“I came that you may have life and have it abundantly.”  (John 10:10)

 Very often, when people think of the term “Respect Life”, or the Right to Life Movement, they automatically think of the issue of Abortion. Surely, abortion is one very important part of the Respect Life movement. However, Church teaching is very clear that to Respect Life means much more than this.

 As Catholic Christians, we believe that each human person is created in the image and likeness of God. This means that each human being who exists is created by God and for God.  God Himself became one of us out of love for you. Christ walked the Earth and suffered for Love of each of us, not as a general group of humanity but as individual children of God who are Loved by their Almighty Father. Within the “heart” of every man and woman, even if they do not know Christ, is an inherent understanding that all life is sacred.

 Respecting life, then, includes Abortion but it goes much further. Respecting life is a positive stance by which we affirm all human beings, their dignity and their rights. To respect life means to be pro-life in every sense. We support the dignity of the living human person who is growing in his or her mother’s womb, as well as the person who has been born. We love and respect the person who is sick or suffering in any way. We love all those human persons who are part of God’s family, regardless of their age, condition, gender or race. This means that to truly Respect Life we see each and every human person on Earth as our brother or sister in the Lord, and we work to bring that person to the joy of knowing Christ.

 As Catholics, we must be known as people of Life who work to bring a culture of Life into existence. In many ways, the world in which we live today can be seen as promoting a culture of death. From the widespread acceptance of Abortion, to a growing acceptance for Euthanasia, economic injustices, arbitrary use of the death penalty as a means of revenge, racism and the glorification of violence, our world is often hostile to the dignity of human life. We are called to be “signs of contradiction” in such a climate, proclaiming the dignity of humanity in every way we can, especially by our personal example and our prayer.  Only by being people of Life can we build a culture of Life and a civilization of Love.

 If you wish to know more about Church teaching on the dignity of every human person and the sacredness of Life, do not hesitate to contact us at the Office of Faith Formation.

We are here for you!

The Office of Faith Formation: Respect Life Education Ministry, works to offer education and formation to all parishes and Catechetical Leaders on the various issues surrounding the dignity of the human person. We offer support for parish respect life ministries, offer an annual “Respect Life Mass” and engage all people in a respectful dialogue about the dignity of the human person and the many moral questions and issues of our day. Respecting Life is a stance and vision, rooted in the Gospel and in Natural Law, that cherishes every human person, regardless of age or condition, as a valued child of God.

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