The Great Campaign for Life
Throughout the political process, we have been hearing a great deal from the candidates and their campaigns. During this extended period, it is obvious that a great deal of zeal and perseverance are required of the candidates in order for them to meet the demands and rigors of the campaign.
In this Respect Life Month, the Church reminds us of another type of campaign, the one highlighted by Pope John Paul II in his encyclical Evangelium Vitae: “A great campaign in support of life.” It is an ongoing campaign that also requires zeal, perseverance, generosity and sacrifice. In the words we speak, the deeds we perform and the witness we offer, we must work tirelessly in eradicating all that destroys human life, especially abortion and the use of embryonic stem cells for scientific research. We must never cease our efforts in defending the dignity of every human person, in particular the terminally ill, the disabled and the immigrant.
At this critical time in the life of our country, we have an extraordinary opportunity to campaign for life in the public arena as we participate as faithful citizens in the electoral process. We pause to thank God for those who have sacrificed their lives to give us our right to vote. We remember that the exercise of our vote demands a clear understanding of the issues and the positions of the candidates along with a commitment to prayer and discernment so that our vote is always cast in light of the Gospel of Life. To assist you in this process, I refer you to our Diocesan web site and some rich resources including the document produced by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, “The Challenge of Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship.” I also renew my invitation for you to gain access to a wealth of information available from the new initiative of the Dioceses of Raleigh and Charlotte, Catholic Voice North Carolina.
Soon political campaigns will cease at least for some period of time. However, the great campaign in support of life can never end. We must pray daily for an end to abortion in the United States and throughout the world. We must constantly seek ways to alleviate the sufferings of others and those who lack the essential resources of food and clothing. We must visit those in prison and those who are alone. We must reach out to those in our communities who are considered outside the boundaries of legal protection. We must make clear our refusal to tolerate any form of racism and prejudice in our communities and workplaces. We must take public stands in support of life.
This is the ongoing great campaign in support of life which demands much of us. At times, we may have a sense that our efforts are failing to make a difference. We may tire and grow weary. We will certainly encounter forms of rejection and face the choice to cease our witness of faith rather than embrace any suffering that may accompany it. In this Year of Saint Paul, we turn to this great Apostle for inspiration, especially during this Respect Life Month as we rededicate ourselves to the essential work of protecting and defending the sacredness of all human life from the moment of conception to natural death. He tells us, “to rejoice in hope, be patient under trial and persevere in prayer” (Romans 12:12). If we heed Saint Paul’s words, we can be assured that, with God’s grace, our great campaign in support of life will end in victory because of the Power at work within us, who is Christ Jesus Our Lord.
Most Reverend Michael F. Burbidge