We Catholics observe October as Respect Life Month. During October, we are asked to recommit ourselves to cherish, defend, and protect those who are most vulnerable from life’s beginning to its end.
The 2020-2021 theme of Respect Life Month is “Live the Gospel of Life,” in recognition of the 25th anniversary of St. John Paul II’s encyclical, Evangelium Vitae (“The Gospel of Life”). “This prophetic document passionately reaffirmed the Church’s constant teaching on the sacredness of every human life. It remains a foundational text for efforts to ensure that the life of every human person is protected and cherished.”
Right to life
In January 2021, according to the National Right to Life Committee, the nation’s oldest pro-life organization, abortions reached an estimate of 62,502,904 abortions since Roe v. Wade.
In no. 2270 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, it is stated, “From the first moment of his existence, a human being must be recognized as having the rights of a person — among which is the inviolable right of every human being to life.”
On January 22, 1973, the Supreme Court legalized abortion in Roe v. Wade. Justice Byron White who dissented stated that the Court apparently values the convenience of the pregnant mother more than the continued existence and development of the life or (potential life) that she carries.
However, the Church goes a step further teaching that life begins at conception. The Church prays for an end to abortion at the January Day of Prayer for Legal Protection of the Unborn.
Respect Life Month reminds us to speak for those who cannot speak for ourselves or have difficulty doing so, such as the unborn, elderly, disabled, those who do not have access to the Church’s teaching or see it through secular media’s filter.
On September 23, 2015, Pope Francis asked Catholics and others to also be concerned about respect for life in areas other than abortion.
Other respect life issues
These include the persecution of Christians, children dying from hunger or from bombings, immigrants who drown in search of a better tomorrow, the elderly who are considered a burden, victims of terrorism, wars, violence, and drug trafficking.
Other respect life issues are stem cell research, unemployment, secular challenges to Christian values in marriage and family life, end of life physician-assisted suicide, and abuse of children and women.
Respect Life Month reminds us to speak for persons who cannot speak for themselves or have difficulties doing so, such as the elderly, the handicapped, those who do not have access to the Church’s teaching or see it through the filter of the secular media and other exploited persons.
Catholics should immerse themselves in politics by offering the best of themselves so that leaders can govern wisely.
Pro-life persons can also tell women who are grieving from having an abortion about Project Rachel which helps women heal through counseling, prayer, and forgiveness.
In special ways, the bishops, pope, Religious, EWTN, Relevant Radio, Catholic Herald, homilies, March for Life participants, and others promote Respect for Life.
The witness of the laity who represent the majority of Catholics are called to respect life in all areas is crucial.
We Catholics and others are called to respect human life in all its stages from womb to tomb because we are created in God’s image.
We have an immortal soul and our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. A year-round, nationwide effort by leaders who are pro-life can help Catholics understand, value, and become engaged with building a culture that cherishes every human life.
According to the United Nations Action Against Hunger report 2021, around the world, more than enough food is produced to feed the global population — but as many as 811 million people still go hungry each day.
After steadily declining for a decade, world hunger is on the rise, affecting 9.9 percent of people globally. From 2019 to 2020, the number of undernourished people grew by 161 million, a crisis-driven largely by conflict, climate change, and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Feeding the poor
We help to feed the hungry by contributing to collections for the poor. Some wealthier parishes twin with poorer parishes and help them in whatever they can.
For 25 years, I have helped a little by sponsoring four third-world persons. I started out with an elderly lady from India who died, then a youth from Central America until he was old enough to work, then an African girl whose family moved, and now a youth from Colombia.
I was especially moved when a sponsored girl with deep emotion shared how my contributions helped their family.
Respect Life Month invites us to respect life in all its stages by treating every human life with dignity.
We should faithfully be advocates for the weak and marginalized. Catholic public officials are obliged to address each of the issues American bishops listed in Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship as they seek to build consistent policies which promote respect for human persons in all stages of life. Let us pray!
Fr. Donald Lange is a pastor emeritus in the Diocese of Madison.