Liturgy Resource
Catholic Social Ministry Gathering 2020 - Reflection by Archbishop Broglio
Catholic Social Ministry Gathering 2020 Reflection for Morning Prayer by Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, January 27, 2020.
Archbishop Broglio starts the morning reflection by stating that our concern for all life should "motivate our willingness to defend life from conception to natural death." He cites the Catechism of the Catholic Church (n. 2267) to affirm that when non-lethal means suffice to protect public order and human life, authorities should forego the death penalty. In the United States, alternative measures exist, making capital punishment unnecessary. Upholding life “from conception to natural death” requires coherence across all life-issues to reinforce the dignity of every person.
Referencing St. John Paul II’s Evangelium Vitae, Archbishop Broglio connects abortion, euthanasia, poverty, poor education, and the death penalty as interrelated threats to human life. Renewing commitment to the human person means actively choosing life in each of these areas. The extensive network of Catholic hospitals, schools, social agencies, rural outreach programs, and Catholic Relief Services exemplifies this comprehensive witness.
Pope Francis warns against a holiness that ignores global inequality between extravagant wealth and abject poverty. Paul VI taught that authentic witnesses—those whose lives embody their message—are the most effective teachers. The author urges participants in Washington to serve as persuasive messengers of “life and justice for all.”
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The 2020 Catholic Social Ministry Gathering was held on January 25-28 and welcomed 649 participants from 100 dioceses to Washington, D.C. The theme was: “Bearing Witness: Life and Justice for All.” The Office of Education and Outreach (E&O) collaborated with numerous USCCB offices including the Pro-Life Secretariat and 16 national Catholic organizations to plan and implement CSM Gathering.