Prayer, Advocacy, and Practical Support for All Stages of Life

“Life says ‘yes’ to life!”, Fr. Lambert said in the closing remarks at the end of the Holy Hour for Life this week, co-sponsored by the Mary Garden Prayer Group and the Knights of Columbus, and lead by two of our deacons. “You don’t have to be Christian to understand this,” he continued, citing examples of people caring for drooping plants and pet owners responding to signs their pet is hungry. “How much more when it is a human being!” I encouraged the prayer leaders to ask Fr. Lambert to offer the closing remarks because he is often more articulate than I in sharing our reasons and enthusiasm for standing for life in all its stages. Earlier in the holy hour, Deacon Joe beautifully preached about the many facets of Respect for Life, including those with mental or physical suffering or disabilities, those considering suicide, and those simply coping with the burdens of aging bodies – all those who might be marginalized by some in our society or given the false impression that their life is somehow less valuable than others’. Fr. Lambert added to this list those parents who might say ‘no’ to the life of their unborn child, or anyone who cooperates in that sad act of willingly taking a life: “Our God is the God of mercy! Jesus came to save us from death and restore us to life, including those who are suffering as a consequence of their saying ‘no’ to the ‘yes’ of life.”

Several months ago, I read an op-ed article from the Wall Street Journal entitled, “A Catholic’s Duty in Post-Roe America” by Archbishop Paul Coakley of Oklahoma City (7-11-2022). The first line read, “If you are pregnant and in need, come to the Catholic Church” – a statement by the late Cardinal Joseph O’Connor years earlier when he founded the Sisters of Life, a pro-life religious order in New York. “His remark was a welcoming call to expecting mothers with nowhere to turn,” Archbishop Coakley continued, “and a plea to the American [Catholic] church to act as guardians of all God’s children.” In many ways, Catholics and others who respect the lives of babies and their mothers have done a lot to care for them through prayer, pregnancy help centers, and diaper drives. Our collaborative parishes and our KofC councils have all contributed to these efforts through the Lenten Baby Bottle program and other ways we support our nearby Abundant Hope Pregnancy Resource Center.

The op-ed went on to suggest that those words “…come to the Catholic Church” are even more important now as legal protections for unborn children are possible in our country again. “The court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson… is a reminder of our duty as Catholics. By virtue of our baptism, we are called to see Christ in every human life, and to work and pray for a society in which laws reflect the inherent dignity of the human person…. The end of Roe challenges us anew to open our hearts, and our doors, to mothers and children in need through foster care and adoption.” Here, too, we can be proud of our parishioners who formed the Friends of Adoption and Foster Care group that supports local parents through discussions and your donations in our annual Backpack Drive and the foster care donation bin. The article went on to challenge the Church “to reopen and reinvigorate” Catholic adoption and foster care ministries.

As I consider this article in light of the themes Deacon Joe and Fr. Lambert raised, I think our call as Catholics is even broader than that. After all, Fr. Lambert reminded us, “As Christians, we know why life says ‘yes’ to life…,” so we have the grace to do more. The Author of all life sends his Spirit into us to recognize the dignity of every human life: babies and parents, old and young, able-bodied or needing some assistance, nearing the end of life or with the hope of decades to come… the dignity of every human life made in God’s image deserves respect. And respect means doing all we can – individually and collectively – to build up one another, especially those who are struggling or have no voice of their own.

Tomorrow, Monday, January 23, is the annual Day of Prayer for the Protection of Unborn Children. As we join in prayer for this important cause, may we remember that legal protection is only one of the important aspects of our call to action. May we continue to build on the ways that Catholics and others work together in providing the practical support that is needed by expectant parents, babies, and children, and all those marginalized by society. This is an area where both the moral and social justice dimensions of our faith call us to action.