The U.S. Catholic Bishops instituted the Respect Life Program in 1972 to focus attention on the breakdown of moral, social, and civil structures supporting human life in America. In 1975, the bishops adopted a Pastoral Plan for Pro-life Activities which urges the activation of the pastoral resources of the Church in four specific areas: Spiritual, Education/Public Information, Pastoral Care, and Legislative/Public Policy.

Join us in January

9 Days for Life
 

9 Days for Life will take place Tuesday, January 21 - Wednesday, January 29.  9 Days for Life is a multi-faceted novena for the respect and protection of human life.  Each day, a different intention is accompanied by a short reflection, suggested actions, and related information.  Sign up to receive the novena by email, text, message, or an app at www.9daysforlife.com.  For a leaders resource which inclused the printed novena, CLICK HERE.  Additional resources to observe the Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children are available here.
 

Respect Life Mass

January 22 – Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children.
Bishop Robert J. Brennan, main celebrant

The annual Respect Life Mass will be Wednesday January 22, 2020, 10:30 a.m. at St. Joseph Cathedral.  Bishop Robert J. Brennan will serve as celebrant.  On this day of the anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade, our diocese will join all dioceses of the United States in observing a Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children. All are invited. For more, visit www.usccb.org/prolife or contact Social Concerns at 614-241-2540.  For Flyer CLICK HERE.

Roe Remembrance at Ohio Statehouse 

Greater Columbus Right to Life will sponsor this event on Wednesday, January 22, noon to 1 p.m., at the Ohio Statehouse following the 10:30 a.m. Respect Life Mass at St. Joseph Cathedral. The program will be held in the Statehouse Atrium. Please allow extra time for new Statehouse security measures.  Stickers, signs, and weapons are not permitted inside. For additional information, visit www.gcrtl.org/roe.html.

January Action Guide 

This action guide by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops will provide helpful ideas to build a culture of life.  CLICK HERE.

October is Respect Life month

Respect Life Month is October and Respect Life Sunday is October 6^th.  Christ Our Hope in Every Season of Life is the theme of this year’s Respect Life Program.  The USCCB Respect Life Program includes timely articles in the form of bulletin inserts, posters, and prayer and worship resources. For resources to promote the dignity of human life, visit

www.usccb.org/respectlife 

Additional Ways You Can Respect Life in October

 
Mass of Inclusion for People with Special Needs will be celebrated by Bishop Robert Brennan Sunday, October 6, at 5 p.m. at St. Catharine Church, Columbus. Open to all in the diocese, the Mass will celebrate the unique gifts of those with physical and mental disabilities as well as caretakers. Sponsored by S.P.I.C.E. (Special People in Catholic Education).
 
40 Days for Life runs until November 3^rd. You can witness in peaceful prayer at an abortion facility in Columbus. Participants are asked to volunteer for one-hour shifts and sign a statement of peace. For details and to sign up visit www.gcrtl.org/40-days-for-life.html or call 614-445-8508.
 
Mental Illness Awareness Week is the first full week of October and the National Day of Prayer for Mental Illness Recovery and Understanding is October 8. For resources on mental health and suicide prevention, visit our diocesan website at www.columbuscatholic.org/mental-health.
 
Journey of Hope from Violence to Healing is October 11-20. Murder victim family members working to end the death penalty are offering presentations to parishes and schools with a message of love and compassion throughout Ohio. For details, visit www.journeyofhope.org/ohio-journey.   St. James the Less Parish, Columbus, will host a Journey of Hope speaker at on Tuesday, October 15th at 7 p.m. in the parish Ministry Center located on the west side of the parish grounds (back door).
 
Webinar on the Death Penalty. The Catholic Prison Ministries Coalition is hosting a webinar entitled "Witnessing for Life in the Face of Death Row" on Tuesday, October 22 at 1:00 PM. This flyer has more information. Register here.
 
The Feast of St. Francis Program addresses the threats to human ecology and natural ecology – integral ecology. The cry of the poor and the cry of the earth is all connected, visit www.catholicclimatecovenant.org/program/feast-st-francis.
 
Bottoms Up Diaper Drive   This October, help your parishioners recognize that being pro-life is about caring.  It’s about helping.  It’s about charity.  Hold a diaper drive for Bottoms Up Diaper Drive and they’ll make sure that the diapers that the parishioners collect get to those most in need.  To get started, call, text, or email Jo Welsh at 740-808-6131 or email jo@bottomsup.life.  FLYER
 

Catholic Times Respect Life Month 2018 Issue

  
Issues

Abortion
Post Abortion and Reconciliation and Healing
Infanticide
Bioethics and Reproductive Technologies
Human Cloning
Stem Cell Research
Human Trafficking
Racism
Pornography Addiction - My House Columbus - Catholic Sexual Integrity
Euthanasia and Physician Assisted Suicide
Death Penalty
Vaccines

For other issues related to the dignity of the human person, visit our other pages on the Office for Social Concerns website.

Resources

Resources about the above topics:
Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities - USCCB
Catholic Conference of Ohio - Issues

Diocesan Respect Life Program

The Office for Social Concerns serves to implement components of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' Respect Life Program. Office staff research, identify, and analyze life issues within the context of Catholic social teaching to determine the impact of issues and to formulate an effective response. Office staff also serve to initiate and develop programs that assist parishes, schools, and organizations in identifying their own respect life needs and aids to formulate an effective response. The Office for Social Concerns provides education, information, leadership training, and community building opportunities for parish leaders.

Respect Life Program Implementation
The Office for Social Concerns serves as a liaison to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Secretariat for Pro-life Activities.

The Respect Life Program:

• Promotes efforts during Respect Life Month (October). Respect Life Sunday is the 1st  Sunday of October; 
• Promotes  The Catholic Times Respect Life Issues during Respect Life Month; 
• Works with parish Respect Life Coordinators; 
• Sponsors a 10:30 a.m. Mass on January 22, at St. Jospeh Cathedral, Columbus, with the Bishop on the anniversary of the Supreme Court decisions legalizing abortion in the United States; 
• Conducts an annual Diocesan Respect Life Conference.
• Sponsors an annual Diocesan Senior Citizens' Celebration during the month of June.  The bishop serves as celebrant for the Mass. A luncheon follows.