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Columns-2008
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Pastoral Plan for Pro Life Activities
Columns - Life Insight by Greg Schleppenbach
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Life Insight 2006, Part II (July-December) |
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Life Insight 2006, Part I (January-June) |
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Life Insight 2005, Part I (January-June) |
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Life Insight 2005, Part II (July-December) |
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Life Insight 2004, the year Part I (January-June) |
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Life Insight 2004, the year Part II (July-December |
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Life Insight 2003, the year, Part I (January-June) |
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Life Insight 2003, the year Part II (July-December) |
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Life Insight 2002, the year, Part I (January-June) |
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Life Insight 2002, the year, Part II (June-December) |
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Life Insight 2001, the year, Part I (January-June) |
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Life Insight 2001, the year, Part II (July-December) |
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Life Insight 2000, the year, Part I (January-June) |
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Life Insight 2000, the year, Part II (July-December) |
Newsletter Link-Nebraska Catholics for Life Newsletter
Pastoral Plan for Pro Life Activities: A Campaign in Support of Life (USCCB, 11/01)
I'm Pro Life--What Can I Do?
| Pray daily for an end to abortion--say nine days of prayer or a novena for the months of pregnancy for a mom and unborn child, a rosary for legislators, an Our Father for fathers who have or may have children lost to abortion. Visit the Blessed Sacrament and pray for women who have had abortions. Keep a copy of the "life prayer" handy and say it daily for women tempted to have abortions, for doctors and nurses, for clergy, for those who work in the pro-life movement, and for those who do not realize how wrong abortion is. |
| Read! Be an informed pro-life advocate. Know the facts and find out how to present these facts from such books as Abortion: Questions and Answers, by Dr. and Mrs. J.C. Willke, Hayes Publishing. |
| Wear or display symbols of your love for unborn babies! Pink or blue ribbons, precious feet pins, T-shirts, bumper stickers, posters, decals, envelopes, pre-printed checks and many other items are available through various resources. To obtain these items check with your pro-life coordinator or state pro-life office. |
| Write letters to newspapers, elected officials, and other persons and institutions regarding respect for life. This may sometimes be done by large groups of people all at once or on an individual basis. |
| Take part in the your local Walk for Life or if possible, the March for Life in Washington, D.C. on Jan. 22 to protest the Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion. |
| Fast between meals and abstain from meat for a day and offer it up for the unborn, the elderly and families in crisis. Or for a week, light a candle at the table during dinner and begin the meal with a Hail Mary for the chronically ill and those in pain. |
| Volunteer as a family at a fund-raising event for the local right-to-life group. Work in the information booth at local fairs or help with occasional large mailings at your Pro-Life office. |
| Gather up clothes, books and toys you no longer use and donate them to homeless families at your local shelter. Make arrangements to tour the facility at a mutually convenient time. |
| Have a Mass said for the younger generation that is missing siblings, friends, teammates and classmates because of abortion. |
| Provide "a room at the inn"! Offer to share your home! Call Catholic Charities, Social Services or your diocesan Pro-Life office to provide a home to an unwed mother. |
| Volunteer for the Parish Phone Tree! Enlist
the help of a few of your friends to help mobilize pro-life citizens to call
legislators on behalf of pro life legislation when the state phone tree is
activated.
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Pastoral Plan for
Pro-Life Activities
A Campaign in Support of Life
Contents
Introduction
A Consistent Ethic of Life
Pervasive Threats to Human Life
The Legacy of Roe v. Wade
A Word About Violence
Abortion and Contraception
The Issue of Capital Punishment
Rededication to the Cause of Life
The Program
- The Catholic Community
The General Public
Pastoral Care
Pregnancy Services
Post-Abortion Healing and Reconciliation
Care for Those Who Are Chronically Ill, Disabled, or Dying
Care for Prisoners, Those on Death Row, and Victims of Violent CrimePublic Policy Program
- Laws Less Than Perfect
Prayer and Worship
Implementing the Program
- State Coordinating Committee
Diocesan Pro-Life Committee
Parish Pro-Life Committee
The Public Policy Effort at the Local Level
Conclusion
References
Resources
In our present social context, marked by a dramatic struggle between the "culture of life" and the "culture of death," there is need to develop a deep critical sense, capable of discerning true values and authentic needs.
What is urgently called for is a general mobilization of consciences and a united ethical effort to activate a great campaign in support of life. All together, we must build a new culture of life.
—Pope John Paul II, The Gospel of Life, no. 95
Introduction
We issue this Pastoral Plan for Pro-Life Activities: A Campaign in Support of Life to put forth "a precise and vigorous reaffirmation of the value of human life and its inviolability, and at the same time a pressing appeal addressed to each and every person, in the name of God: respect, protect, love and serve life, every human life" (The Gospel of Life, no. 5).As pastors and teachers, we proclaim that human life is a precious gift from God; that each person who receives this gift has responsibilities toward God, self, and others; and that society, through its laws and social institutions, must protect and nurture human life at every stage of its existence. These beliefs flow from ordinary reason and from our faith's constant witness that "life must be protected with the utmost care from the moment of conception" (Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, no. 51)—a teaching that has been a constant part of the Christian message since the apostolic age.
A Consistent Ethic of Life
A wide spectrum of issues touches on the protection of human life and the promotion of human dignity. As Pope John Paul II has reminded us: "Where life is involved, the service of charity must be profoundly consistent. It cannot tolerate bias and discrimination, for human life is sacred and inviolable at every stage and in every situation; it is an indivisible good" (The Gospel of Life, no. 87).
Among important issues involving the dignity of human life with which the Church is concerned, abortion necessarily plays a central role. Abortion, the direct killing of an innocent human being, is always gravely immoral (The Gospel of Life, no. 57); its victims are the most vulnerable and defenseless members of the human family. It is imperative that those who are called to serve the least among us give urgent attention and priority to this issue of justice.
