Pro-life issues require active participation

by Joanne Pohland

God, who "knew us in the womb before we were born," has called us to be prophets - to preach his message of life to the world. This call is so important that the United States Catholic Bishops, in November 2001, renewed their Pastoral Plan for pro-life activities throughout this country. Bishop John C. Nienstedt, in talks given at the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women (DCCW) Region 1 and Region 5 Fall Gatherings, stressed the need for the DCCW to be involved in pro-life activities. He said that the pastoral plan lists four areas of commitment. These four areas are consistent with the four-fold goal for the CCW Reverence Life Committee this year.

The 2002-2003 Goal for the Reverence Life Committee is to: promote reverence for life in all parishes by encouraging them to provide public information and education; provide pastoral care by supporting and assisting the efforts of Birthright chapters and crisis pregnancy centers; develop an advocacy network to make phone calls and write letters to legislators; designate a CCW member to work with the pastor and liturgy committee to ensure prayer for the reverence for life.

Bishop Niendstedt went on to say: Obviously, all issues relating to human life are grave, urgent and crucial. Our efforts need to be planned on a continuing basis through long range strategies. Because of the opposition that those efforts will meet in a highly individualistic and secular society, we must be prepared to sustain our efforts over the long haul. In order to accomplish these long term efforts, the Pastoral Plan seeks to organize a structural approach wherein every parish would form a pro-life committee.

Bishop Nienstedt realizes that many of our parishes do not have a large number of volunteers to staff all the committees that are needed on the parish level. With this in mind, he is asking the parish CCW to take the leadership in providing these pro-life committees and promote their objectives.

With that kind of support, how can we as Reverence Life Committee Coordinators in our parishes let the Bishop down? How can we let God down? We must be vigilant in our fight for life by promoting a Reverence for Life in all that we do, promoting, supporting, and assisting a local crisis pregnancy or Birthright centers, read to become more informed about abortion as well as end of life issues, praying daily for an end to abortion and a respect for all human life from conception to natural end.

We can also highlight the Roe v. Wade Anniversary. You can do this by planning a parish Prayer Vigil for Life on the evening of January 21, leaving parishioners free to take part in the March and Rally at the State Capital on January 22.

I am aware of two buses going to the St. Paul Cathedral and State Capital for the January 22, 2003 March and Rally for Life. Annette Perry, Region 1 CCW Reverence Life Committee Coordinator is lining up a bus that will leave from New Ulm. The cost is $10. Please call Annette at (507) 354-5508.

In Region 3, Lori Timmerman is also coordinating a bus that will leave from Marshall and drive through Redwood Falls. The bus is being sponsored by several Knights of Columbus groups, CCW groups, and some MCCL chapters. Call (507) 537-1290.

I encourage you to take this opportunity to be a "prophet to the nations."

Joanne Pohland is DCCW Reverence Life Committee Coordinator.