We are at an incredible time in our nation’s history, given the overturning of Roe v. Wade by the U.S. Supreme Court in June. The reality of some states now limiting abortion, while others — including Colorado — codify it, brings to mind the division of free states and slave states in 1800s America. The lives at stake then were people whose God-given dignity and humanity were brutalized in slavery. The lives at stake now are millions of future children who may be killed in the womb.
Such a historic moment calls for a historic response. And you should be a part of that. If you’ve spent years in the pro-life movement, thank you. If you’re new to it, welcome. And if you’re ambivalent about what role you can play, read on.
My invitation is to get educated, get activated and get others to join you.
“A New Birth of Human Dignity and Civil Rights: Understanding the Dobbs Ruling on Abortion” is the title of the Gospel of Life Presentation 2022, to be held from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Oct. 22, at McCallin Hall at St. Thomas More Catholic Parish in Centennial.
The keynote speaker is Louis Brown, JD, a nationally–known front line soldier in the battle for the culture of life. He is the executive director of Christ Medicus Foundation, and also serves with the Catholic Health Care Leadership Alliance.
Brown will unpack for us the Supreme Court decision in Dobbs vs. Jackson Women’s Health, written by Justice Samuel A. Alito, Jr. Brown will explain why this decision is truly a watershed moment in American history, what will happen throughout our society if the unborn continue to be unprotected, as well as the Biden Administration’s plans to force pro-life medical professionals to violate their conscience and end innocent lives. Concrete suggestions will also be shared as to what each of us can do to help make a difference.
We will also be blessed with encouraging words from Sister Maris Stella from the Sisters of Life in Denver. She was a U.S. Naval Academy graduate and gunnery officer before joining the Sisters of Life and dedicating her life to full-time service upholding the culture of life and reaching out to countless women on college campuses and those with unplanned pregnancies.
Three weeks before our Gospel of Life Presentation is an opportunity to join the Eucharistic Procession for an end to abortion, led by Bishop Jorge H. Rodríguez of the Archdiocese of Denver. We will gather at 9:45 a.m. on Sat., Oct. 1, across from the Planned Parenthood abortion clinic, located at 7155 E. 38th Ave. in Denver. Led by Bishop Rodríguez, we will process with the Blessed Sacrament three times around the clinic, praying for an end to abortion. The event ends with Adoration and Benediction in the Stations of the Cross Prayer Garden at Marisol Health, a medical clinic run by Catholic Charities of Denver that provides life-affirming care for pregnant women who may be in very difficult circumstances and vulnerable to abortion.
In the most recent procession this past April, hundreds of people participated. This event on Oct. 1 occurs just three days after the start of the 40 Days for Life fall campaign (at the same location) to pray, fast and keep vigil for an end to abortion. Find out more at respectlifedenver.org and 40daysforlife.com/denver.
We all need to become better educated and activated to defend and advance pro-life beliefs.
“Since opposition to abortion…is not a conviction born of ‘dogma,’ but rather of moral reasoning, it is utterly incoherent to claim that one can hold to the position privately but not defend it publicly,” said Bishop Robert Barron in a recent Word on Fire video titled, “Our Catholic President and the Most Pressing Moral Issue of Our Time.”
That is an appropriate response to anyone who says, “Well, I’m personally opposed to abortion, but I can’t tell someone else what to do.” Would we use that flawed logic if we saw a shooting about to happen, or someone about to seriously harm a child? No, we would defend the innocent. The lack of moral outrage on abortion is a sign of the disintegration of values. We must respond with moral reasoning and sound science.
Make your presence known by joining us Oct. 1 for the Eucharistic Procession and Oct. 22 for the Gospel of Life Presentation. Let’s stand together for truth here in Colorado. See you there!
Lynn Grandon is director of Respect Life Denver, a program of Catholic Charities of Denver. Learn more at respectlifedenver.org.