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General Information
Every human is created in God’s image & likeness, and therefore every human life is sacred. Here in the Archdiocese of New Orleans, we are working to build a Culture of Life that fosters the dignity & respect of all human life from conception until natural death. We rely on the teachings of the Holy Roman Catholic Church & the USCCB’s Pastoral Plan for Pro-Life Activities in order to foster the dignity & respect for every human life through the means of prayer & worship, public information & education, promoting public policy, and pastoral care.
The US Conference of Catholic Bishops gives us a framework to carry out all Respect Life activities. In each area of Respect Life focus, we put into action their Pastoral Plan under these 4 Pillars...
“Education programs should include the following, as appropriate: biblical and theological foundations that attest to the sanctity and dignity of human life; scientific information concerning the humanity of unborn children, especially that made available by modern genetic science and technology; American founding principles, as articulated in the Declaration of Independence, that reflect unchanging truths about the human person; society's responsibility to safeguard every human life, to defend life by non-violent means wherever possible, and never purposely to destroy innocent human life; discussion of effective and compassionate care for those who are terminally ill and for persons with disabilities; education on Catholic teaching regarding end-of-life decision making; and information about effective, compassionate, and morally acceptable solutions to the very real and difficult problems that can exist for a woman during and after pregnancy, as well as help for those who suffer from the consequences of abortion” (USCCB Pastoral Plan for Pro-life Activities)
“Pastoral care encompasses a broad range of services provided with competence, compassion, and dignity. It includes spiritual assistance and essential material help, and may include supplementary services beyond those available in the community. Providing pastoral care to those in need is a primary way that the Church expresses its love for all God's children” (USCCB)
“…efforts directed to restoring legal protection to the lives of unborn children and those vulnerable to pressures to end their lives by assisted suicide, and to providing morally acceptable alternatives to abortion and assisted suicide” (USCCB)
“…directed to participation in the sacramental life of the Church and in programs of communal and individual prayer, that the culture of death that surrounds us today will be replaced by a culture of life and love” (USCCB Pastoral Plan for Pro-Life Activitie
Respect Life Everyday for Everyone