This focus and the Church's commitment to a consistent ethic of life complement one another. A consistent ethic of life, which explains the Church's teaching at the level of moral principle—far from diminishing concern for abortion and euthanasia or equating all issues touching on the dignity of human life—recognizes instead the distinctive character of each issue while giving each its proper place within a coherent moral vision. As bishops of the United States we have issued pastoral letters on war and peace, economic justice, and other social questions affecting the dignity of human life—and we have implemented programs for advancing the Church's witness in these areas through parishes, schools, and other Church institutions (e.g., Communities of Salt and Light [1994]; Sharing Catholic Social Teaching [1998]). Taken together, these diverse pastoral statements and practical programs constitute no mere assortment of unrelated initiatives but rather a consistent strategy in support of all human life in its various stages and circumstances.
To focus on the evil of deliberate killing in abortion and euthanasia is not to ignore the many other urgent conditions that demean human dignity and threaten human rights. Opposing abortion and euthanasia "does not excuse indifference to those who suffer from poverty, violence and injustice. Any politics of human life must work to resist the violence of war and the scandal of capital punishment. Any politics of human dignity must seriously address issues of racism, poverty, hunger, employment, education, housing and health care" (Living the Gospel of Life, no. 23). We pray that Catholics will be advocates for the weak and the marginalized in all these areas. "But being 'right' in such matters can never excuse a wrong choice regarding direct attacks on innocent human life. Indeed, the failure to protect and defend life in its most vulnerable stages renders suspect any claims to the 'rightness' of positions in other matters affecting the poorest and least powerful of the human community" (Living the Gospel of Life, no. 23).
Pervasive Threats to Human Life
Where does one begin? Today, when human rights are proudly proclaimed and the value of life itself given public affirmation, the most basic of all human rights, "the very right to life," "is being denied or trampled upon, especially at the more significant moments of existence: the moment of birth and the moment of death" (The Gospel of Life, no. 18). Sometimes very difficult or even tragic situations can be the basis for decisions made against life, circumstances that can diminish the personal culpability of those who make choices that in themselves are evil. But as Pope John Paul II points out, today the problem goes further: "It is a problem which exists at the cultural, social and political level, where it reveals its more sinister and disturbing aspect in the tendency, ever more widely shared, to interpret . . . crimes against life as legitimate expressions of individual freedom, to be acknowledged and protected as actual rights" (The Gospel of Life, no. 18).
The question "Where does one begin?" is easy to answer: "We must begin with a commitment never to intentionally kill, or collude in the killing, of any innocent human life, no matter how broken, unformed, disabled or desperate that life may seem" (Living the Gospel of Life, no. 21).
Thus some behaviors are always wrong, always incompatible with our love of God and the dignity of the human person. Abortion, the direct taking of innocent human life prior to birth, is always morally wrong, as is the deliberate destruction of human embryos for any reason. Assisted suicide and euthanasia are not acts of mercy but acts that are never morally acceptable. Direct attacks on innocent civilians during war and terrorist acts targeting noncombatants must always be condemned.
Our concern is only intensified by the realization that a policy and practice that result in well over a million deaths from abortions each year cannot but diminish respect for life in other areas. In this pastoral plan, then, "we are guided by a key insight regarding the linkage between abortion and these other important issues: Precisely because all issues involving human life are interdependent, a society which destroys human life by abortion under the mantle of law unavoidably undermines respect for life in all other contexts. Likewise, protection in law and practice of unborn human life will benefit all life, not only the lives of the unborn" (Pastoral Plan for Pro-Life Activities: A Reaffirmation [1985], 5). This is why we focus here on the pervasive threat to human life arising from the widespread recourse to abortion, from public policies that allow, encourage, and even fund abortion, and from a growing effort to promote the taking of human life through euthanasia.
The Legacy of Roe v. Wade
In January 1973, the Supreme Court of the United States gave our nation Roe v. Wade and its companion decision Doe v. Bolton, and in so doing effectively removed every legal protection from human beings prior to birth. The legacy of Roe is virtually incalculable. In its wake it has left death and sorrow and turmoil:
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the deaths of millions whose lives were destroyed before birth and even during the very process of being born |
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countless women traumatized so deeply by abortion that they spend years struggling to find peace, healing, and reconciliation |
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men who grieve because they could not "choose" to protect a child they helped bring into existence |
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a society increasingly coarsened by toleration and acceptance of acts that purposely destroy human life |
These attacks on human life are carried out within the family and with the active involvement of those in the healing profession—institutions that traditionally have protected the weak and the vulnerable. Often they are carried out at the urging of fathers who, rather than protecting their child, believe their only responsibility is to help pay for an abortion. And today, those who support and provide abortion freely acknowledge that killing is involved, and choices once treated as criminal and rejected by the common moral sense have become socially acceptable.
In 1992, the Supreme Court reaffirmed Roe v. Wade—in large part, it said, because admitting error and reversing a prior decision would undermine the Court's authority. It said also that "people have organized intimate relationships and made choices that define their views of themselves and their places in society in reliance on the availability of abortion in the event that contraception should fail" (Planned Parenthood v. Casey). In other words, Americans had come to rely on legalized abortion as a backup for contraceptive failure.
In 2000, in Stenberg v. Carhart, the Court expanded the abortion liberty beyond killing in utero; it now wrapped in the mantle of the U.S. Constitution the practice of killing during the process of birth. Abortion has come to be seen by many not only as a "right" to end a pregnancy prior to birth, but as a guarantee that a child aborted will not survive. This is clear in regard to partial-birth abortion, as well as in the growing reports of children who, having survived mid- and late-term abortions, are put aside and left to die because they were not supposed to live in the first place.
Today, some seek ways to alleviate human diseases through research that involves the deliberate destruction of human embryos. Such research, it is claimed, will enhance human life, when in actuality it "reduces human life to the level of simple ‘biological material' to be freely disposed of" (The Gospel of Life, no. 14). Often these embryos that are targeted for experimentation were created in laboratories by in vitro fertilization in attempts to assist couples struggling with infertility. Such efforts, however, embrace the manufacturing of human life without considering the consequences, including the many ethical dilemmas resulting from such misuse of scientific technology.
A Word About Violence
Our goal is to eliminate violence against unborn children, their mothers, and those who are dying. We unalterably oppose the use of violence in any form to achieve this objective, and we condemn the actions of those few who advocate otherwise. During the past decade, several persons involved in the practice of abortion have been killed, and others have been harmed, by tragically misguided individuals claiming to be pro-life. Such violence against human beings is indefensible. It is an offense against God's command: you shall not kill. It also unjustly stigmatizes the pro-life movement in the eyes of many Americans as being violent and intolerant. We abhor and condemn such violence unequivocally.
