Respect Life Committee |
Through prayer,
education, example and action, the Saint Jude Respect Life Committee dedicates
itself to promote the dignity of all human life according to the teachings
of the Roman Catholic Church.
The Respect Life
Committee coordinates St. Jude's parish support of similar activities with
parish, city, state & national promotions. We are eager for any
and all parishioners to join our committee or help with our efforts at any
time.
·
The Committee provides timely
periodicals and advisory bulletins near the main entrance of the church
to educate parishioners on issues related to Respect for Life.
Committee members regularly submit pro-life articles to the Grapevine and
prolife words of encouragement for publication in the parish bulletin.
·
Periodically the Respect
Life committee hosts adult education opportunities with themes such as End-of-Life
Decisions.
· Members of the committee are encouraged to attend various training, educational, and spiritual opportunities as well as activism throughout the community and report back to the committee. Meetings are used to plan parish and local activities as well as to provide a clearinghouse of pro-life opportunities throughout the community such as the Legislative
· Forum in February and talks and seminars by various prolife speakers throughout the year.
A prayer presence
is held near the Fort Wayne abortion facility on Inwood Drive every Thursday
morning from approximately 7:15 AM to Noon. Following the 8:15 AM Mass at
St. Jude, parishioners travel to Inwood Drive to join in a Rosary that is
begun at 9:30 AM. St. Jude's parishioner support for this citywide effort
is recommended and coordinated by the Respect for Life committee.
Each year on
the third Sunday of January a public demonstration march is made in downtown
Fort Wayne. More than a thousand march participants with signs and slogans
attract considerable media attention to the abortion problem in Fort Wayne.
The path of the march though police blocked streets wends its way past a
former downtown abortion facility to the Federal Building. A rally is held
for the participants of the march and other interested attendees just prior
to the march. Several effective, impassioned speakers, including favorable
candidates for office are usually adding their support to the demonstration.
St. Jude's Respect for Life Committee is proud to recommend and support
this program.
Carnations
are available before and after Mass on Mother's Day to bring awareness of
the gift of life. A donation is made from the parish to the Allen
County Right to Life organization.
Every fall in
late September/early October, the committee sponsors an annual essay
and poster contest for the students in our parish school and in our religious
education programs. A different theme is offered each year to promote
respect for life among our children. Prizes are awarded and entries
are posted in the church and school.
Every fall from
late September to early November, as part of a nationwide campaign, for
40 consecutive days, a presence is held near the Fort Wayne abortion facility.
Church groups of many faiths from Fort Wayne and the surrounding counties
participate. St. Jude's parishioner support for this effort is recommended
and coordinated by the Respect for Life committee.
A few years ago
the discarded remains of several fetuses were found in Fort Wayne and identified
as having been aborted. They were buried in the Catholic Cemetery with an
appropriate ceremony. Each year in October a prayer service is held at the
gravesite. The Respect for Life committee supports and recommends this reverent
supplication to all of St. Jude's parishioners.
Once per year
in October the Allen County Right to Life organization holds a large fund
raising banquet that features a nationally known speaker in the Pro-Life
field. This banquet is recommended to the parishioners and supported by
St. Jude's Respect for Life committee.
During
election years, the committee will review Catholic Voter's Guides and make
our recommendation to parish staff for distribution to parishioners.
Christmas
cards with Respect for Life messages are available in the Parish Center
prior to Christmas- a donation is requested benefiting the Allen County
Right to Life organization. These can
bring the pro-life message to all your friends and relatives.
American Life League - This is an organization based in Stafford Va. just south of Washington DC. They keep close track of both states and nation legislation on pro life issues. There are also many other resources such the national news stories, how the main stream media cover abortion, bio ethics, birth control….
The
National Catholic Bioethics Center - This is a Catholic pro life and
bioethics site out of Philadelphia PA. This site has literature on
bioethics research, and other publications. They also offer educational
programs.
Priests
for Life - This is as Catholic a site as you can get on respect of life
issues. It covers the political to the spiritual and everything in
between. It has many links to all types of other sites. This
is the most complete site there is.
Catholic Exchange - Although this is not a site specific to pro life issues, it has a wide variety information on abortion, contraception, bioethics, and euthanasia. The site is a very good Catholic resource in many areas of Catholic teaching.
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