Promote the dignity and sanctity of human life from conception to natural death through prayer, education, pastoral care and advocacy.

 

Based on the major themes of catholic social teaching, the Respect Life ministry has assigned a specific month of the year to emphasize the following issues:

 

• End of life                        November

• Abortion                          September

• Bio-ethics                         July

• Abuse and violence          May

• Death penalty                  March

• Immigration                     January 

 

Purpose - Create and coordinate parish activities between the existing ministries, programs and activities to achieve the main mission, as a family; and raise awareness and active participation of the parishioners around the main issues. 

 

Program: 

1. Prayer - Delivers our heart and soul in defense of human life: promote private and communal prayers, intercessions, rosary intentions, holy hour, inclusion in the sermons, liturgy of the hours, prayer pledge campaigns, prayer vigils. 

2. Education - Provides understanding that leads to conviction and commitment: sharing the catholic social teachings in the bulletin, diocesan specialists to explain church position, integration of respect life issues in religious education curriculum, related homilies, respect life pamphlet rack.

3. Pastoral Care - Provides spiritual assistance and essential material help: support local cnsis pregnancy centers and maternity homes with collections and donations; opportunities for teen and college­ age parents to continue their education; support for victims of abuse, violence or crime; collaboration with private and public agencies; support to persons chronically ill, disabled or dying and their families; post­ abortion counseling and reconciliation; care for prisoners and people on death row.

4. Advocacy - Promotes faithful citizenship against suffering, injustice and death: participation in pro-life activities, response to action alerts from the USCCB and the Florida Catholic Conference, promote postcards, letters and phone calls campaigns, public outreach.

 

Being the foundation and root to all the principles of our Catholic Social Teaching "that human life is sacred and that the dignity of the human person is the foundation of a moral vision for society. All people are created in the image and likeness of God and thus all human life, at all stages, is sacred".

END OF LIFE

 
To understand and practice love as the animating principle of health care; healing and compassion as a continuation of Christ's mission; suffering as a participation in the redemptive power of Christ's passion, death and resurrection; and death as an opportunity for a final act of communion with Christ. Understanding that euthanasia, assisted suicide and suicide are always wrong. To assist people in making good decisions when faced with questions of treatment and care for vulnerable patients at the end of life. To provide spiritual support and comfort to both patients and their families during those stressful times.

ABORTION

To acknowledge our right and responsibility to protect the right to life of unborn children by providing care and services for women and children; educate and encourage our community on the right of the unborn and alternatives such as chastity, fertility awareness and adoption; a continued advocacy effort to change the laws that support abortion; network and provide healing and reconciliation post-abortion.

BIO-ETHICS

 
To understand and support the everyday and new scientific and medical procedures -to cure diseases, relief suffering and extend care- that respect the sanctity of human life at every stage of development and make us participate in the creative power of God to transform creation in service of the human dignity. To understand and oppose procedures to discard or manipulate innocent lives to benefit future generations.

ABUSE AND VIOLENCE

To become aware that abuse, neglect, violence and torture being physical, sexual, psychological, verbal or economical against children, between children, women, men, victims of crime, law enforcers or prisoners are against human dignity. To offer the spiritual, sacramental and social resources to bring healing and reconciliation to the victim and the victimizer. 

 

DEATH PENALTY

To understand that capital punishment is cruel, unnecessary and hurts all ofus as a society. To advocate for the end of death penalty and support restorative programs.

IMMIGRATION

To recognize that refugees, migrants and immigrants also have humanity and dignity; and, therefore advocate for a comprehensive reform of the immigration system. To reject human trafficking in all its forms and bring help and healing to its victims.