Respect Life

Call to Action:

Last January, New York passed one of the most extreme abortion laws in the nation which removed all existing legal protections for babies who survive an abortion. In June, Illinois passed an even more radical measure.
 
Sadly, abortions are legal in New Jersey for the entire nine months of pregnancy for any reason.  Because NJ has no protections for babies who survive an abortion, legislators introduced A5287, the NJ Born Alive Abortion Survivors Act. See the Legislative Updates page for more information on what you can do about this new bill.

See the Legislative Updates page for a link to make your voice heard on New Jersey  legislation that would remove conscience protections for Catholic schools and churches.

---

Enough!

Since early 2019 debates have intensified with respect to how different states recognize the rights of pre-born children.  Public opinion varies dramatically by region as evidenced by legislation passed in New York, where abortion is now legal up to the moment of birth, compared to  Georgia where abortion is illegal once a fetal heartbeat can be detected.
 
As Catholics we are called to respect life from conception to natural death.  Although our views on other political issues may differ, we must be united by our faith and stand up for life.  As Father Larry Richards encourages us in this video www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCCW6SHVW2I, it is time for all of us to stand up as Catholics and say ”ENOUGH”!

Our Respect Life group defends the God-given life and dignity of all human persons from conception until natural death. Our goal is to build a Culture of Life and of Love through

• education,
• outreach, and
• advocacy.

God is calling us to respect life, the gift He has given us all. We must share this message with everyone and let all know that life, being a gift from God, should be cherished and protected at every stage. Those carrying the gift of life need to know that they are not alone and help is available. Join us and learn how to talk with others about sensitive Life Issues and become better at supporting family and friends. Learn to effectively advocate to others in our community for Life from “conception to natural death.” Draw closer, a little at a time, to Our Lord, who is always walking with us.

Don't let God catch us sleeping!
Our next meeting will be held on

Thursday, August 1
at 7 pm
in the Church Meeting Room
at Our Lady of Sorrows

 

Did You Know...?

• At 5 weeks after conception, a baby has a heartbeat.

 

• At 6 weeks the baby’s nose, mouth and ears start to take shape and brain waves are detectable as their brain begins to develop.

 

• At 11 weeks the baby is almost fully formed; she’s stretching and kicking, although the mother can’t feel her yet.

 

• At 13 weeks her veins and organs are visible through her translucent skin.

 

• At 18 weeks she can swim, somersault, and suck her thumb.

 

• At 19 weeks the baby’s senses are developing, and she can hear your voice.

 

• At 20 weeks, although expert opinions differ, there are studies which conclude that she can feel pain.

 

• A baby born 23 weeks after conception has a 50 – 70% chance of survival.  At 26 weeks, it’s over 90%.

 

• In New Jersey, there is no restriction as to when an abortion can be performed.  In 2014, over 44,000 babies or 30% of all pregnancies were terminated by abortion in New Jersey.

Sources:  babycenter.com; March of Dimes, Guttmacher Institute and CDC

Please pray with us that we can help mothers, fathers and families understand there are other options to the destructive impact of an abortion on an innocent child, a mother, a father and their family.

Must a Catholic Promote the Diginity of the Preborn Child?

The Catholic Church teaches clearly and consistently that life begins at conception (in the terms of embryology: “fertilization”). Abortion, defined as the direct, intentional killing of a living human person in the womb of its mother, is gravely contrary to the moral law of the Church and in particular the Fifth Commandment that states “Do not kill.” This has been the consistent teaching of the Church from the beginning to the present time. The Church’s teaching on abortion is not just the point of view of a religion; it is also consistent with natural law ethics and is compatible with knowledge gained through embryology.

Pope St. John Paul II, stated in his encyclical Evangelium Vitae (“The Gospel of Life”): “[B]y the authority which Christ conferred upon Peter and his Successors…I confirm that the direct and voluntary killing of an innocent human being is always gravely immoral. This doctrine, based upon that unwritten law which man, in the light of reason, finds in his own heart… is reaffirmed by Sacred Scripture, transmitted by the Tradition of the Church and taught by the ordinary and universal Magisterium” (Evangelium Vitae, 1995, par. 57)…

Not only may one not actively kill a fetus or an embryo himself, but since it is a universal moral norm applicable to all peoples, one must also witness to this belief in his conversations and actions and counsel others about what is right and wrong, good and evil, when it comes to decisions surrounding the child in the womb.

Furthermore, as St. John Paul II states, no authority (such as the State, for example) should ever permit the act of killing the person in the womb of its mother. We should keep this in mind when we vote.

Our own bishop has stated that life begins at conception and that human life must be protected. He states, “The Diocese of Trenton… will be ‘pro-life, pro-family and pro-poor’ in their activities and advocacy” (Most Rev. David M. O’Connell, CM, JCD, Bishop of Trenton, The Statutes of the Fourth Synod of the Diocese of Trenton (2014), statute 169).  So the answer is “yes”; a Catholic must promote the dignity of the preborn child: in our beliefs and thoughts and in our words and actions.

Being pro-life is not in opposition to science...quite the opposite, in fact!

Medical and technological advancements continue to reaffirm the science behind the pro-life cause—that life begins at fertilization, or day one, when egg meets sperm and a new, unique, human embryo is created.

From the moment of fertilization, our DNA is present, whether it’s 23 pairs of chromosomes or 22.
The unique fingerprint that each of us has, distinguishing us from any other human on the planet, is determined by that DNA at day one! Right from the beginning of life, you are becoming the unique, incredible, unrepeatable person that you are!

