Two of my friends–both agnostics–express deep frustration when Christians claim morality cannot exist apart from religion, particularly, the Judeo-Christian ethic. Both see themselves as moral people, and I’m sure they do try to do the “right” thing. The devil, of course, is in the details of how one defines “right” and who gets to decide on that definition.

As our culture drifts further and further from its Judeo-Christian moorings, respect for human life recedes further from most people’s consciousness. Other values threaten to replace it. For example, a concern for the “quality” of life (but who gets to define that?!). Or a focus on the “hardships” life itself may impose (again, by whose definition?!). And, perhaps even economic considerations. (“How much should we spend on grandma in the last six months of her life?”)

Those who champion these competing values have loud voices and big pulpits. Their arguments sound reasonable, reasonable, that is, apart from a foundation in the truth and love our Lord describes for us in the Holy Scriptures.

That’s why I’m glad the US Council of Catholic Bishops established “Respect Life Sunday” in 1972 and ever since then have set aside October as “Respect Life Month.” I’m not a Roman Catholic, but I treasure the clear language and the courageous Pro-Life call the USCCB continues to extend.  

Surely, their call applies to the issue of abortion, but increasingly their pro-life stance applies to other key issues, too–the limitations placed on scientific research, for example, or end-of-life decision-making.

If you serve in a Catholic parish, I hope you call attention to Respect Life Sunday and celebrate it fully. But even if you’re not Catholic, I hope you consider October 4 an opportunity to re-establish in the minds of members one of Christianity’s absolute and unchangeable values–the value of human life.