Statewide respect life offices unite to provide witness
“Only tireless promotion of the
truth about the human person can
infuse democracy with the right values.
This is what Jesus meant when he asked
us to be leaven in society.”
United States Catholic Conference
of Bishops
Thoughts on Life
By Jennifer Ruggiero
Director, Pro-Life Activities
On Oct. 18, people of New Jersey
are invited to take part in a statewide
event called, Faithful Citizenship
and Witness for Life. The event,
which is being held in Trenton, is
being planned by the Respect Life
Offices of the five dioceses of New
Jersey and will include prayer,
worship and advocacy. It is an
opportunity for state residents to unite
and show publicly our commitment to
witness the Gospel of life.
Since prayer is at the foundation of all that we do to protect human life, the Faithful Citizenship and Witness for Life event will begin with a Mass celebrated by the bishops of New Jersey in St. Mary Cathedral, Trenton at 10 a.m. Strengthened by the Eucharist, we will take what we believe into the public square with a prayerful procession to the Statehouse steps. Once there, a short program with speakers, music and prayer will focus on the dual calling of faith and citizenship, as well as respect for human life.
The purpose of Faithful Citizenship and Witness of Life is to mobilize and hearten the grass roots pro-life community, to encourage cooperation and unity among pro-life groups in the state and to revitalize a desire to celebrate God’s creative and redeeming love for all human life. As faithful citizens, this event will also serve to remind us of our call to be well informed on the issues, to raise our voices to affect public policy, especially as it relates to the protection of human life, and to exercise our responsibility to vote with an informed conscience.
The need for such an event is urgent. Despite the tireless efforts of so many to promote the pro-life message in our culture, it can often seem as though the “culture of death” is prevailing. When you live in New Jersey, pro-life work can be even more challenging. For example:
• New Jersey has been at the
forefront of a new and emerging
threat to human life – embryonic stem
cell research (which involves the
destruction of human life). Despite
educational campaigns, prayer efforts,
letter-writing and much protest, the
public funding of this morally
offensive research is now a reality.
• In New Jersey, there is no metropolitan area that lacks an abortion provider. Alan Guttmacher Institute reports that in the year 2000 there were 86 providers statewide and 31 percent of all reported pregnancies in New Jersey ended in induced abortion. Unlike many other states, New Jersey has no major restrictions on abortion such as waiting periods or parental notification.
• In New Jersey, there are currently 12 death row prisoners in Trenton State Prison awaiting execution.
• In New Jersey, there are several active “Hemlock” or “Aid in Dying” Societies whose mission it is to promote euthanasia and physician assisted suicide.
In the face of all of these challenges, it is abundantly clear that there is much work to be done in New Jersey and across the nation. We must persevere and continue to practice the Gospel of life vigorously and publicly. On Oct. 18, all are invited — clergy, the laity, young and old — to join in prayer, advocacy and witness for life. Nourished by the Eucharist, armed with the truth and strengthened by each other, we can together renew our commitment to building a culture which embraces each and every human life.
For more information or to register for this event, call the Pro-Life Office – 732-562-1990 ext. 1629.
*The attached/referenced article was originally published in The Catholic Spirit, the official newspaper of the Diocese of Metuchen, and is protected under U.S. and international copyright law