Bishop Solis: Let us 'Live the Gospel of Life'

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Twenty-five years ago, Pope John Paul II issued a challenge to bishops, priests, deacons, men and women religious, the lay faithful and all people of good will to consider the value and inviolability of human life.

The Holy Father issued the challenge in his encyclical Evangelium Vitae (The Gospel of Life). His message still is relevant in today’s world, where abortion, assisted suicide, the death penalty and federal policies that permit children to be separated from their parents at the border and turning away immigrants and refugees all reflect a culture that fails to value every human life.

This is an important reflection now, as we begin October, which is Respect Life Month.  During this month, we Catholics are asked to reflect deeply and prayerfully on the dignity of every human life – those in every stage of life from conception to natural death.

This year, the Respect Life theme chosen by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops is “Live the Gospel of Life,” to honor the 25th anniversary of Pope John Paul’s encyclical. In March, the bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities launched a national effort to increase the Church’s efforts to support women who are facing difficult or unexpected pregnancies. This effort, called “Walking with Moms in Need: A Year of Service,” invites parishes to pray for and help pregnant women and mothers in need. On the website walkingwithmoms.com, the bishops provide resources for parishes that wish to help mothers in need.

Another, very different, aspect regarding the value of human life was addressed by the bishops in September, when they issued a plea for the federal government to stop executions.

Prior to last month, there had been only four federal executions in the past 60 years. However, since the Trump administration restarted federal executions this year, there have been seven – more than “were carried out in any year in the last century,” as Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of Oklahoma City, chairman of the USCCB Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, and Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann of Kansas City in Kansas, chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Pro-Life Activities, noted in a letter dated Sept. 22.

“After the first murder recorded in the Bible, God did not end Cain’s life, but rather preserved it, warning others not to kill Cain (Gn. 4:15). As the Church, we must give concrete help to victims of violence, and we must encourage the rehabilitation and restoration of those who commit violence. Accountability and legitimate punishment are a part of this process.  Responsibility for harm is necessary if healing is to occur and can be instrumental in protecting society, but executions are completely unnecessary and unacceptable, as Popes St. John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and Francis have all articulated,” the two bishops wrote in their letter.

By his incarnation in human flesh, Jesus “reveals the profound dignity of every human person. This God-given dignity does not change with our stage of life, abilities, level of independence, or any other varying circumstance,” the bishops note in their Respect Life reflection for this year.

As we consider this, we realize that we have many opportunities to follow in the footsteps of Christ and help build a culture that cherishes every human life. We can join the 40 Days for Life efforts that are taking place now in our diocese, and pray outside a clinic that offers abortion services. We can participate in the Oct. 11 Rosary Coast to Coast, and pray that the dignity of the human person will be respected. We can donate diapers and baby formula to a local food bank. We can offer to watch a friend’s children so the parents can take time for themselves. We can write a letter or email to our legislators, asking them to end the death penalty, or to support the reform of our broken immigration policy.

“Having received the gift of the Gospel of life, we are the people of life and a people for life. It is our duty to proclaim the Gospel of life to the world,” the U.S. bishops state in their brief summary of Evangelium Vitae that is part of this year’s Respect for Life materials. They suggest that we reflect on how we personally live out the Gospel by asking the following questions: Do I talk about and act towards others as I would talk about and treat Jesus himself? Do I inform myself of the Church’s teachings and engage in the civic arena as first a follower of Christ? Do I support and advocate for laws and policies that protect and defend human life? Do I help pregnant and parenting mothers in need? Am I ready to support a loved one nearing death?

These are all good questions for us to ask, not only during this, our annual Respect Life Month, but always, as we work continually to build a culture of life and a civilization of love.

As Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann of Kansas City, Kansas, and chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Pro-Life Activities said in his statement on Respect Life Month, “The important work of transforming our culture begins by allowing the Gospel of Christ to touch and transform our own hearts and the decisions we make. May we strive to imitate Christ and follow in his footsteps, caring for the most vulnerable among us. Through the intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe, may Our Lord grant us the grace to live courageously and faithfully his Gospel of life.”