“Together Strong-Life Unites” is the theme for the 48th annual March for Life next week in Washington, D.C, a memorial to the 60 million American unborn lives lost to abortion since its legalization in 1973. 

We might not all be able to travel this year to add our witness, but together we can stand strong in our individual conviction that every human life is a gift of God, endowed with certain inalienable rights, the first among these being the right to life. “Every threat to human dignity and life must necessarily be felt in the Church’s very heart … and engage her in her mission of proclaiming the Gospel of Life in all the world and to every creature” (Evangelium Vitae, No. 3). 

You and I are the Church, called to proclaim the Gospel of Life, advocating for the unborn with courage, consistency, conviction and a new commitment for our time in history. The resources in this article will help individuals recommit today to advocate for the dignity of life. In this, we are commissioned to cultivate a culture of life in our homes, our workplaces, our communities, our parishes, among our friends, and most of all in our individual lives and hearts. 

“Among the vulnerable for whom the Church wishes to care with particular love and concern are unborn children, the most defenseless and innocent among us, writes Pope Francis in Evangelii Gaudium. “Precisely because this involves the internal consistency of our message about the value of the human person, the Church cannot be expected to change her position on this question … It is not ‘progressive’ to try to resolve problems by eliminating a human life.”

Are you familiar enough with Church teachings on abortion to examine what you believe and explain it with conviction? Helen Alvaré, professor of law at Antonin Scalia Law School, George Mason University, offers a comprehensive concise review of what the Church teaches on abortion. Alvaré clarifies misconceptions about the position of the Church and answers commonly asked questions. She concludes, “A Catholic pro-life stance is never a mere ‘no.’ It is never merely ‘anti-abortion.’ It is always a way of life, a way of freedom. A life lived in awe of God’s creative power. And a life of responding to this great gift with respect and love.”

New research sponsored by Notre Dame’s McGrath Institute for Church Life, “How Americans Understand Abortion,” finds that ordinary Americans do not actually tend to talk much about abortion. Most of those interviewed had never been asked their opinion on the topic, nor listened to, in any in-depth way. All appreciated the opportunity to do so in a meaningful way even with a moral component.

“Abortion will never be considered unthinkable unless we actively speak out against it,” shares Kate Feldspausch, creative director of Protect Life Michigan, dedicated to forming pro-life leaders and a culture of life on college campuses in Michigan. “Respectful conversations about abortion have a way of changing hearts, so I encourage you, educate yourself on abortion, startup conversations on the topic, or make a pro-life post. It may be the difference between life or death.”

Learning from pro-life apologetics experts who deliver a compelling message that clarifies and destroys lies of a pro-abortion mentality can make us better advocates for life. Living Pro Life offers a free online conference Jan. 22-29 responding to objections pro-life advocates encounter, providing pastoral formation for all those who want to take a stand for life. “Now more than ever,” says Fr. Leo Patalinghug, who is involved in the project, “the respect for the dignity of human life is threatened. We have a responsibility to educate ourselves in protecting the greatest gift God has given to us — life at all stages!” 

“We must resist the temptation to look away from life issues, abortion, infanticide, euthanasia and assisted suicide, because they are unpleasant and disturbing; these are happening and they affect all of us, in one way or another,” encourages Patti Rose of Right to Life. We must understand the issues and the role that legislation and education play. Talk about these issues with your children and help them form moral, educated opinions. 

Sign up for the Michigan Catholic Conference’s Catholic Advocacy Network (CAN) to receive weekly emails regarding legislative activity, with opportunities to directly contact lawmakers at critical junctures in the legislative process. 

“It is important to be educated on the topic of abortion and on related topics, such as the dangers of embryonic stem cell research, assisted reproductive technologies, in vitro fertilization (IVF) and surrogacy,” says Rebecca J. Mastee, policy advocate at Michigan Catholic Conference. “Once educated, sharing the information is so important, via individual conversations or social media often provided by MCC.”

Embrace being pro-life as a consistently lived life, not as an issue or a movement to join. 

“Too often abortion is treated as just an issue, maybe just a political issue. The unborn, maybe largely because they remain essentially invisible to us, do not seem real. The injustice of abortion remains abstract. We need to become truly aware of their plight,” says Monica Migliorino Miller, director of Citizens for a Pro Life Society. “The unborn are a victim class, exterminated at the rate of 2,500 per day. What we can do is be at the places where they are killed, sometimes right in our own neighborhood or not so far from where we live. Pray, hold a sign or even try and reach out to the mothers. Indeed, babies are saved from such pro-life witness. But no matter what, by just being there, all the babies were loved.” 

We also love men and women suffering from their abortion decisions through our Project Rachel abortion healing ministry.

“Many Catholics struggle with the horror of abortion and how to respond to it.   Perhaps a good way to get involved in our pro-life work is to take the advice of St. Mother Teresa and ‘do small things with great love,’” offers Joe Connors from Southern Downriver Right to Life. “How about doing something as simple as praying for expectant mothers and their unborn children? Or donating diapers and baby food to the local crisis pregnancy center? We can all do something with great love.” 

Find a local pregnancy resource center and give them a call to become directly involved, volunteering your time or resources. This helps the center aid women in crisis pregnancies and raises individual awareness of the many and varied needs that exist for these women, which then can be shared with parishes and the wider community, with calls for assistance to help meet these needs. In order to better make resources known, the Archdiocese of Detroit is launching Walking With Moms in Need, an initiative sponsored by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, in parishes this month. Contact the pro-life office at [email protected] to learn how you can accompany vulnerable mothers and children or for further pro-life resources.

Ultimately, we will find courage through our prayer; courage to not look away from difficult issues, courage to examine our consciences for where we have failed and courage to take a stand, advocating for life through our words and actions. Many opportunities and resources exist to encourage prayer. You can participate in the Archdiocese of Detroit’s livestreamed Mass for the Unborn on Jan. 23 and the Rosary to End Abortion, along with the U.S. bishops’ 9 Days for Life Novena from Jan. 21-29. You are also invited to pray together for the unborn at your local spring 40 Days for Life campaign, which begins Feb. 17. 

This is our time to proclaim the Gospel of life with our lives. With great love, we can change hearts, beginning with our own, and in turn to change the world, to receive each life with dignity and love.

Kathleen Wilson is the Pro-Life and Project Rachel coordinator with the Archdiocese of Detroit’s Department of Evangelization and Missionary Discipleship. Visit www.aod.org/pro-life for more information.