‘Rejoice in hope’ but ‘remain vigilant,’ archbishop says at Respect Life Mass

Daniel Hernandez, Jr., left, his brother David, their sister Sara Cabrera, far right, and her friend Olivia Murrey, all members of St. Thomas More Parish in Mooresville, proclaim their support for life outside SS. Peter and Paul Cathedral in Indianapolis during the Life Chain event following the Respect Life Sunday Mass at the cathedral on Oct. 2. (Photo by Natalie Hoefer)

By Natalie Hoefer

Only twice in the history of Respect Life Sunday—the first Sunday in October—has it been observed without the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion serving as the law of the land.

The first instance was in 1972, when Respect Life Sunday was initiated by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

The second was on Oct. 2.

In his homily that day during the archdiocesan Respect Life Sunday Mass at SS. Peter and Paul Cathedral in Indianapolis, Archbishop Charles C. Thompson noted the overturning of Roe v. Wade this summer by the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization case.

“Just as did the 1973 [Roe v. Wade] decision, so has the 2022 [Dobb’s v. Jackson] decision sparked celebration as well as outrage,” he said. “It seems the only thing all sides are able to agree on is that the polarization of society has only increased since 1973, until this present day.

“The events of recent months remind us of the need to remain vigilant in prayer, advocacy and defense of life [and] the family,” he added, as a current lawsuit in Indiana lead to a temporary injunction on Senate Bill 1 (S.B. 1) on

Sept. 22, thus again allowing abortions up to 22 weeks gestation to take place in the state until a decision on the lawsuit is reached. Per S.B. 1, all abortion except in cases of rape, incest and specific medical emergencies were banned as of Sept. 15.

Archbishop Thompson quoted from Pope Francis’ 2020 encyclical, “Fratelli Tutti: on Fraternity and Social Friendship.”

“Goodness, together with love, justice and solidarity, are not achieved once and for all,” the archbishop read from the document. “They have to be realized each day. It is not possible to settle for what one has achieved in the past and complacently rejoice as if you could somehow resist the fact that many of our brothers and sisters still endure situations that cry out for our attention.”

He expounded on the quote, stating, “In contrast to a throw-away mentality, we must embrace the inter-relatedness of our relationship with God, with others, self and all creation.

“In doing so, we must realize that our integrity in defending the unborn is closely related to our defense of the poor, the elderly, the sick, the lonely, the dying, the immigrant and refugee, the incarcerated, marriage and family and the environment, all persons regardless of race, gender and economics. … Each and every person created in the image of God possesses innate dignity and sanctity.”

Archbishop Thompson reminded those present that the Eucharist is the source and summit of the faith where the body, blood, soul and divinity of Jesus Christ become present.

“Now at this Eucharist,” he said, “we bring to this celebration all that matters, every life from the moment of conception to natural death. We bring to the Lord not just those we love and with whom we get along, but all humanity, including those who disagree with us and even those who wish us harm. Sacramental grace has the power to transform, to heal, to reconcile.”

While there is reason to celebrate in the recent overturning of Roe v. Wade, the archbishop said, “We have just as much reason to remain vigilant.

“That we may be effective witnesses to respecting life, let us take nothing of God’s grace for granted. In both celebration and vigilance—keeping before us the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ—we indeed have reason to rejoice, and to rejoice in hope.”
 

(See related articles about Dr. