To the editor:
“Thou shalt not kill.”
“What you have done to the least of my brothers you have done unto me.”
“Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you.”
“Let the children come to me and do not stop them, because the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these.”
So ask not what we can do just to save animals, but what can we do to save our own offspring, babies.
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| Pope Francis embraces Vinicio Riva, 53, during his general audience in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican November 6, 2013. (CNS photo/Claudio Peri, EPA) |
There have been many pictures of Pope Francis embracing people. Perhaps the most poignant image I’ve seen was when the Holy Father hugged a severely disfigured man during a general audience at the Vatican on November 6 (that picture is included here).
The man, Vinicio Riva, suffers from neurofibromatosis, a disease which results in painful benign tumors. In a Catholic News Service (CNS) article, Riva said Pope Francis didn’t hesitate at all in embracing him. He said, “I’m not contagious, but (the pope) didn’t know that. But he did it, period: He caressed my whole face and while he was doing it, I felt only love,” he said.
Some people have criticized Pope Francis for not mentioning pro-life issues such as abortion specifically enough in his public speeches. The pope has been very clear that he is committed to the defense of human life at all stages. He has frequently denounced what he calls a “throwaway culture,” which is more concerned about profit and greed than the value of human life.
Rather than using words, I think Pope Francis has been following his namesake, St. Francis, who was purported to say, “Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.” Obviously we often do need words to preach the Gospel and to teach the pro-life message, but perhaps we teach best without words by the example of our own lives.
Pope Francis teaches about the value of human life by how he embraces people of all ages and conditions. He especially singles out babies and disabled persons whom he meets, giving them a big hug and often stopping to talk with them. His actions speak much louder than any words.
We can certainly follow his example in our own lives by showing our love and concern for all people we encounter, especially the sick, disabled, elderly, pregnant women, and families in need in our families and communities.
We can provide our volunteer and financial support to organizations that assist those in need and support the pro-life cause, include Catholic Charities, the St. Vincent de Paul Society, the Catholic Multicultural Center, the Women’s Care Center, Pregnancy Helpline, Care Net Pregnancy Center, Pro-Life Wisconsin, Wisconsin Right to Life, and Vigil for Life.
MADISON — Colin Jenkins has been hired as the new full-time Marriage Preparation Coordinator/Pro-Life Coordinator for the Diocese of Madison.
Jenkins will be taking over the majority of marriage preparation activities, and Andy Galvin, marriage and family coordinator for the diocese, will be shifting to marriage enrichment and an expansion of Theology of the Body opportunities in the diocese.
“He brings a wealth of experience and knowledge about marriage and family that will serve the program and the many engaged couples well,” said Galvin. “He will also be a great addition to our team as we look to expand our overall support for marriages and families in the diocese.”
What do St. Francis of Assisi, Dorothy Day, and Mother Teresa all have in common? They are just a few well-known Catholics who have put the Church’s pro-life and social teaching into action in their daily lives.
These three holy people had a unified way of living out the principles of Catholic social teaching. They showed respect for the dignity of all human persons, helped the poor and sick, and worked with people of all faiths and backgrounds.
It is unfortunate that some people in the pro-life and social justice ministries today seem to be working separately. They don’t seem to want to cross “party lines,” so to speak (both figuratively and literally).
Yet it seems as if we all should be working together. I can understand that each of us is not able to put all our time and efforts into every cause, but we should respect those who work in a different area.
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What advice would America’s most renowned black man offer to America’s first black president? If he were alive today, what wisdom would the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., offer to President Barack Obama?
This question takes on added significance considering that this year the federal holiday honoring King, and Obama’s second public inauguration, fell on the same day — January 21.
This week we mark 40 years since the Supreme Court of our nation made abortion legal. Since that time, over 55,000,000 children have been destroyed by means of surgical abortion (that we know of).
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Struggling to figure out which candidates would do the most good and the least harm — especially to the poor and vulnerable — and then showing up to vote, was the easy part.
Now the hard work begins!
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| Coordinators discuss the “rules of the road” for the Madison 40 Days for Life vigil at the kick-off celebration in Pine Bluff on September 26. (Catholic Herald photo/Kat Wagner) |
PINE BLUFF — On September 26 in cities across the globe, people began to pray earnestly for an end to abortion. This prayer, along with fasting and community outreach, will be constant for the next 40 days.
At 316 locations in 49 states and the District of Columbia, in seven Canadian provinces, and in four countries including Uganda, people will hold vigil for the 40 Days for Life through November 4. Forty-six of these campaigns are being held for the first time.
Here in the Diocese of Madison, a kickoff celebration was held at St. Mary Church in Pine Bluff, nine hours after the campaign officially began at the Planned Parenthood location on Madison’s east side.
The local campaign, organized by Madison Vigil for Life, has been ongoing since 2005. This year is the first in the leadership role for volunteer president Bette Weisshaar, but she said that though there have been worries and concerns, volunteers are coming forward, more parishes are getting involved, and hours are getting filled, even if they are filled sometimes last-minute.
Our Lady of Hope Clinic, Dane County’s only full-time free primary medical care clinic for the uninsured, has partnered with St. Mary’s Hospital to expand the scope of medical care the clinic is able to provide.
In the closing days of the 2011-12 legislative session, the Wisconsin Assembly gave final approval to two bills that ensure access to health care without increasing support for abortion.