Abortion and Contraception
The Church's teaching and pastoral efforts on responsible parenthood are appropriately treated more fully in other documents. However, we address the issue here, because some promote widespread use of contraception as a means to reduce abortions and even criticize the Church for not accepting this approach.
It is noteworthy that as acceptance and use of contraception have increased in our society, so have acceptance and use of abortion. Couples who unintentionally conceive a child while using contraception are far more likely to resort to abortion than others. Tragically, our society has fallen into a mentality that views children as a burden and invites many to consider abortion as a "backup" to contraceptive failure. This is most obvious in efforts to promote as "emergency contraception" drugs that really act as early abortifacients.
With Pope John Paul II we affirm that contraception and abortion are "specifically different evils," because only "the latter destroys the life of a human being," but that they are also related (The Gospel of Life, no. 13). It is important to remember that means that are referred to as "contraceptive" are, in reality, sometimes also abortifacient. An end to abortion will not come from contraceptive campaigns but from a deeper understanding of our human sexuality, and of human life, as sacred gifts deserving our careful stewardship.
The Issue of Capital Punishment
The United States is the only Western industrialized nation today that utilizes capital punishment. Increasingly the bishops have spoken out against its use, and Pope John Paul II and individual bishops have sought clemency for persons scheduled to be executed. There are compelling reasons for opposing capital punishment—its sheer inhumanity and its absolute finality, as well as concern about its inequitable use and an imperfect legal system that has sentenced innocent people to death.
As the Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us: "If...non-lethal means are sufficient to defend and protect people's safety from the aggressor, authority will limit itself to such means, as these are more in keeping with the concrete conditions of the common good and more in conformity with the dignity of the human person" (no. 2267). Executing the guilty does not honor one who was killed, nor does it ennoble the living or even lessen their pain, for only love and forgiveness can do that. State-sanctioned killing affects us all because it diminishes the value we place on all human life. Capital punishment also cuts short the guilty person's opportunity for spiritual conversion and repentance.
The consequences of widespread loss of respect for the dignity of human life—seen in pervasive violence, toleration of abortion, and increasingly vocal support for assisted suicide and research that destroys human embryos—make it all the more urgent to reject lethal punishment and uphold the inviolability of every human life. "Our witness to respect for life shines most brightly when we demand respect for each and every human life, including the lives of those who fail to show that respect for others" (Living the Gospel of Life, no. 22). Thus we are called to extend God's love to all human beings created in his image, including those convicted of serious crimes. In so doing, we can help to make "unconditional respect for life the foundation of a new society" (The Gospel of Life, no. 77).
Rededication to the Cause of Life
In this Pastoral Plan for Pro-Life Activities: A Campaign in Support of Life we renew our call for individual Catholics and the many institutions and organizations of the Church to unite in an unprecedented effort to restore respect and legal protection for every human life—to be what the Holy Father asks us to be: a people of life and a people for life (The Gospel of Life, no. 78). It is our hope and expectation that in focusing on the need to respect and protect the lives of the innocent unborn and those who are disabled, ill, or dying, we will help to deepen respect for the life of every human being.The Program
This pastoral plan calls upon all the resources of the Church—its people, services, and institutions—to pursue this effort with renewed energy and commitment in four major areas.| I | Public Information and Education to deepen understanding of the sanctity of human life and the humanity of unborn children, the moral evil of intentionally killing innocent human beings—whether at the beginning of life or at its end—and the mission of the Church to witness to and serve all human life. | |
| II | Pastoral Care for women with problems related to pregnancy; for all who have been involved in abortion; for those who are disabled, sick, and dying, and their families and caregivers; for those who have lost loved ones to violent crime; and for those in prison sentenced to death. | |
| III | Public Policy efforts directed to restoring legal protection to the lives of unborn children and those vulnerable to pressures to end their lives by assisted suicide, and to providing morally acceptable alternatives to abortion and assisted suicide. | |
| IV | Prayer and Worship directed to participation in the sacramental life of the Church and in programs of communal and individual prayer, that the culture of death that surrounds us today will be replaced by a culture of life and love. |
This plan foresees dialogue and cooperation between the
national episcopal conference and priests, deacons, religious, and lay persons,
individually and collectively. We seek the collaboration of every Catholic
organization in this effort.
Dialogue among churches and religious groups is also essential. We encourage
continued interreligious consultation and dialogue on these important issues, as
well as dialogue among ethicists.
We urge Catholics to advance pro-life positions within their family, church, and
community, as well as within their professional organizations. We ask Catholic
health care professionals and medical researchers to continue to be vigilant
guardians of every human life.
At every level—national, regional, state, diocesan, and parish—it is
important to seek the support of individuals and organizations involved in other
ministries and, in turn, to be supportive of their work on behalf of human life
as well. Together we are involved in God's work in promoting the dignity of the
human person.
Key to the success of this pastoral plan is the work of informed and committed
lay people throughout the nation. We are reminded by Pope John Paul II in The
Church in America that "the presence and mission of the Church in the
world is realized in a special way in the variety of charisms and ministries
which belong to the laity" (no. 44, quoting Synod for America, proposition
55). In addition, efforts of the laity, especially at the parish level, deserve
and require the encouragement and support of priests, deacons, and religious.
I Public Information and Education
To deepen respect for human life and heighten public opposition to abortion and euthanasia, a twofold educational effort is necessary: one directed specifically to the Catholic community, the other directed to the general public.The Catholic Community
An ongoing, long-range, and intensive educational effort in the Catholic community can provide an understanding of the issues and lead people to conviction and commitment. Such efforts should utilize the best medical, sociological, and legal information available. This should include the most recent advances in medical technology that demonstrate the continuity of human development from conception onwards. Ultimately, however, moral and theological arguments present the central issue of respect for human life in its most intellectually compelling terms.
