The legalization of abortion is directly repugnant to the founding documents of our nation, which recognizes “life” as the very first inalienable human right. They very purpose of law is protect our human rights. Pope Francis clearly taught recently the same, saying, “The right to life is the first human right. Abortion is killing someone that cannot defend him or herself.”
Those who deny the unborn’s right to life often suggest that, after forty-four years, the decision of Roe v. Wade will never be overturned, as if to discourage faithful Christians from pro-life efforts. They argue that pro-life Christians just need to “get with it”. But the defense and promotion of human life is a perennial duty of the Christian Church. Many, many hearts have been converted through the faithful witness of the Church.
Saint John Paul wrote: “To defend and promote life, to show reverence and love for it, is a task which God entrusts to every man” We certainly applaud and pray for the efforts of the hundreds of thousands who travel to our nation’s capital to witness to the fact the Gospel of life is not irrelevant or outdated. We certainly consider what we can do to defend and promote life in our extended families and our community. Perhaps this year, you might consider praying at the abortion clinics, or supporting charities which come to the aid of women and families in emotional and financial trouble, like Womankind.
Pope Francis said, “All too often, as we know from experience, people do not choose life, they do not accept the ‘Gospel of Life’ but let themselves be led by ideologies and ways of thinking that block life, that do not respect life, because they are dictated by selfishness, self-interest, profit, power and pleasure, and not by love, by concern for the good of others.”
Here Pope Francis condemns ways of thinking, attitudes, ideologies, motivations, that “block life.” When abortion is seen as a solution to a problem instead of a greater problem and a grave sin, we have a duty to share the truth, clearly and boldly.
May the Church be found ever faithful in her call to defend and promote life for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
---Petitions---
That the leaders and members of the Church may fulfill with joy their calling to proclaim, celebrate, and serve the Gospel of Life, we pray to the Lord…
That the Church, the People of Life, may bear joyful witness that each human life comes from God, belongs to God, and is meant to return to God, we pray to the Lord.
That Court decisions which permit the destruction of innocent life may be resisted and ultimately reversed, we pray to the Lord…
In thanksgiving for the many children who have been saved from abortion through the efforts of the pro-life movement, we pray to the Lord…
That God may protect all unborn babies, and keep them safe from the scourge of abortion, we pray to the Lord...
That all medical professionals involved in the practices of abortion, infanticide, and euthanasia, may experience conversion of mind and heart and cease these activities, we pray to the Lord…
For all women who have had abortions, that they may seek out and experience God’s tender mercy, we pray to the Lord.
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