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.

Upcoming Events

The 42^nd annual Diocesan Senior Citizens Celebration is Tuesday, June 18, 2019, at St. Mary Church, 61 S. Paint Street, Chillicothe.  Our new Bishop Robert J. Brennan will celebrate Mass at 10:30 a.m.  Mass will be followed by a luncheon.  This annual event is a great opportunity of prayer, food, and fellowship with senior citizens from the 23-county Catholic Diocese of Columbus.  St. Mary’s Church in Chillicothe is beautifully renovated and full of history located in Ohio’s first capital city.  The parish of St. Mary’s and our office are working to make this a great day for all who attend.  Registration for the celebration is $15.  To register, please send a check payable to the Office for Social Concerns, Catholic Diocese of Columbus, 197 E. Gay Street, Columbus, Ohio  43215.  For more information, call (614) 241-2540 or email us at socmailbox@columbuscatholic.org. Registrations are requested by June 13.    FLYER, CLICK HERE     

Respect Life Mass - January 22 – Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children. The annual Respect Life Mass will be Wednesday January 22, 2020, 10:30 a.m. at St. Joseph Cathedral. 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.
 
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 Respect Life Events. For a complete listing of January Respect Life events (local prayer and witness, bus trips to March for Life in Washington, DC, etc.) and resources to help you 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.  Every Life:  Cherished, Chosen, Sent 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 

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 - My House Columbus - Catholic Sexual Integrity Initiative
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.