We are grateful to those who participate in the Church's teaching ministry for all they have done and continue to do on behalf of human life. We invite them in a special way to be leaders in this campaign to build a culture of life. We note especially
| lay persons and volunteers, who through their
charisms and unique responsibilities impact individuals and the broader
community in a profound way when they assume roles of leadership in their
parishes and in society |
| priests, deacons, and religious, who exercise their
responsibility to preach the word "in season and out of season"
(cf. 2 Tm 4:2) in the pulpit, in other teaching roles, through parish
programs, or through public support for pro-life projects |
| all church-sponsored or identifiably Catholic
organizations involved in adult education and sacramental preparation,
whether national, regional, diocesan, or parish-based |
| teachers in schools, religious education programs,
campus ministries, and church-sponsored educational agencies who provide
factual information, moral teaching, and motivation to young people |
| seminaries and houses of religious formation through
their academic and pastoral ministry programs |
| Catholic social service and health care agencies
through their educational seminars and other appropriate programs, including
efforts to publicize programs and services providing alternatives to
abortion, post-abortion reconciliation and healing, and care for those who
are terminally ill or disabled |
| Catholic health care professionals through their
provision of prenatal and postnatal care, genetic counseling, and other
services in ways that witness to the sanctity of each human life |
| Catholic publications and periodicals through their
articles, editorials, and advertising space promoting the Gospel of Life |
| parents who, through discussion of critical life issues within the family and by their example and guidance, teach and help to mold their children in faith and respect for all human life from conception to natural death |
Especially welcome in this effort is the participation of persons with disabilities and their families, who are not only recipients of care but active and valued members of the faith community. By their example and testimony they can play an indispensable role in witnessing to the inherent dignity of each human life.
Education programs should include the following, as
appropriate: biblical and theological foundations that attest to the sanctity
and dignity of human life; scientific information concerning the humanity of
unborn children, especially that made available by modern genetic science and
technology; American founding principles, as articulated in the Declaration of
Independence, that reflect unchanging truths about the human person; society's
responsibility to safeguard every human life, to defend life by non-violent
means wherever possible, and never purposely to destroy innocent human life;
discussion of effective and compassionate care for those who are terminally ill
and for persons with disabilities; education on Catholic teaching regarding
end-of-life decision making; and information about effective, compassionate, and
morally acceptable solutions to the very real and difficult problems that can
exist for a woman during and after pregnancy, as well as help for those who
suffer from the consequences of abortion.
The most comprehensive overview of the Church's teaching in regard to the
sanctity and dignity of human life is found in Pope John Paul II's encyclical
letter The Gospel of Life. This inspiring document applies the teaching
in many areas and provides strong and powerful motivation to Catholics to
proclaim the Gospel of life. Living the Gospel of Life, a statement
adopted by the U.S. Catholic bishops in 1998, applies this teaching to our
particular situation in the United States.
The annual Respect Life Program sponsored by our episcopal conference provides
information on critical issues of the day and relates those issues to the
Church's teaching. This nationwide program sets abortion and euthanasia in the
context of other issues involving threats to human life and human dignity—for
example, capital punishment, war, poverty, population control, child abuse and
abandonment, false views of human sexuality, human cloning, and research that
destroys human embryos—and calls attention to the way in which each touches on
the sanctity and dignity of human life.
The General Public
The primary purpose of an educational effort directed to the
general public is the development of pro-life attitudes and the rejection of
abortion and euthanasia. Even today, there remains a need for accurate
information about these threats to life.
A public information program creates awareness of the threats to human life and
human dignity inherent in abortion, research that destroys human embryos,
euthanasia, assisted suicide, infanticide, and capital punishment. It allows
people to see more readily the need to correct the situation by establishing
legal safeguards for the right to life. It gives the issues visibility and
prompts those who are uncommitted to reach a firm conviction. It helps to inform
the public discussion, and it witnesses to the Church's commitment to a
long-range pro-life effort. Such a program can also bring to light information
about abortion's negative and often long-lasting impact on many women and
others.
Any program that takes place in the public square should affirm
the value of human life in the manner of its expression as well as the content,
seeking to explain and persuade, while showing respect to all who disagree. It
will take a variety of forms: for example, public statements and press releases;
accurate reporting of newsworthy events and speaking with media representatives
when such events occur; conferences and seminars on pro-life issues; development
and distribution of educational materials; public relations and advertising
campaigns; newspaper advertising; posters in local stores and community centers.
II Pastoral Care
Pastoral care encompasses a broad range of services provided with competence, compassion, and dignity. It includes spiritual assistance and essential material help, and may include supplementary services beyond those available in the community. Providing pastoral care to those in need is a primary way that the Church expresses its love for all God's children.Pregnancy Services
Respect for human life compels us to reach out to those with special needs. With the support of the faith community, Catholic organizations and agencies provide pastoral services and care for pregnant women, especially those who are vulnerable to abortion and who would otherwise find it difficult or impossible to obtain high-quality medical care. Ideally such programs include:
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factual and educational information on alternatives to abortion |
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nutritional, prenatal, childbirth, and postnatal care for the mother, including information about the latest developments in prenatal and neonatal medicine |
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nutritional and pediatric care for the child |
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agency-sponsored adoption and foster care services to all who want them, as well as an educational effort presenting adoption in a positive light |
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counseling and spiritual assistance that supports those facing difficulties related to pregnancy and parenting, including engaged or married couples who may have concerns about the health of their future offspring |
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opportunities for teen and college-age parents to continue their education during pregnancy and after childbirth, including school policies that encourage and enable them to complete their high school education, and counseling and assistance encouraging continued undergraduate or graduate studies |
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compassionate understanding, encouragement, and support for victims of rape and other forms of abuse and violence |
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education in the virtue of chastity, as well as education in fertility awareness for young men and women, enabling them to take responsibility for their power to generate life |
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expansion of natural family planning programs and education in their mission as responsible parents for married and engaged couples |
Many of these services involve the
dedicated efforts of both professionals and volunteers. Such services have been
and will continue to be provided by church-sponsored health care and social
service agencies. Collaboration with other private and public agencies and with
volunteer groups and local communities, as well as efforts to obtain government
assistance, are necessary extensions of the long-range effort. Parishes are also
increasingly providing pregnancy assistance. Such services are sometimes
available within the parish; at other times, the parish program links those
needing help to local services.
Even when pregnancies do not involve particular challenges, encouragement and
support should be given to couples who have conceived a child. In a culture that
often gives negative messages regarding parenthood, it is important that our
parishes celebrate the gift of new life.
