U.S. Bishops Reinforce that Life Matters in Pro-life Emphasis for 2011-2012

The U.S. bishops are arming the faithful offering the "Life Matters" theme addressing Abortion, Contraception, Death Penalty, Persons with Disabilities, Embryo Research, End-of-Life issues, Reproductive Technologies and Love and Marriage.

WASHINGTON, DC (Catholic Online) - While Respect for Life Sunday doesn't occur until October 2, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops unveiled the resources and materials they are making available to promote the Culture of Life.

This year's theme is from St. John's Gospel - "I came so that all might have life and have it to the full" (John 10:10).

They have produced eight pamphlets in the "Life Matters" theme, addressing Abortion, Contraception, Death Penalty, Persons with Disabilities, Embryo Research, End-of-Life issues, Reproductive Technologies and Love and Marriage.

Pamphlets are available for downloading at no cost, as are the same materials formatted as two-sided bulletin inserts. Printed versions of the pamphlets, posters, flyers and other materials are also available for sale.

This year's liturgy guide offers preaching resources and Intercessions for Life to be used for Respect for Life Sunday; Sunday, January 22 and a Day of Prayer and Penance for Life on January 23, 2012.

The guide also contains a rosary intercessions for husbands and wives based on the Nuptial Blessing in the Rite of Marriage, and a Holy Hour for Life based on Blessed Pope John Paul II's reflections on the elderly.

All materials are being made available in English and Spanish.

A new webpage - www.usccb.org/respectlife - not only offers all of this years resources but includes a link to resources going back to 1972. The page also offers links for ordering printed materials from USCCB Publishing.

Begun in 1972, the USCCB says that the Respect Life Program brings Church teaching on the value and dignity of human life to the Catholic community and the wider public. The program combines all four aspects of the bishops' Pastoral Plan for Pro-Life Activities: education, prayer, service and advocacy. It begins anew each year on Respect Life Sunday, the first Sunday in October, which is observed in virtually all of the 195 Catholic dioceses in the United States.

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Randy Sly is the Associate Editor of Catholic Online and the CEO/Associate Publisher for the Northern Virginia Local Edition of Catholic Online (http://virginia.catholic.org). He is a former Archbishop of the Charismatic Episcopal Church who laid aside that ministry to enter into the full communion of the Catholic Church.

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