Black Catholic Spirituality Article ~ { Print Version }
The National Black Catholic Congress
www.nbccongress.org

A Vital Role in Every Parish

Is the voice of the most vulnerable in your parish being heard? Each day, 1,114 black babies are killed by abortion. A total of over 14 million have died since 1973's infamous Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion throughout all 9 months of pregnancy for any reason.

Archbishop Wilton Gregory of Atlanta has said: "Far longer than the Declaration of Independence, the Catholic Church has placed life first among our rights that are described as inalienable".

It is vitally important that every Catholic parish has a designated respect life coordinator (two if possible) responsible for pro-life activities. Pope John Paul II called for a "united ethical effort to activate a great campaign in support of life." Each Catholic parish is an integral part of that great campaign.

The parish respect life coordinator does many things to help advocate for life:

They are the essential link between the diocesan respect life director and active parish members. The coordinator implements programs developed at the national and diocesan levels with members of the parish.

The job of the coordinator is essential work that would otherwise fall to the pastor. Given the demands upon his time, he may find it almost impossible to accomplish the tasks required.

The coordinator relies on the parish respect life committee for guidance, feedback and support in helping the parish meet the needs of all who are most vulnerable, especially mothers and their unborn children in need of material and emotional support. He or she knows the strengths and weaknesses of the parish, and can recognize trends of pastoral and other needs within the parish community, and communicate them to the diocesan staff.

Efforts to stop abortion, euthanasia, capital punishment, and other offenses against human life will encourage parishioners to grow in love, joy and holiness and will serve those in need of support from the community. Imagine the amazing effect of your fellow parishioners reaching out with Christ's love to the most vulnerable members of your parish.

What can you do to help? First and foremost, pray that those called to advocate for the dignity of human life will be open to this work. Talk to your pastor about what you can do to help develop a Respect Life Program that embraces the four pillars of the USCCB Pastoral Plan for Pro-Life Activities.

"Information and Education to deepen the understanding of the sanctity of human life and the humanity of the unborn child as well as the moral evil of intentionally killing innocent human beings, whether at the beginning of life or at the end, and the mission of the Church to witness to and serve all human life.

"Pastoral Care for women with problems related to pregnancy; for all who have been involved in abortion; 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 and assisted suicide.

"Prayer and Worship directed to participation in the sacramental life of the Church and in programs of communal and individual prayer, that the culture of death that surrounds us today will be replaced by a culture of life and love.

"The Culture of Death will be defeated in the African American community and throughout our nation when we-as individuals and as Church-proclaim and witness with our lives to God's love, the sacredness of human life, and the meaning of human sexuality and marriage. Let us embrace this task with the urgency and the enthusiasm it demands!," said Bishop Martin Holley, auxiliary bishop of Washington, chair of the Subcommittee on African American Affairs, and member of the Committee on Pro-Life Activities.

For a more detailed analysis of the important of pro-life efforts in African American parishes, please read Bishop Martin Holley's 2008 Respect Life Program article.