Post-Abortion Healing and Reconciliation
For many women and men, grief and anguish follow an abortion
experience, which often last for many years. Women today talk about
post-abortion stress and reveal a pattern of common grief in "chat
rooms," through published books, and in support groups.
The Church offers reconciliation as well as spiritual and psychological care for
those suffering from abortion's aftermath primarily through diocesan-based
programs, most often called Project Rachel. Such programs utilize specially
trained priests and professional counselors who provide one-on-one care. Other
post-abortion ministries that involve support groups and retreats are also
available in many areas.
Every church-sponsored program and identifiably Catholic organization and agency
should know where to refer those in need of post-abortion healing. Special
resources to assist priests in this ministry are available from the Secretariat
for Pro-Life Activities and from many diocesan pro-life offices.
Care for Those Who Are Chronically Ill, Disabled,
or Dying
Euthanasia and assisted suicide can appear a reasonable and
even compassionate solution to the suffering of individuals and families
struggling with illness or the dying process. Yet these are not real solutions—they
do not solve human problems, but only take the lives of those most in need of
unconditional love.
As Christians, we are called to help build a civilization of life and of love,
in which seriously ill persons and their families are never abandoned, but are
supported with services, friendship, and love. In order to do so, we should:
| reach out to those in the parish family or broader community who are dying, particularly those who are at risk of dying alone, and keep company with them; provide support to the family, especially with difficult end-of-life decisions; encourage people to volunteer or provide other assistance to the local hospice program |
| encourage physicians and other health professionals to provide appropriate palliative care |
| foster prayers, at Mass and in homes, for those who are dying and their families to receive the respect and care they need and to be comforted by the peace of Christ |
| develop and support programs of respite care for families caring for seriously ill members at home, programs of visitation to nursing homes, or perhaps even parish nurse programs |
| foster efforts to fully welcome persons with disabilities into the Church community |
Care for Prisoners,
Those on Death Row, and Victims of Violent Crime
When violent crime impacts a community there is a temptation to
respond with anger and vengeance. But the Gospel calls for rehabilitation,
reconciliation, and restoration and teaches us to respect the dignity of all
human beings, even those guilty of committing horrendous crimes. To promote
these ends, we should
| Encourage outreach to prisoners through programs of visitation or letter-writing |
| Ensure that the spiritual needs of prisoners are met and that they can receive the sacraments |
| Foster pastoral outreach to victims of violent crime |
| Offer emotional and material support to the family members of prisoners, especially children, and to pregnant women and new mothers in prison |
III Public Policy Program
Protecting and promoting the inviolable rights of persons is the most solemn responsibility of civil authority. As Americans and as religious leaders we are committed to governance by a system of law that protects human rights and maintains the common good.We are reminded that "the Church must be committed to the task of educating and supporting lay people involved in law-making, government and the administration of justice, so that legislation will always reflect those principles and moral values which are in conformity with a sound anthropology and advance the common good" (The Church in America, no. 19, quoting Synod for America, proposition 72).
The Declaration of Independence, written more than two hundred years ago, speaks of the "Laws of Nature and of Nature's God" before making this historic assertion: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness." Today we see the tensions increasing between these founding principles and political reality. Nowhere is this more pronounced than in the continuing effort to ignore the right to life of unborn children, as well as in efforts to legalize euthanasia and assisted suicide.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is a "Gospel of life." It invites all persons to a new life lived abundantly in respect for human dignity. We believe that this Gospel is not only a complement to American . . . principles, but also the cure for the spiritual sickness now infecting our society. . . . We cannot simultaneously commit ourselves to human rights and progress while eliminating or marginalizing the weakest among us. Nor can we practice the Gospel of life only as a private piety. American Catholics must live it vigorously and publicly, as a matter of national leadership and witness, or we will not live it at all. (Living the Gospel of Life, no. 20)The law is not the only means of protecting life, but it plays a key and often decisive role in affecting both human behavior and thinking. Those called to civil leadership, as Pope John Paul II reminds us, "have a duty to make courageous choices in support of life, especially through legislative measures." This is a responsibility that cannot be put aside, "especially when he or she has a legislative or decision-making mandate, which calls that person to answer to God, to his or her own conscience and to the whole of society for choices which may be contrary to the common good" (The Gospel of Life, no. 90).
Public officials are privileged in a special way to apply their moral convictions to the policy arena. We hold in high esteem those who, through such positions and authority, promote respect for all human life. Catholic civil leaders who reject or ignore the Church's teaching on the sanctity of human life do so at risk to their own spiritual well-being. "No public official, especially one claiming to be a faithful and serious Catholic, can responsibly advocate for or actively support direct attacks on innocent human life" (Living the Gospel of Life, no. 32).
It is imperative to restore legal protection to the lives of unborn children and to ensure that the lives of others, especially those who are disabled, elderly, or dying, are not further jeopardized.
A comprehensive public policy program should include the following long- and short-term goals:
| passage of a constitutional amendment that will protect unborn children's right to life to the maximum degree possible, and pursuit of appropriate strategies to attain this goal |
| federal and state laws and administrative policies that restrict the practice of abortion as much as possible and that prohibit government support of abortion, human cloning, and research that destroys human embryos |
| continual challenging of the scope of and ultimate reversing of the decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court and other courts denying the right to life |
| support for legislation that provides morally acceptable alternatives to abortion, including funding to expand education, health, nutrition, and other services for disadvantaged parents and their children |
| support for federal and state legislation that promotes effective palliative care for those who are chronically ill or dying |
| support for efforts to prevent legalization of euthanasia and assisted suicide by legislation or referendum |
| support for efforts to end the death penalty |
A public policy program requires
well-planned and coordinated advocacy by citizens at the national, state, and
local levels. Such activity is not solely the responsibility of Catholics but
instead requires widespread cooperation and collaboration on the part of groups
large and small, religious and secular. As U.S. citizens and religious leaders,
we see a critical moral imperative for public policy efforts to ensure the
protection of human life. We urge our fellow citizens to see the justice of this
cause and to work with us to achieve these objectives.
