The Diocesan Gospel of Life Committee will serve as a resource, advise,
communicate and encourage the implementation of the National Catholic
Bishops’ pastoral plan for promoting and teaching the Gospel of
Life.
Objectives
A.
Initiate and sustain all other efforts on behalf of life through
prayer, fasting and reflection on the Gospel of Life.
B.
Inform and educate our own parishes, as well as the general
public, to deepen understanding of the humanity of the unborn, the
sanctity of life, the moral evil of abortion, and the consistent efforts
of the church to witness on behalf of all human life.
C.
Support a pastoral effort addressed to the special needs of women
with problems related to pregnancy, of men and women struggling to
accept responsibility for their power to generate human life and of all
persons who have taken part in an abortion.
D.
Encourage and serve as a resource for a public policy effort
directed at promoting the Gospel of Life in all its social and political
aspects.
Minutes from Recent
Meeting
Diocesan
Gospel of Life Committee
Minutes
March 27,
2008
Present were: Kathleen DunLany, Cammie Frey, Joan
Frey, Rev. Richard Meredith, Richard Murphy, Tom Parrott and Suzanne Wurth.
Meeting opened with a prayer.
Minutes of January, 2008 meeting were approved.
Discussion of Old Business followed:
GARDEN OF HOPE MEMORIAL
R. Murphy reported that 300 appeal letters had been
mailed. Articles in both the Western Kentucky Catholic and the
Messenger-Inquirer were published. Monetary donations are approaching the
$19,000 mark and there have been offers of the donation of labor and
concrete for the area around the sculpture. The next step is for some
committee members to return to the Knights of Columbus and inform them of
the progress. Jim Mathieu is planning to design and construct an archway
to lead into the Memorial Garden.
BILLBOARDS FOR LIFE
The billboards are inherently blessed in their
message and purpose. Owensboro Catholic High students donated to BFL.
SPIRITUAL ADOPTION PROGRAM
Blessed Mother, St. William and St. Pius are some of
the parishes presently participating in the program.
CATHOLICS AT THE CAPITOL
SB40 failed to be enacted. Some of those in
attendance said that Stein and the Democratic House leadership effectively
killed the passage. Politics played with the bill and restacked the
committee. Suggestions were given that Catholics should make plans to
touch base with the legislators here in our home district before they
leave for Frankfort.
Discussion of New Business followed:
ISSUSES OF COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Tom Parrott is attending the Life Banquet in
Louisville on March 28 where Phil Klein, the Kansas Attorney General, will
be speaking. Klein has filed 107 charges against Planned Parenthood.
Parrott also suggested we consider promoting the National Night of Prayer
for the Sanctity of Life to be observed on December 8. The Mathieus have
encouraged participation also.
Father Meredith spoke on the beauty of Pope John Paul
II’s Theology of the Body, which presents a consistent teaching about
chastity, family and virtue. Christopher West, who has written
extensively on TOB, will be in Owensboro on September 19-20, 2008 to share
his ideas in a presentation titled “Created and Redeemed”. He will speak
to the priests of the diocese on Friday and then to the public on Friday
night and Saturday.
The Abstinence Committee meets on April 24. It is
considering recommending the use of a TOB program for high school
students. The program, consisting of 12 sessions, uses both text and
video for students, teachers and parents.
Kathy DunLany participated in the 40 Days for Life
program held at the Carmel Home.
In his Staff Report, R. Murphy gave out copies of
“Reverence for Life: Conscience and Faithful Citizenship” by the
Catholic Conference of Kentucky. Murphy also shared a graphic, printed by
the Education for Justice organization, which illustrated the consistent
ethic of life position articulated by Cardinal Joseph Bernardin in 1983.
He also stated that Kentucky bishops had made the news in an article about
the 35th anniversary of Roe v. Wade. Ed Hoskins of Owensboro
Right to Life organization is urging prayer and action for life. Murphy
mentioned a homily by Archbishop Rigali printed in LIFE Insight speaking
on the negative consequences of abortion. Murphy is preparing a power
point presentation on the Challenge of Forming Consciences for Faithful
Citizenship.
Meeting closed with a prayer and blessing by Father
Meredith.
Next Meeting Date: May 22, 2008 at CPC.
Return
to Social Concerns Homepage