Reflecting on the Dignity of Every Human Life

Intermountain Catholic

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Crystal Painter

Intermountain Catholic 

“But the Church firmly believes that human life, even if weak and suffering, is always a splendid gift of God’s goodness.” (Pope John Paul II, Familiaris Consortio 30)

Each year in October the Catholic Church celebrates Respect Life Month, and the first Sunday in the month, Oct. 2 this year, is Respect Life Sunday. As Catholics, we are called to build a culture of life all year; however, October is a special time to emphasize this beautiful teaching to care for the lives of all human beings from conception all the way through to their natural death. This is a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the dignity of every person at every age and stage of life.

October is also Domestic Violence Awareness Month. This movement launched in 1987 to raise awareness and to bring organizations together to support and provide resources to victims. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, one in 15 children is exposed to intimate partner violence each year, and 90 percent of these children are eyewitnesses to this violence. In Utah, approximately 80 children every year witness the murder or attempted murder of their mother, as shown in the Utah Domestic Violence Coalition Statistics.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops addressed this issue in their 1992 statement called When I Call for Help: a Pastoral Response to Domestic Violence Against Women. A companion video, “When You Preach...Remember Me,” is available on YouTube. In 2010 a national work group of Catholics created a coordinated response to address the issue of domestic violence; from this came Catholics for Family Peace, which is an initiative of The National Institute for the Family. They provide education, resources, research and training to help Catholics “promote peace within families and to recognize and respond with compassion to domestic abuse.” Another resource is a book by Catholic psychologist Dr. Christauria Welland, How Can We Help to End Violence in Catholic Families?: A Guide for Clergy, Religious, and Laity, downloadable for free at paxinfamilia.org.

Pro-life is an issue integral to our faith. In a recent statement Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee on Pro-Life Activities, said, “In a post-Roe world, Catholics must now work together for another, even deeper paradigm shift. We must move beyond a paradigm shift in the law in order to help the people of our nation better see who we can be as a nation by truly understanding what we owe to one another as members of the same human family. To build a world in which all are welcome, we must heed the words of St. Teresa of Calcutta and remember ‘that we belong to one another.’” 

The archbishop went on to say, “… we must shift the paradigm to what Saint Pope John Paul II de-scribed as ‘radical solidarity,’ making the good of others our own good, including especially mothers, babies (born and preborn), and families throughout the entire human lifespan. It is a call to friendship and compassion rooted in the truth that we are made to love our neighbor as ourselves.”

Knowing that we are called to cherish, defend and help the most vulnerable, we can find ways to build a culture of life and shift the paradigm in several ways. We always begin with prayer and fasting, offering them up for the good of others, especially the most vulnerable. Through education and formation, by building upon our own knowledge and spiritual character and growing closer to God, we are more capable of offering the help and support to those who are in need. By performing the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy, we live out our faith and service to others. Other ways include being open to life, following Catholic Teaching on using and promoting Natural Family Planning. We also can build a culture of life by “Walking with Moms in Need” – supporting women and families facing an unplanned pregnancy or in a domestic violence situation and by “forming your conscience for faithful citizenship” through the use of the Catholic Voter Guide and becoming aware and taking action on issues that align or do not align with our Catholic values on the human dignity of every person.

By building a culture of life within ourselves, in our homes, our churches and our communities, we can then give the support, love and care for the thriving of all human life throughout the span of their lifetime. Let’s start today with prayer:

Mary, Mother of the Church, graciously help us build a culture of life and a civilization of love, together with all people of good will, to the praise and glory of God, the Creator and lover of life. Amen. (“A Prayer for Pregnant Mothers,” USCCB Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities)

Crystal Painter is director of the Diocese of Salt Lake City Office of Family Life.