People will often ask, “What is Respect Life Ministry?” This is often an attempt to learn more about what this ministry does. While I am happy to share the efforts and initiatives that the ministry is currently engaged in, I encourage people to focus on the spirit of what motivates and informs our efforts and initiatives.
I often quip that just about everything can be a respect life issue. This is because just about everything involves a human person in some way and people are at the heart of this ministry. Everything we do starts with being mindful of the inherent and inviolable dignity of every person. This is a dignity that each of us has simply because God willed us into existence and created us in his image. We did nothing to earn this dignity. We also can do nothing to forfeit this dignity. It always remains a constant and objective truth.
Often in our society, there is a tendency to equate dignity with quality of life. While on the surface they can seem to be the same, they are quite different. Quality of life is a human concept that can change over time. What it means to each of us fluctuates with life experiences and circumstances. Human dignity is a divine gift from God that remains constant. The only thing that changes in regard to dignity is our own understanding and perspective.
All the work we do in Respect Life Ministry flows from the obligation and responsibility to uphold and affirm the dignity of the human person. These efforts are often referred to as promoting a culture of life. This also involves adopting and living a consistent ethic of life.
We must identify where people are losing touch with the dignity of the human person. Sometimes this means ministering to people who struggle to realize this about themselves. In other instances, it means ministering to people who struggle to recognize this in others. Everyone has dignity, regardless of who they are, where they are from or what they have done.
It is not enough to just identify an area of need. After we have been given eyes to see an area of need, we must take action. We must get to work by accompanying and supporting those in need, as well as working toward resolving what led to the issue in the first place.
St. Paul the Apostle tells us in the letter to the Galatians, “Bear one another’s burdens, and so you will fulfill the law of Christ.” (Gal 6:2) No one should ever feel like a burden or feel that they have to face life’s challenges and struggles alone. The things we face are burdensome, but no person is ever a burden. Being willing to walk with someone, bear the burden with them and remind them that they matter — this is how we promote and affirm their dignity.
October is Respect Life Month. Let us take some time this month to ask the Holy Spirit to open our eyes and our hearts to those around us who need to be reminded of their dignity and the dignity of others. This dignity remains constant, regardless of age, circumstance or perceived quality of life. This dignity must be upheld and affirmed from the moment of conception to natural death—and at every point in between.
