Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception. From the first moment of existence, a human being must be recognized as having the rights of a person — among which is the inviolable right of every innocent being to life.”
— CCC #2270
Information
Created in the image and likeness of God from the very beginning of time, human life begins its journey on earth from conception till natural death. We are called to be proper stewards over the gift of life that has been given. This ethic of life is the thread that unites all efforts to uphold the dignity and quality of life at all stages of existence. Let us embrace this teaching with consistency as we continue our efforts in proclaiming the good news of life in our time and place.
The Respect Life mission is to promote respect for the dignity of each human person from conception until natural death. Our purpose is to educate St. Joseph parishioners on the full spectrum of life issues and to provide opportunities to advance a greater respect for life both locally and nationally.
Respect life issues include concerns such as:
- Abortion
- Assisted Suicide
- Capital Punishment
- Human Cloning
- Conscience Rights
- Contraception
- Disabilities
- Embryo / Fetal Research
- End of Life Issues / Euthanasia
- Health Care
- IVF / Reproductive Technology
- International Issues
- Stem Cell Research
- Unborn Victims of Violence Act
To understand more about Catholic teaching on these and other life issues, please visit the Diocese of Cleveland’s Office of Human Life or the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Pro-Life Committee.
Get Involved
What We Do
- Develop educational material on pro-life issues
- Conduct educational campaigns in the Church
- Circulate fact sheets and other information on critical issues
- Encourage and enable programs to meet the needs of pregnant women, children, persons with disabilities, those who are sick or dying, and all who have been involved in abortion
- Coordinate/advise on public policy efforts concerning these issues
- Assist St.Joseph Church to implement major pro-life programs
What You Can Do
- Sign up for a Holy Hour with the Blessed Sacrament
- Pray!
- Join our ministry
- Participate in one of our campaigns
- Write to elected officials to advocate on issues related to respecting the inherent dignity of all human life
Campaigns We Support
- Rosary for Life
- National Life Chain Strongsville
- 40 Days for Life
- Loose Change for Life
- Mother’s Day Collection
- Christmas Sharing Tree
Links and Resources
General Healthcare and Life Science and Issues Resources
- Cleveland Catholic Charities: Office for Human Life
- MentalHelp.net – Providing resources health and mental issues
- National Catholic Bioethics Center – Established in 1972, the Center conducts research, consultation, publishing and education to promote human dignity in health care and the life sciences, and derives its message directly from the teachings of the Catholic Church.
Pregnancy Resources
- Cleveland Catholic Charities – provides pregnancy support services and information
- Natural Family Planning
- Womankind Maternal and Prenatal Care Center–providing hope and care to thousands of women and families in emotional, financial and medical need in the Greater Cleveland area.
Post-Abortion Hope and Healing Resources
- Bethesda, The House of Mercy – A confidential, post-abortion healing ministry of The Community of Jesus, the Living Mercy
- Project Rachel – A post abortion ministry for women and men suffering from the trauma of abortion who are offered a context of faith and ritualization of God’s loving mercy and call to forgiveness. In the Catholic context, priests who are specially trained journey with the person through the healing process by way of an innovative development of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, linking together psychological counseling, reconciliation, and pastoral support in the process. Project Rachel is the Church’s way of saying to people suffering from the aftermath of an abortion, Welcome Home!”
- Rachel’s Vineyard – Weekend retreats & resources for women or men who have been impacted by abortion.
Poor Prenatal Diagnosis
- Be Not Afraid – Online outreach to parents who have received a poor or difficult prenatal diagnosis.
- Hospice of the Western Reserve Perinatal Hospice Program – Parents who have learned their unborn child may be born with a life-threatening or chronic condition can call our Perinatal Care Program for support at 216-916-5520.
Fertility, Infertility and Natural Family Planning:
- Couple to Couple League – Natural Family planning information and resources. Safe, healthy, effective…and it can change your hearts in surprising ways.
- Pope Paul VI Institute (Home of Fertility Care and NaPro Technology) – Founded in 1985 by Thomas W. Hilgers, MD, is internationally recognized for its outstanding achievements in the field of natural fertility regulation and reproductive medicine–30 years of scientific reserch and educational program development; allied health professional education programs for couples and professionals; professional, caring, and morally acceptable patient services.
Abortion Statistics
- 50% of U.S. women obtaining abortions are younger than 25. Women aged 20–24 obtain 33% of all abortions, and teenagers obtain 17%
- Black women are 4.8 times as likely as non-Hispanic white women to have an abortion, and Hispanic women are 2.7 times as likely.
- 37.1% of all abortions are performed on black women who make up only 14% of the total population of U.S. women of child-bearing age.
- In 2005, 1.21 million abortions were performed in the U.S.
- From 1973 through 2005, more than 45 million abortions occurred in the U.S.
- The abortion ratio, the proportion of pregnancies ending in abortion, was 22.4. In other words, 22% of all pregnancies in the U.S. (excluding miscarriages) ended in abortion in 2005.
- The abortion rate, the number of abortions per a given subgroup, was 19.4 per 1,000 U.S. women aged 15-44.
- Each year, about 2% of U.S. women aged 15–44 have an abortion; 47% of them have had at least one previous abortion.
- 54% of U.S. women who had an abortion in 2000-2001 had used a contraceptive method during the month they became pregnant.
In His name you are also called to pray for an end to abortion in the United States and throughout the world. Roe versus Wade is incompatible with human dignity. It must not stand. It cannot stand. It will not stand..”
— Cardinal Justin Rigali, homily at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, D.C., January 21, 2008
Contact Us
For more information, contact Dee Downey at 440.476.3831 or doloresmdowney@gmail.com