Respect Life

From the Beginning
God’s call:  Build a Culture of Love & Life!

The Respect Life Ministry endeavors to increase the Culture of Life through our participation in the spiritual and corporal works of mercy. In order to do this, we focus on prayer, education, community outreach and civic participation on a range of life issues including, but not limited to:

• abortion
• ethical stem cell research
• euthanasia
• Natural Family Planning vs. contraception
• bioethics and the dangers of artificial reproductive technologies
• capital punishment
• disability rights awareness

Information on life topics may be found in the literature rack located in the upstairs foyer near the Madonna of the Streets picture and blue votive candle.  Please use the links provided below to access more information about these and other issues.

For further information or questions please call Maureen Pratt 836-0736 or email moandmike6@yahoo.com

Calendar of Events

Meeting Dates

All Respect Life Ministry meetings are held in the Sacristy Meeting Room  (aka the Counting Room) at 7:00pm.  All are welcome!

• September 13, 2011
• November 8, 2011
• January 10, 2012
• March 6, 2012
• May 15, 2012

Respect Life Sunday-October 2, 2011

The first Sunday of October is dedicated to the protection and respect for ALL life, from conception to natural death.  One of the weekend Masses is traditionally dedicated to the intention that all people be cherished and protected regardless of age, abilities or state in life.  Focus is on the most vulnerable in our society, the unborn, the elderly, the disabled and the terminally or chronically ill.  This year’s special liturgy will be on October 1, 2011 at 4:30pm.

Life Chain-October 2, 2011

The Respect Life Ministry takes part in this silent, prayerful protest against abortion, for adoption and in support of healing, from 2- 3pm on Respect Life Sunday in front of the Boulevard Mall.  All are welcome!

Sanctity of Human Life Sunday-January 22, 2012

This day is dedicated to prayer specifically for the unborn, as it is always

the Sunday closest to the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision of 1973 which legalized abortion at any time during pregnancy.  A special liturgy with the intention of an end to abortion will be held at the 10am Mass.

March for Life-Monday, January 23, 2012-Washington, DC

Buses from the Diocese of Buffalo depart early Sunday morning (Jan. 22).  Christ the King is one of the stops.  Attendees attend a very special Mass at the Shrine of the National Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, celebrated by hundreds of priests, bishops, archbishops and cardinals.  Accomodations are at the Washington Plaza Hotel, where Mass is celebrated in the morning by the Bishop of Buffalo.  After the March, attendees board buses for the trip home.  Please contact the Diocesan Pro- Life Office for further information 847-2205.

Baby Shower-Spring 2012-Date tba

Each Spring the Respect Life Ministry holds a Baby Shower to collect needed items and monetary donations which are distributed by the St. Gianna Molla Room of the Diocese of Buffalo, a pregnancy care center located in downtown Buffalo for those in need or in crisis pregnancies.

Pro-Life Links

General

Diocese of Buffalo Pro-Life Office  http://www.buffalodiocese.org/Outreach/ProLife.aspx

New York State Catholic Conference  http://www.nyscatholic.org/pages/home/home.asp

American Life League  http://all.org

Life News  http://www.lifenews.com/

Priests for Life  http://www.priestsforlife.org/

Sisters of Life   http://sistersoflife.org/

 

Pregnancy, Adoption and Post-Abortion Help

Pregnancy Centers Online     http://www.optionline.org/

Be Not Afraid-website for expectant families facing difficult prenatal diagnoses http://benotafraid.net/

Project Rachel-Hope for healing after an abortion  http://www.hopeafterabortion.com/

Silent No More-Resources for help after abortion  http://www.silentnomoreawareness.org/

 

Teen and Young Adult Sites

Generation Life   http://www.generationlife.org/

Rock for Life   http://www.rockforlife.org/

Students for Life of America-for college students- http://www.studentsforlife.org/

The Goretti Group-promoting purity for young people  http://www.thegorettigroup.org/index.htm

 

Contraception and Natural Family Planning (NFP)

One More Soul-Numerous NFP resources  http://onemoresoul.com/

Couple-to-Couple League-Couples based information about NFP  http://www.ccli.org/

The Truth about Birth Control-uncovers the dangers of contraception  http://truthaboutbirthcontrol.com/

 

Euthanasia and End of Life Decisions

Now and At the Hour of Our Death-A Catholic Guide to End-of-Life Decision Making http://www.nyscatholic.org/admin/news/document/952_End%20of%20Life%20booklet%20final.pdf

Terry Schindler Schiavo Foundation-dedicated to helping persons with disabilities and the incapacitated who are in or potentially face life-threatening situations http://terrisfight.org/

 

Stem Cell Research

Catholic Teaching on Stem Cell Research; Embryonic vs. Adult http://www.flrl.org/PDFs_and_Docs/Stem%20Cell%20Research.pdf

American Life League-comprehensive treatise on Stem Cell Research, Cloning and Catholic Church teachings http://www.all.org/nav/index/cat/MTkw/heading/OQ/

 

Bioethics and the Dangers of Artificial Reproduction Technologies

Center for Bioethics and Culture Network-www.cbc-network.org

National Catholic Bioethics Center- www.ncbcenter.org/  

 

Disability Ministry

Diocese of Buffalo Ministry to those with Disabilities  http://www.buffalodiocese.org/Outreach/Disabilities.aspx