EDITORIAL

What will you be doing to respect life?

The bishops of the United States annually proclaim October as Respect Life Month, a time for Catholics to focus with particular intensity on what is really a year-round topic: the sanctity of human life.

Under that heading come a host of issues and concerns, including abortion, euthanasia and assisted suicide, and discrimination against those with disabilities. The news last week was particularly horrific for those who believe that respect for life should be honored in law. The U.S. Senate failed to override President Clinton's veto of a bill that would have stopped partial-birth abortions, which bishops and some senators have called infanticide (see story on this page). Then, in Australia, the world's first case of legal killing by a physician was carried out (see page 1 of this week's newspaper).

What can Catholics do in the face of such anti-life measures? Several things:

  • Attend the annual Respect Life Mass, celebrated by Bishop Howard J. Hubbard on Oct. 5, 4 p.m., at Christ the King Church in Westmere, NY.

  • Join him on Oct. 6 from 1-2 p.m. as he participates in a Life Chain along Central Avenue in Albany, NY (between Colonie Center and Westgate Shopping Mass). Planners are hoping that 1,000 people will turn out to hold hands as a sign of solidarity for the sanctity of human life.

  • Attend "The Call to Political Responsibility: Understanding the Challenge of Catholic Social Teaching," a talk by John Carr on Oct. 9, 7 p.m., at St. Joseph Provincial House in Latham, NY. Mr. Carr is director of the Department of Social Development and World Peace at the U.S. Catholic Conference.

  • Read our special pull-out section this week (pages 11-18); it highlights issues of concern to Catholics, and includes responses from President Clinton and Bob Dole on questions that are probably on your mind as you plan to vote in November's election.

    Respect for life is more than a concept; it is a way of life. It must be shown in action as well as spoken in words. We can do that by choosing to attend one or more of the events listed above; that will be a sign that we respect life.

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