Defending the right to life:
Life is a gift from God

“You formed my inmost being; you knit me in my mother’s womb. I praise you, so wonderfully you made me; wonderful are your works! My very self you knew; my bones were not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret … my days were shaped, before one came to be” (Ps 139: 13-16).
How well the Psalmist appreciated the beauty and mystery of life, especially the unborn child still being formed in the mother's womb. The Psalmist also has a profound understanding that God, the author of life, is intimately involved in each tiny detail of the development of the child in the womb. The marvel of life, recognized as a gift of God, invites us to amazement, awe and deep gratitude. Reverence for life is as old as creation itself: “God looked at everything he had made, and he found it very good” (Gen 1: 31).
However, after the Fall of humanity, as sin began to increase, so a callous disregard for the dignity of life began to increase. The Second Vatican Council, conscious of the numerous evils proliferated throughout the history of the world, stated in The Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, Gaudium et Spes: “The varieties of crime are numerous: all offenses against life itself, such as murder, genocide, abortion, euthanasia, and willful suicide; all violations of the integrity of the human person … all offenses against human dignity … all these and the like are criminal: they poison civilization; and they debase the perpetrators more than the victims and militate against the honor of the Creator” (no. 27).

The Gospel of Life
The Church has been entrusted with the task of proclaiming to the world the Good News of Jesus Christ. In His earthly ministry, Jesus showed the dignity and worth of each person with whom He came into contact. The poor, the infirm, the aged, the young, the stranger and the sinner — all found in Jesus a new hope and an unquenchable mercy which transformed their lives. In the eyes of Jesus, the Word through whom all this exists, each person has dignity and, through Christ, life has a more profound meaning.
The Church, therefore, in the words of Pope John Paul II, “knows that this Gospel of life, which she has received from her Lord, has a profound and persuasive echo in the heart of every person — believer and non-believer — because it marvelously fulfills all the heart’s expectations while infinitely surpassing them. Even in the midst of difficulties and uncertainties, every person sincerely open to truth and goodness can, by the light of reason and the hidden action of grace, come to recognize in the natural law written in the heart the sacred value of human life from its very beginning until its end, and can affirm the right of every human being to have this primary good respected to the highest degree. Upon the recognition of this right, every human community and the political community itself are founded” (Evangelium Vitae, 2).
In opposition to a culture which devalues human dignity, the Church remains a voice which cries out in defense of the God-given gift of life. Does this imply that the Catholic Church is a “one issue” Church? Not at all! The Church is interested in every aspect of human culture, society, science, all that is sacred. Life, however, is all pervasive. In Evangelium Vitae, Pope John Paul II reminds us: “To defend and promote life, to show reverence and love for it, is a task which God entrusts to every man, calling him as his living image to share in his own lordship over the world” (no. 42). For this reason, the Church cultivates a culture of life not only by protecting the unborn, but also through the instruction of the young, and the continuing formation and encouragement of youth to recognize the value of the contributions which they make to society. The Church also upholds the value and gifts of the person with disabilities as well as the dignity of the dying person. At every stage, life is a sacred gift which must be nurtured, respected and cherished.

The March for Life
January 22, 2005 marks the 32nd anniversary of the tragic Supreme Court decision of Roe v. Wade, which legalized abortion in the United States. Since that infamous decision rendered by the Supreme Court, an estimated 40,000,000 unborn children have been killed through abortion. This staggering number casts a dark pall of grief over our nation as we mourn the death of each child, formed by God and given the potential to improve our world. Instead, these innocent children died because they were unwanted or considered an inconvenience.
Each year, in commemoration of the millions of innocent lives which ended as a result of Roe v. Wade, thousands of men, women and youth gather in Washington, D.C., for the March for Life. This event symbolizes the reverence for life which is found in the hearts of countless people of good will. The March is a call to people of all faiths to redouble their commitment to life in all of its aspects. This year, the March for Life will be held on Monday, January 24. I take the opportunity to invite those who are able to participate in this momentous demonstration of solidarity in defense of human life.
For those who are unable to participate in the March, I encourage you to become involved locally in the efforts of parish pro-life committees. I remind you also that January 22 has been designated as a Day of Prayer and Fasting. Through our own self-denial, we may influence the mind and heart of someone who may be confused and considering an abortion. Through our prayer, most especially, participation at Mass, Eucharistic Adoration and the Rosary we can help to bring about a conversion of heart and encourage a culture of life.