(Vatican Radio) The first Sunday of October has been designated Respect Life Sunday
in the United States, beginning a year-long educational and prayer campaign on the
dignity of human life from conception to natural death.
The United States
Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has called on parishes throughout the US to
preach this Sunday about the importance of respecting human life.
Among the
initiatives which the USCCB is encouraging throughout the year include a novena for
life and a day of prayer and penance for the unborn to mark the anniversary of the
Supreme Court decision to legalize abortion.
Respect for Life Sunday was established
by the USCCB as “a means to have an annual remembrance of the need to respect human
life,” explains Joseph Meaney, director of international coordination for Human Life
International.
“It is very important to realize,” he told Vatican Radio, “that
we are all called to do something, in our own little way, in our own little corner
of the world, to make it a better place, and that we can really save human lives simply
by being joyful witnesses to life.”
Listen to Ann Schneible’s full interview
with Joseph Meaney: