Intercessions for Life
February 2002
For those who are very old and very sick,
and especially those in nursing homes,
that God may give us the grace to cherish them;
We pray to the Lord:
For all who are poor and oppressed,
and especially for those who are forgotten or alone,
that God may teach us how to love them;
We pray to the Lord:
For a spirit of penance,
that in this Lenten season,
we turn from sin and death,
and conform our lives to the Gospel of life;
We pray to the Lord:
For all who have sinned against life,
and especially those who hearts
have been scarred by the sin of abortion:
for healing and peace;
We pray to the Lord:
February 2002
Help rebuild the culture of life during this time when the culture of death appears to have the upper hand. . . .
- If you can't end an international crisis, you can calm a family one.
- If you can't send relief to refugees, you can provide a meal for a shut-in.
- If you can't cure anthrax, you can drive someone to the doctor.
- If you can't end abortion, you can pray at a clinic or at home.
- If you can't end war, you can love your neighbor.
—Editorial, The Catholic Standard & Times (Philadelphia), Oct. 25, 2001.
Creating human life in the laboratory by cloning should be condemned because it reduces human beings to mere products of a manufacturing technique. When cloning is done to attempt a live birth, the child is produced and wanted not for his or her own sake, but because he or she will carry traits that someone else values and wants to replicate. When cloning is done to pursue medical research, the reduction of human life to a mere instrument is even more complete, for a new human being is created solely to be destroyed for his or her cells and tissues.
—Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua, Letter to U.S. Senators, Dec. 14, 2001
It is imperative to restore legal protection to the lives of unborn children and to ensure that the lives of others, especially those who are disabled, elderly or dying are not further jeopardized.
—USCCB, "Pastoral Plan for Pro-Life Activities: A Campaign in Support of Life" (November 2001)
We hold in high esteem all who proclaim and serve the Gospel of life. Through their peaceful activism, education, prayer and service, they witness to God's truth and embody our Lord's command to love one another as he loves us. ... [We] renew our appeal to all in the Catholic community to join with them and us in building a "culture of life."
—USCCB, "Pastoral Plan for Pro-Life Activities: A Campaign in Support of Life" (November 2001)