October 14
October 14, 2008October 16
October 16, 2008October is “Respect Life” month. At this beautiful time of the year, we are reminded that each life, each person is precious in the sight of God: the unborn child, the frail, aging parent, those with disabilities or deformities, those dying with fatal diseases, those who are pure and innocent and those who are wicked and evil who have caused great harm to others.
All life is precious to God. First, He created each person in God’s own image and likeness and declared, “You are good.” Second, because Jesus died on the cross for everyone to show his love for even the worst sinners. And third, because Jesus has breathed his Spirit into the heart of every human being, whether we listen to the prompting of that Spirit or not.
Christians believe that this precious life begins at conception. That is why we should all support family life so that everyone who comes into this world would feel loved.
Our young people need to recognize that sex is not for recreation but for love making in marriage. That love between two committed people must continue to grow to build up family life.
We urge unmarried people to be careful and responsible in not taking the change of bringing a life into this world outside a marital relationship. Being irresponsible might be a temptation to obtain an abortion and destroy that precious life. Married child-bearing-age couples should also exercise this same responsibility. There should never be such a thing as an unwanted child; unexpected maybe, but never unwanted.
Because we believe that each life is precious we oppose any type of action that threatens the sacredness of life. This would include abortion, euthanasia, the death penalty, torture, starting unjustified wars, opposing expanded health care for children, cutting school lunch programs and standing by as hard-working Americans lose their jobs and retirement protections.
It would also include discrimination based on race, religion, nationality, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, sexual preference or economic condition. Because we believe that life is precious, we insist that the resolution to the present financial crisis should focus on the common good of all and not just the wealthy few. Anything that destroys the preciousness of life is contrary to the Gospel of Jesus.
We are in the midst of a most important national election. Fliers and e-mail messages will urge us to vote for “pro-life” candidates. What is often meant by being “pro-life” is being “pro-birth.”
Studies have shown that the best way to combat abortion is to give women and families the tools they need to choose life. When women and families have health care, jobs, education and other essential supports they are less likely to have an abortion. More than three out of four women who obtain an abortion say that economic factors were a primary reason for doing so.
Being a true pro-life-political leader is not just about what the individual tells us they believe. It’s about the things they do.
During the Clinton Administration, the U.S. abortion rate declined nearly 30 percent without enacting any legal prohibitions on abortion. Under President Bush, this decline stagnated. Even the appointment of two new Supreme Court justices was unsuccessful in making any meaningful progress toward building a culture of human life. Pro-life means protecting and defending all human life without exceptions.
Jesus was totally pro-life, not just pro-birth. He associated with sinners and despised tax collectors; he took the side of the poor and those with repulsive illnesses; he treated women with equality and allowed them to be his followers. He forgave those who were guilty of the worst wrongdoing. By treating each person with proper respect, we will be following the lead of our master.