Laws Less Than Perfect
While at times human law may not fully articulate the moral
imperative—full protection for the right to life—our legal system can and
must be continually reformed so that it will increasingly fulfill its proper
task of protecting the weak and preserving the right to life of every human
being, born and unborn. In The Gospel of Life, Pope John Paul II explains
that one may support "imperfect" legislation—legislation that, for
example, does not ban all abortions but puts some control on a current more
permissive law by aiming to limit the number of abortions—if that is the best
that can be achieved at a particular time. In doing so one seeks to limit the
harm done by the present law: "This does not in fact represent an illicit
cooperation with an unjust law, but rather a legitimate and proper attempt to
limit its evil aspects" (no. 73).
IV Prayer and Worship
A great prayer for life is urgently needed, a prayer which will rise up throughout the world. Through special initiatives and in daily prayer, may an impassioned plea rise to God. . . . Let us therefore discover anew the humility and the courage to pray and fast so that the power from on high will break down the walls of lies and deceit: the walls which conceal from the sight of so many . . . the evil of practices and laws which are hostile to life.Participation in the sacramental life of the Church sustains each of us. We encourage dioceses and parishes to sponsor programs of prayer and fasting as well as paraliturgical programs and to encourage Catholics to adopt programs of private prayer.
—Pope John Paul II, The Gospel of Life, no. 100
We ask priests and deacons to preach the truth about the dignity of all human life, born and unborn, and about the moral evil of the purposeful destruction of innocent human life, including abortion, euthanasia, assisted suicide, and infanticide. We urge them to encourage parishioners and others to treat with compassion those who find themselves in stressful situations, and to offer practical assistance to help them to make life-affirming decisions. Parishes should give special pastoral attention and offer special prayers for those who have suffered the loss of an unborn child due to miscarriage, abortion, or other cause. The readings of the Church's liturgy give ample opportunity to proclaim respect for the dignity of human life throughout the year. The Liturgy of the Hours as well as paraliturgical services also offer opportunities for the celebration of life and instruction in the moral teaching of the Church.
Parishes should include in the petitions at every Mass a prayer that ours will become a nation that respects and protects all human life, born and unborn, reflecting a true culture of life.
Each year, in conjunction with the anniversary of Roe v. Wade (January 22), a National Prayer Vigil for Life is held at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. Thousands travel from all corners of the country to take part in the opening liturgy and all-night prayer vigil. Dioceses and parishes might conduct similar prayer vigils so that those unable to travel might participate in this prayer occasion. This date is also designated as a particular day of penance in the Roman Missal.
Prayer is the foundation of all that we do in defense of human life. Our efforts—whether educational, pastoral, or legislative—will be less than fully fruitful if we do not change hearts and if we do not ourselves overcome our own spiritual blindness. Only with prayer—prayer that storms the heavens for justice and mercy, prayer that cleanses our hearts and our souls—will the culture of death that surrounds us today be replaced with a culture of life.
Implementing the Program
Restoring respect for human life in our society is an essential task of the Church that extends through all its institutions, agencies, and organizations and embraces diverse tasks and goals. The following schema suggests a model for organizing and allocating the Church's resources of people, services, institutions, and finances at various levels to help restore and advance protection in law for unborn children's right to life and to foster a true culture of life.We ask that the Committee for Pro-Life Activities periodically inform the full body of bishops on the status of the implementation of this pastoral plan.
State Coordinating Committee
The state Catholic conference or its equivalent should provide overall coordination in each state on matters concerning public policy. The state coordinating committee may comprise the state Catholic conference director and the pro-life directors from each diocese. At least several committee members should have experience in legislative activity. The primary purposes of the state coordinating committee are to
| monitor social, legislative, and political trends, especially those in the state, and their implications for the pro-life effort |
| coordinate the efforts of the dioceses in the state in regard to public policy, and evaluate progress. Although grassroots efforts are often undertaken in dioceses and parishes, the state coordinating committee can encourage the dioceses to undertake a particular project simultaneously for maximum impact. |
| analyze relationships within the various political parties and coalitions at the state level as they affect local implementation efforts |
| encourage cooperation among pro-life groups in the state |
Diocesan Pro-Life Committee
The diocesan pro-life committee coordinates activities of the
pastoral plan within the diocese. The committee, through the diocesan pro-life
director, will receive information and guidance from the national episcopal
conference's Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities and from the National Committee
for a Human Life Amendment.
The diocesan committee is headed by the diocesan pro-life director, a person
appointed by and responsible to the diocesan bishop. Its membership, in addition
to the diocesan pro-life director, may include the following: the diocesan
respect life coordinator (if a separate post); representatives of diocesan
agencies (e.g., family life, education, youth ministry, post-abortion ministry,
diocesan newspaper, liturgy, health apostolate, social services, etc.);
representatives of lay organizations (e.g., Knights of Columbus, Catholic
Daughters of the Americas, Daughters of Isabella, Council of Catholic Women,
Holy Name Society, etc.); medical, legal, public affairs, and financial
advisors; representatives of local pro-life groups (e.g., state Right to Life
organization, pregnancy aid center); and representatives of parish
pro-life/respect life committees. The diocesan pro-life committee's objectives
are to
| direct and coordinate the diocesan and parish pro-life information and educational program, providing appropriate resources as necessary |
| provide educational opportunities and time for sharing program information among members of parish pro-life committees |
| support local programs that counsel and assist women with problems related to pregnancy; promote establishment of new programs where needed |
| encourage and support a diocese-wide post-abortion ministry |
| encourage and support local programs that provide care for the dying |
| encourage and coordinate programs of prayer and worship that focus on the sanctity of all human life |
| maintain working relationships with local pro-life groups and encourage the development of local pro-life lobbying networks |
| maintain a local public information program that monitors print and broadcast media's treatment of pro-life issues, and prepare appropriate responses |
| undertake, depending on financial resources, appropriate public advertising campaigns |
| develop responsible and effective communications with each elected representative: getting to know them personally through one-on-one visits, telephone calls, letters, and e-mail |
| maintain communications with the Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities and with the National Committee for a Human Life Amendment |
| report periodically to the diocesan bishop on the status of implementation of the pastoral plan |
Parish Pro-Life Committee
Actively promoting a renewed respect for human life is the responsibility of every Catholic. The parish pro-life committee assists in a special way by helping to make the parish a center of life, a place where parishioners understand the issues and the importance of meeting the needs of those who are most vulnerable—especially mothers and their unborn children, and those who are seriously ill or dying and their families. It may be a distinct committee, or it might be a subcommittee of another parish organization. Whatever its structure, its membership should include representatives of both adult and youth parish groups, members of organizations that represent persons with disabilities, persons of minority cultures, and those responsible for education and pastoral care.
