let us continue to pray for the spreading
of the Gospel of our Lord and Savior and the Culture of Life.
Let us support families in all stages of their lives and remind
them of their God-given dignity of worth. And finally let us
"help the people of our nation better see who we can be as a
nation by truly understanding what we owe to one another as
members of the same human family. To build a world in which
all are welcome, we must heed the words of St. Teresa of
Calcutta and remember 'that we belong to one another.'"
Sincerely yours in Christ,
