Dear Parishioners:
For the Church, there is no distinction between defending human life and promoting the dignity of the human person. Important for us to remember as we mark Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day this weekend and the fight for Civil Rights in our nation. But also as we anticipate the anniversary on Wednesday, January 22nd of the Roe vs. Wade Supreme Court decision which legalized abortion on demand in our country.
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI writes in Caritas in Veritate: "The Church forcefully maintains this link between life ethics and social ethics, fully aware that 'a society lacks solid foundations when, on the one hand, it asserts values such as the dignity of the person, justice and peace, but then, on the other hand, radically acts to the contrary by allowing or tolerating a variety of ways in which human life is devalued and violated, especially where it is weak or marginalized.'"
Our Catholic Faith teaches us that as a gift from God, every human life is sacred from conception to natural death. The life and dignity of every person must be respected and protected at every stage and in every condition. The right to life is the first and most fundamental principle of human rights that leads Catholics to actively work for a world of greater respect for human life and greater commitment to justice and peace.
As we recall the fight for Civil Rights by our African American brothers and sisters and the witness of Dr. King in advancing that great cause in our nation, recall the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches us: “The equality of men rests essentially on their dignity as persons and the rights that flow from it: ‘Every form of social or cultural discrimination in fundamental personal rights on the grounds of sex, race, color, social conditions, language, or religion must be curbed and eradicated as incompatible with God’s design.’”
So too as we celebrate MLK Day and all it means for our nation, let’s not forget that the battle for Civil Rights in our nation continues. We must reject all racism, bigotry and prejudice with both our words and actions. The sin of racism defiles the image of God and degrades the sacred dignity of humankind which has been revealed by the mystery of the Incarnation. It mocks the cross of Christ and ridicules the Incarnation. For the brother and sister of our Brother Jesus Christ are brother and sister to us.
In the spirit of Dr. King, we also continue the fight for Civil Rights for innocent unborn children. This Wednesday we mark the national Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children. It is a day on which we must pray for the end of the evil of abortion. We also pray for the unborn and all those expectant mothers especially those in crisis pregnancy. For prayer is the foundation of all that we do in defense of human life.
I also invite you to attend the Pro-Life Rally at the RI Statehouse that is scheduled for 3:00PM this Tuesday. There is more information in bulletin about the rally. After last year’s expansion of abortion in RI with the passage of an extreme bill, consider coming and letting our elected officials know we reject the culture of death. Be a voice for the voiceless unborn! Pray, act and advocate for human life and human dignity!
This Sunday night Fr. Barrow departs for the Holy Land with 35 OLM Parishioners. This eight day pilgrimage includes visits to the Se of Galilee, Nazareth, Cana, Mt. Tabor, Jericho, the Jordan River, Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Mt. of Olives, Via Dolorosa, the Holy Sepulcher, Emmaus and Cesarea. All the places where the Lord himself walked, talked, prayed, preached, performed miracles and was born, suffered, died and rose from the dead.
Fr. Barrow will be accompanied by Fr. Unsworth from St. Bernard’s Church in Wickford and Fr. Carusi from St. Rocco’s Church in Johnston. They along with 35 pilgrims from OLM including Sister Emma, Sister Lourdes, Doug Green, Mickey St. Jean and our OLM Secretary, Sandra Demers, will be praying and touring the Holy Land. Please keep them in your prayers for safe travel. I know they will be praying for us and for OLM during this special time. May God Bless them with peace during this special time of pilgrimage.
Be well. Do Good! God Bless. Pray for an end to abortion!!