DEACON FOR LIFE

Were there to be no support in the whole history of ethical and moral thought, were there no acknowledged confirmation from medical science, were the history of legal opinion to the contrary, we would still have to conclude on the basis of God's Holy Word that the unborn child is a person in the sight of God. He is protected by the sanctity of life graciously given to each individual by the Creator, Who alone places His image upon man and grants them any right to life which they have.

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Prayer and Testimony Will Shape Health Care Debate

Fr. Frank Pavone

National Director, Priests for Life

The health care debate in our country continues to rage, and for us in the pro-life movement, the key issue continues to be the fact that access to and funding for abortion will be vastly expanded unless the legislation explicitly prohibits that from happening. Those who claim it won't should have no problem putting words in the bill that say so.

There are two specific things I want to call on pro-life Americans to do regarding the health care reform debate.

First of all, now is the time to intensify our prayers and gear them specifically to the health care reform debate. We at Priests for Life have composed a special prayer for this purpose. I have placed it below, and urge people to use it in their families, prayer groups, and parishes. Moreover, we have created a cause on Facebook called "Pray to End Abortion." This cause can become the largest prayer group in history as people connect on Facebook and commit together to pray not only regarding health care, but regarding all aspects of the pro-life movement. Special prayer resources will be created throughout the year, corresponding to specific needs and seasons. You can access the Facebook prayer cause atwww.ProLifePrayers.com. (For those who do not wish to use Facebook, another option is the our website www.PrayerCampaign.org).

Let's promote this cause, link to it from our websites, blogs, and social networking pages, and send it out to our email blasts during these days that are so critical to this debate!

The second action item is to trumpet the voices of those who have had abortions. The women and men of the Silent No More Awareness Campaign have created a three-minute video in which women who have had abortions speak about how it harmed them, and declare that an increase in abortion will mean an increase in health problems for women.

Let's meet their courage with ours and use this video to bring their voices into the debate. See and spread the video at www.SilentNoMoreAwareness.org/healthcare.

The time for action is now, and the action could not be more simple.

Prayer for our Nation's Health Care Reform

Lord Jesus, you are the Divine Physician,

And the source of all life and health.

Guide our nation at this critical moment,

As our government seeks health care reforms.

Give our elected officials the humility to know

That they are servants, not masters.

Give them the wisdom to realize
That every life has equal value.
Give them the strength to resist the idea

That some lives can be sacrificed to save others
Or that killing the unborn is a part of health care.

Give your people the courage to speak up

And to hold public officials accountable for their actions.

Save us, Lord Jesus, from a culture of death,

And let every reform in our public policy

Be based on the reform of our hearts and minds
In the light of your Gospel,
For you are Lord forever and ever. Amen.