Respect for Life
National Committee
for a Human Life Amendment (NCHLA)
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Catholic voice that needs to be heard on this very important issue.
The Respect Life Committee is a parish ministry
under the direction of the Pastor and integrated into the parish’s
Social Justice Committee activities.
Membership of the Respect Life Committee (henceforth referred to
as the RLC) is open to all registered members of the parish, who wish to
participate in this Committee’s activities.
Mission Statement
The mission of the Ave Maria Parish’s RLC is to
promote a “culture of life” where every human being is respected, valued
and protected as a gift from God from the moment of conception until
natural death.
The RLC seeks to bring about a conversion of hearts
and minds on all life issues through prayer, educational events,
awareness of public policy, campaigns, and charitable activities.
The RLC efforts are directed toward (but not limited to) informed
opposition to the pervasive threats to human life, such as:
abortion; embryonic stem cell research; euthanasia; means of
artificial contraception; capital punishment; etc.
Purpose
The primary purpose and goal of the RLC is to
assist the parish’s clergy and Social Justice Committee by informing the
parish faithful and enhancing their awareness and appreciation for God’s
great gift of human life.
The Committee spans the full range of human experience from birth to
death. It is concerned with
protecting the lives of the unborn, as well as the elderly, infirmed,
immigrant, and the condemned.
The Committee provides education, counseling referrals, and
productive action.
Responsibilities
The RLC supports and promotes the U.S. Conference
of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) 2001 Pastoral Plan for Pro-Life Activities
and diocesan initiatives, which call upon the Church (e.g., its people,
services, and institutions) to pursue the cause of human life and
dignity in four major areas:
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Education:
To deepen understanding of the sanctity and dignity of human
life and the humanity of unborn children, the moral evil of
intentionally killing innocent human beings—whether at the beginning
of life or at its end—and the mission of the Church to witness to
and serve all human life.
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Pastoral Care:
For men and women with problems related to the birth of
children (e.g., infertility, problems related to pregnancy; etc.);
for all who have been involved in abortion(s); for those who are
disabled, sick, and dying and their families and caregivers; for
those who have lost loved ones to violent crime; and for those in
prison sentenced to death.
-
Public Policy:
Efforts directed to restoring legal protection to the lives
of unborn children and those vulnerable to pressures to end their
lives by assisted suicide, and to providing morally acceptable
alternatives to abortion, euthanasia, and assisted suicide.
-
Prayer and Worship:
Directed to participation in the sacramental life of the
Church and in programs of communal and individual prayer; so that
the culture of death that surrounds us today, will be replaced by a
culture of life and love.
The activities of the Committee promote the Culture
of Life in everyday life and include:
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Organizing and facilitating a parish-level
Respect Life Committee and Respect Life Sunday.
-
Coordinating parish support of similar
activities within the diocese, City of Parker, Douglas County, and
State of Colorado concerning the myriad of Respect Life initiatives,
projects, and programs.
-
Increasing understanding of human life issues
throughout the Ave Maria parish by providing information to the
parish faithful (via bulletins, website, presentations, and
referrals (to agencies/services approved and designated by the
pastor, which are consistent with established Catholic social and
moral teachings and values (e.g., natural family planning; Project
Rachel, etc)).
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Providing timely periodicals and advisory
bulletins on Respect Life issues to parishioners.
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Coordinating and facilitating the distribution
of special recognition gifts for Mother’s and Father’s Day.
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Inviting experts or guest speakers from
time-to-time to present seminars or discussions in the parish or
northern region.
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Encouraging prayer as a means of changing
hearts and minds through the building up of the culture of
life—versus the culture of death—especially involving the Rosary,
for the protection of all human life from conception to natural
death.
-
Sponsoring a Respect Life Essay and/or Poster
Contest (or like activity) within the parish faith community, which
solicits the participation of the parish children and youth.
-
Collaborating with other diocesan Respect Life
Coordinators/Committees in promoting activities.
-
Encouraging non-violent pro-life activities,
separately or in cooperation/con-junction with other pro-life
organizations (e.g., Respect Life Prayer Vigils; demonstrations at
Planned Parenthood clinics; etc).
-
Tracking state and federal legislative action
which parishioners—as active, registered voters—need to be aware of,
which is contrary to Catholic social teachings, faith values,
morals, etc?
Changes to and/or additions to the Respect Life
Committee’s responsibilities and duties will be at the sole discretion
of the pastor (whether verbally or in writing).
Resolutions to problems will be resolved by the RLC with the
pastor and Social Justice Committee chairperson.