October is Respect Life Month in the Catholic Church. It is a time to reflect on the gift of life more deeply, to renew and increase our commitment to promoting a culture of life through prayer and action, and to recognize the dignity of every human life, from conception to natural death. Every week of the month, I will be sharing a post on one of the many life issues in our world today.
Back on July 2nd, the Wisconsin State Supreme Court struck down the 1849 abortion ban. As a body of people tasked with ensuring that the best interests of citizens are met, the government has failed to recognize and protect the most vulnerable- the unborn. While disappointing, it is not shocking to see politicians fail to recognize the dignity of every human life. What is shocking, is seeing some Catholics and other Christians celebrate this ruling and praising those involved with making the decision. We know that abortion is more than just a political issue. It is a heart issue and a moral issue, a deep stain on the fabric of our society.
Life is an irreplaceable and precious gift. And that gift starts in the womb, at conception. A failure to recognize the value and dignity of life from that moment is a failure to recognize the value and dignity of the lives of all of us.
Life is always a gift because it is from God and He only gives us what is good. From the moment of conception, a new and unique individual, with his or her own DNA comes into existence. And that is a beautiful and amazing thing. Whether or not the child is “wanted” by his or her parents never lessens the value of that child. The circumstances the child might be born into never lessen the value of that child. The abilities or lack of and medical conditions the child might have never lessen the value of the child. All of this is to say that abortion is never acceptable and justifiable in any circumstances or for any reasons. Our society has widely accepted the lie that abortion is okay, that it is needed, and that it’s a woman’s right to choose.
Abortion violently destroys human life. This clearly and unquestionably violates the command to not kill. And that is a simple reality that much of our culture has refused to accept, even some Christians. We must work to promote and support life, speaking out about the evils of abortion always.
We must also walk with women and families who need support. Pregnancy resource centers are doing amazing work, providing material, spiritual, and emotional support to pregnant women and their babies, before they’re born and after. Planned Parenthood and other abortion clinics do not support or care about women, families, or their babies. They care about the bottom line, taking advantage of and lying to women, and doing whatever it takes to profit from deception. Pregnancy resource centers are truly amazing places that God works through. We need to support them with our money, time, and prayers.
Abortion is a prevalent issue today, an attack on the most innocent and vulnerable. It can be really hard to go against the grain, to speak out when so many people are pro-abortion. We must speak the truth with love, and that means opposing abortion and supporting life, through our words and actions. Life is always a gift, and that gift starts in the womb. May this reality guide us to respect and stand up for the lives of the unborn always!
“Each of us is called to be a witness to the Gospel of Life, proclaiming in word and deed the innate goodness and dignity of every human person” (Thomas).
Thomas, Daniel E. 2025 Respect Life Month Statement. United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Oct. 2025, https://www.usccb.org/resources/2025-respect-life-month-statement.
Faith and The Good Stuff 