The chairperson of the parish committee is appointed by the pastor, and it is important that the two be able to work well together. The chair recruits volunteers to help meet the needs the committee serves. Parish committees should be mindful of the need for renewal from time to time in regard to membership, talents, and interests.
The parish committee relies on the diocesan pro-life director for information and guidance. The committee should play a vital role in parish life and enjoy the strong support of priests and other key personnel. The committee should also dovetail its efforts from time to time with other programs of the parish. For example, in many parts of the country, parishes conduct programs where parishioners study and discuss the teachings of the faith. Members of the pro-life committee should take part in such programs and invite other program leaders to take part in pro-life initiatives.
The objectives of the parish pro-life committee are to
| coordinate parish implementation of the annual Respect Life Program,
promoting it to agencies and organizations in the parishes, especially
schools and religious education programs; and encourage parish discussion
groups to use the program as a basis for their discussions |
| promote and assist pregnancy counseling and comprehensive maternity
support services, as well as post-abortion counseling and reconciliation
programs, and make these well known in the parish and local community |
| develop or adopt, where feasible, a parish-based ministry to pregnant
women and their children |
| encourage and support parishioners' involvement in services to help those
who are chronically ill, disabled, or dying and their families |
| sponsor programs of prayer in the parish to pray for mothers and their
unborn children, for those who are dying, for those who are disabled, for
prisoners on death row and those they have harmed, and indeed for all who
are in need, that the culture of death that surrounds us may be replaced by
a culture of life |
| foster awareness of the need to restore legal protection to the lives of
unborn children to the maximum degree possible and to safeguard in law the
lives of those who are chronically ill, disabled, or dying |
| keep parishioners informed of upcoming important legislation; and, at the direction of the diocesan pro-life director, organize letter-writing, postcard campaigns, or similar appropriate activities when important votes are expected |
The Public Policy Effort at the Local Level
To secure federal pro-life legislation or to pass a
constitutional amendment requires the support of members of Congress. Efforts to
persuade members to vote for such measures are part of the democratic process
and are most effective when carried out locally. This can be done through
activities organized on a congressional district basis (sometimes called a
"congressional district action committee") comprising citizens within
a particular congressional district (involves people of different faiths or
none), or it can be accomplished through effective parish efforts. Regardless of
how it is carried out, its purpose is to organize people to persuade their
elected representatives to support pro-life legislation. The following program
objectives can be met effectively by a small group of politically aware and
dedicated people:
| educating parishioners and others about the destructiveness of abortion to unborn children, to women and their families, and to society, and about the need for pro-life legislation and a constitutional amendment |
| enabling parishioners and others to organize effectively so that their views will be heard and taken into account by elected representatives and political parties |
| building effective mechanisms for lobbying elected officials and candidates for public office to support effective legal protection of human life from conception to natural death. These mechanisms might be telephone trees, postcard campaigns, fax and e-mail systems, letter-writing programs in the parish, etc. Collaborative work with other churches is highly encouraged. |
In this regard it should be noted that the Church does not
engage in partisan politics. Rather, it fosters the responsibility of every
Catholic to exercise his or her citizenship
faithfully by being well informed on issues, and it recognizes the right to vote
as a privilege
and a civic responsibility.
Conclusion
It has been more than a quarter-century since the Pastoral Plan for Pro-Life Activities was first issued and Catholics responded to the call to help restore respect for human life in our society. Through their hard work, prayers, and generosity, especially on the part of those in parishes across the nation, much has been accomplished: | The numbers and rates of abortions steadily declined in the 1990s. More Americans identified themselves as pro-life, while the number of those who said they are "pro-choice" declined; polls showed that Americans are far more opposed to abortion than our law reflects. |
| Despite opposition from powerful and well-funded sources, the pro-life movement continues to be one of the largest and most effective grassroots movements in the nation. |
| The moral argument concerning the humanity of the unborn and the sanctity of all human life was advanced, and even those who advocate abortion had to acknowledge that it destroys a human life. |
| Services for those facing difficult pregnancies, as well as services for women and men suffering because of abortion, were established and expanded, aiding many thousands in need of help. |
| Most state legislatures enacted measures to restrict abortion and reduce its incidence. |
| Assisted suicide initiatives were defeated time and again in many states; some adopted new laws against assisted suicide. |
| Medical societies, hospice groups, and other organizations worked with Catholic health professionals to provide the best care to those who are terminally ill and to oppose euthanasia and assisted suicide. |
Yet the federal law on abortion has
changed very little. Roe v. Wade continues to make impossible any
meaningful protection for the lives of human beings from the time they are
conceived until after they are fully born.
The abortion decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court must be reversed. For it is
impossible, as our Holy Father reminds us, to further the common good
"without acknowledging and defending the right to life, upon which all the
other inalienable rights of individuals are founded and from which they
develop" (The Gospel of Life, no. 101).
Our own commitment will not waver. Our efforts will not cease. We will speak out
on behalf of the sanctity of life wherever and whenever it is threatened.
We hold in high esteem all who proclaim and serve the Gospel of life. Through
their peaceful activism, education, prayer, and service, they witness to God's
truth and embody our Lord's command to love one another as he loves us. We
assure them of our continuing prayers. And we renew our appeal to all in the
Catholic community to join with them and with us in building a "culture of
life."
May the "people of life" constantly grow in number and may a new culture of love and solidarity develop for the true good of the whole of human society.
- – Pope John Paul II, The Gospel of Life, no. 101
References
John Paul II, The
Gospel of Life (Evangelium Vitae) (Washington, D.C.: United States Catholic
Conference, 1995).
John Paul II, The Church in America (Ecclesia in America) (Washington,
D.C.: United States Catholic Conference, 1999).
Second Vatican Council, Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern
World (Gaudium et Spes). In Austin Flannery, ed., Vatican Council II:
Vol. I—The Conciliar and Post Conciliar Documents, new rev. ed.