For more information contact:
Nelson Abreu (609 890 8964; nabreu@optonline.net)

                                       

 

---

Did you know...

At day 22, the heart of the child in the womb begins to beat with the child's own blood, often a different blood type than the mother's. At week 6, brain waves are detectable, the mouth and lips are present, and fingers are forming. By week 8, every organ is in place, and fingerprints begin to form. The baby in the womb can frown at 9-10 weeks. At week 11, the baby can grasp an object placed in his or her hand, and by week 17, the baby can dream (have REM sleep).

Abortion is a common experience. At current rates, about one in three American women will have had an abortion by the time she reaches age 45. Moreover, a broad cross section of U.S. women have abortions: 57% of women having abortions are in their 20s; 60% have one or more children; 86% are unmarried; 57% are economically disadvantaged; 88% live in a metropolitan area; and 78% report a religious affiliation. No racial or ethnic group makes up a majority: 41% are white non-Hispanic, 32% are black non-Hispanic, 20% are Hispanic and 7% are of other racial backgrounds.

It is time to pray, and it is a time to make a difference. The definition of Life, as we know it as Catholic Christians, is being re-written and not for the better. Jesus is calling us all to serve as he did and to respect life at all stages. Our Catholic faith, through the teachings of Jesus Christ, clearly tells us that all life, at every stage, is a gift from God. We must spread this news that life is a gift from God and this gift is to be honored and cherished. This gift is not returnable and does not come with a return receipt.

We must learn and educate ourselves on how to help Our Lady of Sorrows and St Anthony parishioners with respect life issues they themselves are dealing with. Please come join us for our next meeting and let us learn and work together to not only walk our faith but live our faith. Let’s make a difference, especially for those who have no voice and desperately need our help. They must learn that they are not alone.

For more information contact: Nelson Abreu (890 8964; nabreu@optonline.net).

---

Reclaiming & Restoring Family Culture

Doing research in high school, Cristina Barba discovered that 87% of abortions were performed on unmarried women. “We don’t have an abortion issue as much as a sex issue. If people were living according to the Church’s teachings on sexuality, we wouldn’t be dealing with abortion.” In various ways, she has devoted her life to educating others about these teachings.

Then, in 2014, she and 30 friends formed The Culture Project. Based in Philadelphia, it has hubs in L.A. and Toledo, with a travel team based in San Francisco. The Culture Project invites recent college grads to live one year in community and minister to youth via talks on human sexuality, life and love.

Barba strongly advocates that every family have meals together; share life together. Each family should be one “that loves one another, that forgives each other because we’re going to screw up. Love your kids fiercely and share your faith.”

Gretchen R. Crowe, “One Group’s Mission”
Our Sunday Visitor, 1/21/18
 

Every life is worth living

Whether it lasts for a brief moment or for a hundred years, each of our lives is a good and perfect gift. At every stage and in every circumstance, we are held in existence by God's love.

Our relationships on earth are meant to help us and others grow in perfect love. We are meant to depend on one another, serve each other in humility, and walk together in times of suffering.

An elderly man whose health is quickly deteriorating; an unborn baby girl whose diagnosis indicates she may not live very long; a little boy with Down syndrome; a mother facing terminal cancer—each may have great difficulties and need assistance, but each of their lives is a good and perfect gift.

Experiencing suffering—or watching another suffer—is one of the hardest human experiences. But we are not alone. Christ experienced suffering more deeply than we can comprehend, and our own suffering can be meaningful when we unite it with his.

Jesus is with us every step of the way, giving us the grace we need. God invites us to embrace the lives we have been given, for as long as they are given. Every life is worth living.

---

It's not what you think!

Most pro-life people tend to shy away from gathering to pray near an abortion clinic. Contrary to popular belief, it is NOT a protest of demonstration. There is no confrontation or interference with people going in or out. It is simply praying the Rosary other prayers together for people considering or having abortions, the babies being lost there, and for a greater awareness of the sanctity of life in our nation and our community.

Twice weekly (Wed. from 8 to 9 AM and Sat. from 7 to 11 AM), there is a prayerful witness nearby (1345 Kuser Road in Hamilton). If you would like to learn more, please visit http://365daysforlifehamilton.org. If, like most Catholics, you have never attended one of these witnesses, you will be pleasantly surprised at the peace and spiritual uplift you will experience.
 

---

Something to Think About

Physician-Assisted Suicide...What is at Stake?

Advocates for the disabled strongly oppose assisted suicide. They point to the lack of adequate safeguards, which could open the door to abuse, manipulation, and coercion.

Suicide is always a tragedy! Do not be misled by the seductive language of "dignity," "mercy," "compassion," or "aid in dying." True compassion does not put a lethal weapon—in this case a prescription of 100 capsules of Seconal—into the hands of a person to help take his or her life.

Compassionate care at the end of life should involve the loving support and involvement of family members. The NJ legislation does not require family notification.
 

---

Words of Life

Each of us is a "creature" whose origin is the loving gaze of God, who looks upon us "within His very self" and draws us forth from this Love. This is the love that is the very being of God; the love of the Father for the Son, the love of the Son for the Father, the Holy Spirit that is love. This is what being created in the image and likeness of God means: to be drawn forth from love; created for love. Thus, every human life conceived in the womb is conceived with a spark of divinity! No wonder we cherish all life as sacred and worthy of the dignity of the children of God. No wonder we believe that all life conceived in the womb is worth all our effort to protect so that the child may come forth from the Light of God into the light of the world.