The culture of death and society dominated by the powerful

The Woman Clothed
with the Sun and the Moon under her Feet
has led us to this
extremely important and urgent reflection!

Unfortunately, a model of society appears to be emerging that is more prevalent in America than anywhere else in the world.

Our Holy Father, Pope John Paul II and the all-American gathering of Bishops feel that, this distorted model of society is one, "... in which the powerful predominate; setting aside and even eliminating the powerless."

Most unfortunately, this type of model of society bears the stamp of the culture of death and is

therefore in direct opposition to the Gospel message which always represents LIFE!

Because of this, the Church community
intends to commit itself all the more to the defense of the culture of LIFE!

They feel that the elimination of the powerless is most evident in the elimination of:

"...the unnecessary recourse to the death penalty when other bloodless means are sufficient to defend human lives...without abandoning all hope of their redemption."
AND

"...many other people pushed aside by society because of consumerism and materialism and"

Each and everyone of us as members of the
CHURCH IN AMERICA
must answer forcefully
by restating our unconditional respect for the
total dedication to human life from the moment of conception to natural death
and our
condemnation of evils
like
abortion and euthanasia.

Also we must promote knowledge of the
Church's social doctrine and to work diligently so that the values of life and family are recognized
and
defended!

and assist women with problem pregnancies before, but equally as important, after the birth of the baby.

Pastoral attention by our priests must be given by offering Christ's love, mercy and forgiveness, through the important Sacrament of Reconciliation, to women who have undergone or actively sought the abortion of their baby, for whatever reason.

Pope John Paul II and the
American Bishops desire to THANK

all those peoples throughout the Continent of America

who are working toward the

by every legal means
and to the

protection of the unborn,

incurably ill

and

handicapped.

On the other end of the life-cycle, regarding the elderly, people are often neglected and left to fend for themselves.

Therefore it is important for us to care for them and to help them promote their rights and ensure their greatest possible physical and spiritual well-being. We must strive to protect them from situations which could drive them to suicide and especially to help them resist the temptation of assisted suicide and euthanasia.

Bishops and priests
have a special responsibility to give unending witness to the Gospel of LIFE and to strongly urge the faithful to act in accord with the defending of LIFE in all of its stages with special attention given to medical predictions made before a baby is born which may, in truth, violate a baby's right to be born.

In summary,
it is the responsibility
of the
CHURCH IN AMERICA
along with other people of "good-will" to influence the decisions of our legislative assemblies to
support LIFE!

Because the FAMILY is the corner-stone of society,
society does not exist without the "gift of family"!
A family does not exist without the "gift of life"!

ONLY GOD

HAS

Remember, Life represents LIGHT!

Let us all work together in accord with God's Will, to become once again a

continent of LIGHT,

because of our

RESPECT FOR LIFE!

Another powerful reflection~~

Just recently Our Holy Father,
Pope John Paul II
in an address to the Diplomatic Corps,
on Monday, January 13, 2003, offered his,

"...fervent good wishes of happiness, peace and prosperity." In his address, he pointed out how he has been, "...personally struck by the feeling of fear which often dwells in the hearts of our contemporaries." He specifically cited terrorism, turmoil, conflicts, diseases, famine and plagues, "...threatening the survival of humanity, the peace of individuals and the security of societies."

BUT he emphatically stated, "YET EVERYTHING CAN CHANGE. It depends on each of us. Everyone can develop within himself his potential for faith, for honesty, for respect for others and for commitment to the service of others. It also depends, quite obviously, on political leaders who are called to serve the common good. You will not be surprised if before an assembly of diplomats, I state in the regard certain requirements which I believe must be met if entire peoples, perhaps even humanity itself, are not to sink into the abyss.

First, a "YES TO LIFE!" Respect life itself and individual lives: everything starts here, for the most fundamental of human rights is certainly the "right to life." Abortion, euthanasia, human cloning for example, risk reducing the human person to a mere object; life and death to order, as it were! When all moral criteria are removed, scientific research involving the sources of life becomes a denial of the being and the dignity of the person.

War itself is an attack on human life, since it brings in its wake suffering and death. The battle for peace is always a battle for life!"