Newspaper Page Text
File photo by Barbara D. King
Southern Cross
Official Newspaper of the Catholic Diocese of Savannah
http://www.diosav.org Vol. 81, No. 34 Thursday, October 4, 2001 $.75 per issue
Bishop’s Message for Respect Life Month
“Cherish and defend the sanctity of life”
By Bishop J. Kevin Boland
T he Diocese of Savannah invites all Catholics
to recommit themselves to affirming God’s
greatest gift—the gift of human life on Respect
Life Sunday, October 7. Traditionally the first
Sunday in October marks the beginning of our
year-long communal focus on building a culture
where the dignity of human life is valued.
The tragic events of September 11 have made
it abundantly clear that violence and disregard
for human life cause anguish, fear and sadness
on an enormous scale. The years of legalized
abortion in our country, the increase of domestic
violence and the large numbers of persons incar
cerated in our country may have desensitized us
to the true meaning of life. While science makes
it possible for us to live much longer and for
tiny premature infants to survive beyond expec
tation, we also have seen that same scientific
knowledge advanced for so-called assisted sui
cides, cleaner executions by injections and
research leading to cloning of persons. The
recent debates on embryonic stem cell research
have pitted the protection of human life itself
against the noble goal of curing disease.
At the same time, we are witnesses to heroic
efforts to save others in the face of the terror of
the burning World Trade Center Towers, and of
compassionate friendship and courage in addres
sing the injustices of racism and vengeance. This
is the Christian message about the value of hu
man life in action. The Respect Life Program
aims to awaken all of us to the challenge of
cherishing and defending the sanctity of life, at
every stage and in every circumstance.
The United States Conference of Catholic
Bishops Pro-Life Office has prepared very help
ful materials for transforming our culture into
one of respect for life. These materials address
spiritual care for the dying, the death penalty, the
movement toward a culture of life, raising chil
dren with Catholic values, embryonic stem cell
research, and emergency contraception.
In our diocese, Catholic Social Services coor
dinates programs that address racism and other
forms of injustice. At the same time, through
deanery outreach programs and many volunteers
it provides direct services to the needy, prison
visitation and referral to counseling for post
abortion women. The office of Family Life
offers resources for reducing domestic violence
and strengthening families at all levels. Teaching
our children to become peacemakers at home,
school and in their neighborhoods is an impor
tant component of Catholic schools and religious
education classes.
I encourage each Catholic in the diocese of
Savannah to make a personal commitment to
affirming and respecting life at all levels. As
Cathleen Cleaver of the USCCB says: “The goal
is to transform our society into one where peo
ple are radically, even heroically, generous to
every human life, no matter the personal cost.
It’s about creating a nation where there is no
pro-life ‘movement’,” because there would be
no need for one.
Our task is to create such a nation and to pray
for the day when all human life at every stage
will be respected in our land.
U
Pray rosary to protect world from terrorism”
By John Thavis
Vatican City (CNS)
P ope John Paul II asked people around the world to
pray the rosary daily to help protect humanity from
the “evil scourge” of terrorism.
In the wake of deadly attacks in the United States, the
pope said the church wants to make a prophetic call for
world peace—a peace that involves justice but that is
motivated by moderation and love.
The pope made the remarks at a noon blessing at the
Vatican September 30 after celebrating Mass with
more than 240 bishops at the start of a month-long
Synod of Bishops.
“I ask everyone—individuals, families, communi
ties—to recite the rosary, if possible every day, for the
cause of peace, so that the world will be preserved
from the evil scourge of terrorism,” he said.
Repeating a phrase he has used in recent weeks, the
pope said the suicide hijackings September 11 marked
a “dark day in the history of humanity.”
“In response, the church intends to be faithful to its
prophetic charism and remind everyone of their duty to
build a future of peace for the human family. Certainly
peace is not unconnected to justice, but it must always
be nourished by mercy and love,” he said.
The pope emphasized that Jews, Christians and
Muslims all worship the same God and thus have a
common vocation of peace and unity.
(Continued on page 11)
Pope John Paul II walks down the steps from the
plane as he returns to Rome September 27.
The pope arrived from Kazakstan and Armenia.
Catholic patriotism
in early years
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CNS photo from Reuters