Catholic Diocese of Spokane, Washington

(From the Oct. 2, 2003 edition of the Inland Register)

Life opens up every evening on our television screens as we look at the news of the world. Embedded reporters with live reports; a terrible blast at a mosque; vehicles blown apart; suicide bombers. The devastation of a hurricane. A civil or religious war, resulting in the starvation of children and adults.

All of these are scenes with which we are familiar. Familiar, yes; but we never get used to them, and for that we can thank God. People’s inhumanity to other people leaves us dumbfounded and hurt. Even children have become objects of vindictive hatred and even revenge.

No longer are we seeing the other side of the world as unconnected or distant. That world is in our living rooms as we watch. International relationships are now becoming far more complex than we ever would have dreamed a few decades ago. A few years ago, who could have imagined discussion of a nuclear-tipped missile in North Korea that’s able to reach every part of the United States? The phrase “being under the gun” has a ring to it that is all too real and disquieting.

Surely this situation impresses upon us the need to take seriously the relationships in our lives. Many years ago, Cardinal Basil Hume gave a keynote address in Toronto. He spoke of our world’s tremendous need for a revolution: a revolution of relationships.

For decades now, the Catholic Church has designated October as Respect Life Month. Obviously, we live out that respect for human life every day of the year. But October gives us a special opportunity to reflect on the call of our Catholic tradition to respect every human being, from the moment of conception until natural death.

Respect for the dignity of the human person, respect for the dignity of every person in this world, is one of the foundational principles of the Church’s social teaching. We in the Catholic Church first and foremost must take that teaching to heart and embrace it in a manner that reflects fidelity to the Gospel, to the call of Jesus. Racism, sexual abuse of children, the “dissing” of others: all of these behaviors, and others as well, tell us of our need for continued conversion. We are making some progress, but we shouldn’t be so naïve as to think that we don’t have much more to do. We do. And we must.

All of us have been appalled and shocked by acts of violence in our communities. The cancer of violence here in Eastern Washington may not be at the same level as that of some other parts of the world, but it is real and it is visible: physically, verbally, and visible in our attitudes. There is also the world, invisible to most of us, where the human right to life is tragically violated in the womb. The reality of this violence, too, contributes to the larger cancer of violence that leaves its impact upon people, families, and our culture in general.

How can we all work together to uphold the dignity of every person? So many factors come into play as decisions are made that have an impact on another’s right to live. We have to ask ourselves how we can assist people through the difficult times: of poverty, unreal expectations of personal convenience, of feeling alone and terribly vulnerable, and even feelings of embarrassment. We abhor the violence of those who murder for the sake of striving to protect the unborn. That violence, too, is morally wrong. I would hope that every organization in our community will look upon the precious gift of every human life and safeguard it as a gift from God.

For years I have been puzzled by those who say they personally are against taking human life in the womb, but publicly accede to the more flexible cultural stance. What would you think if I said publicly I will not take a stand against racism, but I really do believe in my heart that it is wrong? Or I know that wages are terribly unjust for a certain group of people, but let society take care of the problem? Human rights are human rights, any way you cut it. We must encourage and challenge one another to respect those rights due to every human being, especially the rights of those who are most vulnerable in our midst. Self-righteousness and disrespect of the other, even though ostensibly for a good cause, is not appropriate and, in fact, it violates the spirit of what the message of respecting life is all about.

October also is the month of the rosary. This October concludes the Year of the Rosary called for by Pope John Paul II. For many, the rosary has been a consistently rich, devotional, prayerful approach to our relationship with the Lord Jesus. The new Mysteries of Light have been well accepted.

As we continue to pray the mysteries of the rosary, I would suggest that one of our intentions be to offer the decades for peace and for respect of human life in our world. Ultimately, change of heart comes from the Lord. For all of us, this intention can help us to be mindful the tremendous need for good, respectful relationships everywhere. It is my hope that this vision can energize all of us.

May God bless you and give you peace!

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