Exiit qui seminat

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,