(Northport, N.Y.: Costello Publishing, 1996).
U.S. Catholic Bishops, Communities of Salt and Light: Reflections on the
Social Mission of the Parish (Washington, D.C.: United States Catholic
Conference, 1994).
U.S. Catholic Bishops, Living the Gospel of Life: A Challenge to American
Catholics (Washington, D.C.: United States Catholic Conference, 1998).
U.S. Catholic Bishops, Pastoral Plan for Pro-Life Activities: A Reaffirmation
(Washington, D.C.: United States Catholic Conference, 1985).
U.S. Catholic Bishops, Sharing Catholic Social Teaching: Challenges and
Directions (Washington, D.C.: United States Catholic Conference, 1998).
Resources
Teaching DocumentsThe following teaching documents are available from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' Publishing, 3211 Fourth St., NE, Washington, DC 20017. Telephone (800) 235-8722 or (202) 722-8716; fax 202/722-8709.
The Gospel of Life (Evangelium Vitae)—Encyclical letter of John Paul II (1995). Pub. No. 316-7 (Spanish, 317-5).
Living the Gospel of Life: A Challenge to American Catholics—Statement of the U.S. Catholic bishops (1998). Pub. No. 5-300 (Spanish, 5-809).
Faithful for Life: A Moral Reflection—Statement of the U.S. Catholic bishops (1995). Pub. No. 5-019 (Spanish, 5-020).
The Splendor of Truth (Veritatis Splendor)—Encyclical letter of John Paul II (1993). Pub. No. 679-4.
On the Relationship Between Faith and Reason (Fides et Ratio)—Encyclical letter of John Paul II (1998). Pub. No. 5-302.
The Church in America (Ecclesia in America)—Apostolic exhortation of John Paul II (1999). Pub. No. 5-321 (Spanish, 5-819).
Ad Limina Addresses: February 1998-October 1998—Addresses of John Paul II to the U.S. Catholic bishops and the bishops' responses. Pub. No. 5-288.
The Vocation and Mission of the Lay Faithful in the Church and in the World (Christifideles Laici)—Apostolic exhortation of John Paul II (1989). Pub. No. 274-8.
Program Materials
Respect Life Program. This annual program begins each year on the first Sunday of October. To assist in its implementation, the Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities makes available each year by mid-summer a program packet with articles on critical issues, program and resource suggestions, liturgical and homily suggestions, posters, and clip art. Brochures are available for distribution to parishioners. Contact: Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities, 3211 Fourth St., NE, Washington, DC 20017. Telephone (202) 541-3070; fax (202) 541-3054; see also www.usccb.org/prolife.
Word of Life. Liturgical suggestions throughout the year, with occasional homily notes; issued monthly. Contact Secretariat as above, or download from above website.
Post-Abortion Ministry: A Resource Manual for Priests. Available from the Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities. Information about abortion's aftermath and listings for Project Rachel programs nationwide can be found at www.hopeafterabortion.org.
National Committee for a Human Life Amendment (NCHLA). For information concerning efforts to pass pro-life legislation, contact NCHLA, 733 15th St., NW, Suite 926, Washington, DC 20005. Telephone (202) 393-0703; fax (202) 347-1383; see also www.nchla.org.
Newsletters. Available from the Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities (no subscription fee; annual donation appreciated):
Life Insight (abortion): published six times a yearCatalogues. Both USCCB Publishing and the Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities have extensive catalogues of publications and videos. Both can be accessed on the Internet at www.usccb.org (then choose the department you wish).
Life at Risk (euthanasia and assisted suicide): published six times a year
NFP Forum (natural family planning): published quarterly
Websites
www.usccb.org/prolife/index.htm—Prime resource for bishops' policy and teaching statements on pro-life issues.
www.nchla.org—Organizational and contact information about the National Committee for a Human Life Amendment.
www.stemcellresearch.org—Site of Do No Harm: The Coalition for Americans for Research Ethics, offering background and current reports on ethics issues surrounding stem cell research.
www.hopeafterabortion.org—Information about abortion's aftermath and Project Rachel.
www.ru486facts.org—Factual information about the drug RU-486.
www.secondlookproject.org—Basic facts and figures about abortion based on Second Look Project advertising.
—Pope John Paul II, The Gospel of Life, no. 20
In November 1975, the U.S. Catholic bishops approved for publication the Pastoral Plan for Pro-Life Activities, activating the Church, its people, and its institutions in a three-prong program in defense of human life (education, pastoral care, and public policy). In 1985 the Plan was updated and the revised Pastoral Plan for Pro-Life Activities: A Reaffirmation was adopted by the bishops and approved for publication in November of that year. In 2001, the Plan was again updated and submitted by the Committee for Pro-Life Activities to the full body of bishops for approval. At their meeting in November 2001, the U.S. Catholic bishops reaffirmed and approved for publication the Pastoral Plan for Pro-Life Activities: A Campaign in Support of Life. This publication is authorized by the undersigned.
Msgr. William P. Fay, General Secretary, USCCB
Excerpts from Vatican Council II: The Conciliar and Post Conciliar Documents
edited by Austin Flannery, OP, copyright © 1975, Costello Publishing Company,
Inc., Northport, N.Y. are used with permission of the publisher, all rights
reserved. No part of these excerpts may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical,
photocopying, recording, or otherwise—without express written permission of
Costello Publishing Company.
Copyright © 2001, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Inc.,
Washington, D.C. All rights reserved. This text may be reproduced in whole or in
part without alteration or change by Catholic dioceses, parishes, schools,
organizations, and newspapers without further permission, provided such reprints
include the following notice: "Reprinted [excerpted] from Pastoral Plan
for Pro-Life Activities: A Campaign in Support of Life. Copyright © 2001,
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Inc., Washington, D.C. All rights
reserved."
Pastoral Plan for Pro-Life Activities: A Campaign in Support of Life is
available in a print edition and may be ordered by telephoning (800) 235-8722.
Ask for publication number 5-463; the cost is $1.95 for a single copy, plus
shipping and handling.
__________________________
Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
3211 4th Street, N.E., Washington, DC 20017-1194 (202) 541-3070
December 11, 2001 Copyright © by United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
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