Even the weakest and most vulnerable, the sick, the old, the unborn and the poor, are masterpieces of God's creation, made in his own image, destined to live forever, and deserving of the utmost reverence and respect.
-- Pope Francis' Day for Life greeting to the people of England/Scotland/Wales & Ireland (July 17, 2013)
The teaching of the Church is that human life should be respected and protected from conception until natural death. This page will contain teaching, commentary, and news of local events and actions.
Evangelium Vitae - "The Gospel of Life" from Pope John Paul II
From the US Conference of Catholic Bishops:
USCCB Statement on Reducing Gun Violence
Contact
Jackie Bonk, Director
Phone: 919-645-4438
Email: jackie.bonk@raldioc.org
Diocese of Raleigh Advance Directive
Legal and medical issues related to the planning for the end of life can be complicated and difficult. The Diocese of Raleigh has created a resource which expresses our Catholic teaching about the sanctity and beauty of life, while assisting the faithful in the practical decisions that must be made at the end of life. This Advance Directive document, which includes a Healthcare Power of Attorney with definitions, instructions and the appointment of a health care agent, was prepared in consultation with both Catholic Bioethics and legal experts in the applicable laws of the State of North Carolina. This resource is recommended to you for your use to assist in creating a legal document that reflects your wishes for the end of your own life or that of your loved one. You may download a copy of this document by accessing the following web address: www.dioceseofraleigh.org/how/pro-life/publications.aspx.
Please join us for the annual Respect Life Conference Saturday, September 15, 2018 at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Raleigh beginning with optional Mass at 9:00 am and ending at 3:00 pm. Two keynote speakers have been invited to address the topics of Contraception and Human Trafficking. We also hope to have a fruitful conversation about the very real possibility of the face of Respect Life ministry after Roe v. Wade is overturned. To facilitate this discussion, we are asking for submissions of pastoral care initiatives from your local ministries.
Please reply to this email with any ideas, experiences, or initiatives that might be replicated by others. No idea is too small or insignificant to mention. As always, time will be set aside during lunch to network with other leaders. In addition to deanery groups, a special group will be created for leaders of nonprofit or health ministries that work on behalf of the unborn. Information tables will be available on behalf of 40 Days for Life, Reply OBGYN and Fertility Clinic, BirthChoice, and others. Let us know if your ministry has materials to share on a table. Registration is at this link: https://raldioc.configio.com/go/respect-life-conference. Each participant will be charged $10 to offset the cost of lunch and materials. Please sign up and come to Our Lady of Lourdes on September 15 to recharge your batteries and leave with a renewed faith and greater energy to continue to work to build a culture of life throughout Eastern North Carolina. |