Respect Life Committee
St. Mary’s and St. Michael’s Catholic Churches
Mission Statement
Relying on God’s inspiration and guidance, we seek to witness to the truth of the Catholic Church on the controversial bioethics and “life issues” of the day, to understand her reasons for these teachings, to share that truth with those who would listen and to help rebuild a Culture of Life.
Goal:
Catholics in the St. Croix Valley will develop a deeper understanding of the dignity of all human life and the importance of meeting the needs of those who are most vulnerable - especially mothers and their unborn children, and those who are disabled, seriously ill or dying and their families.
Catholics will demonstrate understanding that the promotion of respect for human life is the responsibility of everyone.
Activities of the Respect Life Committee:
Information and Education: Promote a deeper understanding of the sanctity 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.
Pastoral Care: Support for women with problems related to pregnancies by supporting the outreach efforts of the local Life Care Center.
Public Policy: Increase awareness and participation in efforts directed to restoring the dignity of human life in laws and public arenas and giving witness to the secular world.
Prayer and Worship: Increase awareness that through 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.
“What is urgently called for is a general mobilization of consciences and a united ethical effort to activate a great campaign in support of life. All together, we must build a new culture of life: new, because it will be able to confront and solve today’s unprecedented problems affecting human life; new, because it will be adopted with deeper and more dynamic conviction by all Christians; new, because it will be capable of bringing about a serious and courageous cultural dialogue among all parties.”
Pope John Paul II, The Gospel of Life, No. 95
