October is Respect Life Month
Each year the Church in the United States celebrates October as Respect Life Month, and on Sunday, October 6th, we celebrate Respect Life Sunday. This is a time we can use to deepen our understanding of why, as Catholics, we “Respect Life” and what that looks like day-to-day.
Respect Life Sunday
“Every human person—
no matter how vulnerable or helpless,
no matter how young or how old,
no matter how healthy,
handicapped or sick, no matter how useful or
productive for society—
is a being of inestimable worth created
in the image and likeness of God.”
– Saint Pope John Paul II
The first Sunday of October is “Respect Life Sunday” and October is Respect Life Month. The Church uses this time to highlight its central teaching on the dignity and sanctity of all human life, from “womb to tomb”. The Catholic Church proclaims that human life is sacred and that the dignity of the human person is the foundation of a moral vision for society. This belief is the foundation of all the principles of our social teaching. Pope Francis reminds us, “we are called to protect our humanity, and this means, in the first place, accepting it and respecting it as it was created” (AL 56). Jesus teaches us the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy, compelling us to provide for the dignity of all human life, and to be a voice for the voiceless.
As Catholics, we believe that every person is precious, that people are more important than things, and that the measure of every institution is whether it threatens or enhances the life and dignity of the human person.
Learn about the Church’s teachings on special issues concerning the protection of human life, such as abortion, euthanasia, capital punishment, human trafficking, human cloning, and research involving the destruction of human embryos.
CHAIRMAN’S STATEMENT
Bishop Michael F. Burbidge of Arlington, chairman of the USCCB Committee on Pro-Life Activities, calls on Catholics to renew their commitment to the legal protection of human life, to support policies and service ministries that assist mothers, and to extend compassion to those suffering from participation in abortion.
Click the icon or here to read.
Rosary Coast to Coast
We will gather at 3:50 p.m. on Sunday, October 6th, at the front porch of Most Precious Blood Catholic Church. We will then process at 3:55 pm to the front of our church on Lockwood Blvd. and begin the Rosary at 4 pm in unity with people across the nation. If you are unable to walk, let us know and we can have another group pray on the church porch. If you cannot come to church for any reason, please join us in prayer at 4 p.m. and pray with us for our Nation.
Email mpbforlife@gmail.com for more information or questions
How to Build a Culture of Life (en español)
In these challenging times when respect for life is so often disregarded, how do we build a culture that cherishes all human life? The answer goes back to our identity and call as Christians.
Read more: English / en español
Catholic Considerations for Our Earthly Passing (en español)
As Catholics, we know that death is the door through which we must pass to gain eternal life. Several considerations are provided as starting points for understanding and preparing
for our earthly passing in a way that respects God’s gift of human life.
Read more: English / en español
What to Do When a Friend Is Considering Abortion (en español)
If a friend told you she was pregnant and considering abortion, would you know what to do? Learn concrete tips for loving her in a way that is life-affirming for both her and her child.
Read more: English / en español
Understanding Conscience (en español)
This brief introduction to conscience addresses what it is, why it’s important, and how to form our consciences so they lead us into a deeper relationship with God and one another.
Read more: English / en español
Death Penalty: Catholic Q & A (en español)
What does the Church say about the death penalty? Is it a pro-life topic? This brochure explores the issue of the death penalty within the context of respect for God’s gift of human life.
Read more: English / en español
Top Reasons to Oppose Assisted Suicide (en español)
Polls indicate the public is receptive to the general concept of assisted suicide. However, when people understand the associated dangers, they are less likely to support the practice. Learn compelling reasons you can share for opposing assisted suicide.
Read more: English / en español