WASHINGTON—The 2009-10 Respect Life Program is now available in preparation for Respect Life Sunday, October 4. This year's theme—"Every Child Brings Us God's Smile"—comes from a homily of Pope Benedict XVI (January 7, 2007, Feast of the Baptism of the Lord).
The Respect Life flyer explores this theme and provides a fascinating timeline of fetal development along with photos showing the humanity of unborn children.
Topics addressed in this year's Respect Life Program reflect the diversity of pro-life concerns:
- the way ahead in building a culture of life (by Cardinal Justin Rigali)
- the essence of human dignity
- assisted suicide
- facts about contraception
- infertility
- same-sex marriage
Articles are available as printed pamphlets, on the Website of the Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities (www.usccb.org/prolife) and on the CD included in each packet. In addition to the articles, poster, and flyer, the CD contains a liturgy guide, program models, memorable pro-life quotations and more, in both English and Spanish.
This year's liturgy guide offers Intercessions for Life, suggested preaching reflections for Respect Life Sunday and January 22, a "Litany to Mary, Mother of Life," a Novena to Our Lady of Guadalupe, and a Holy Hour for Life.
Begun in 1972, the Respect Life Program brings Church teaching on the value and dignity of human life to the Catholic community and the wider public. The program combines education, prayer, service and advocacy. Respect Life Sunday is observed in virtually all of the 195 Catholic dioceses in the United States.
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Keywords: Respect Life Sunday, abortion, contraception, infertility, same-sex marriage, culture of life, Respect Life Program, fetal development, pro-life, Cardinal Justin Rigali
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