Every year on January 22, the Catholic Church in the United
States observes a day of prayer and penitence for the cause of Respect for life
at every stage of development. We are
now living in a culture that has obscured completely the value of human life
from the womb to the moment God calls us to return to Him. Sadly, even many who share a fundamental Faith
in Christ with us have somehow been confused to think that a kind of compassion
must override the fundamental truth of the value and uniqueness of each human
being.
The “life issues” have been so politicized in our society,
that the first response of almost all who speak on these issues is to express
an anger and a resentment of anyone who thinks differently. This will never bring out the truth in a way
that it can be acknowledged and received.
Jesus Christ condemned certain ways of thinking that blocked the Kingdom
from people’s hearts, but He always left open the door of His heart to a
sincere repentance and a renewed understanding.
Love is the only right response on all sides of the issue.
The fundamental Truth that we hold as Catholics is that
each unique human being conceived in his or her mother’s womb is a unique and
unrepeatable gift of God, infinitely loved by God and worthy of respect,
welcome and support through every stage of human existence. Life at its beginning and at its end is in
need of our care and attention due to its vulnerability. Love for mothers and fathers who conceive the
children and for siblings, grandparents and all future relatives and friends
calls for acknowledgment.
At one parish, the Knights of Columbus created a monument
for the unborn dedicating it to the unborn and to their families. Each human being exists in a network of
relationships. When temptation arises to
forget this due to fear or to expedience, love for all concerned must be the
mark of the Christian heart.
In current circumstances, we also experience the need as a
society to care for those who suffer the aftermath of wrong choices at the
beginning and the end of life. Mercy,
forgiveness and compassion will lead to healing. God forgives, so must we all. We pray that the Culture of Life will prevail
and that we may step back from the madness of these times. May the God Who loves us into life help us to
preserve and respect life and may we truly be a people of welcome and
compassion for all in need.
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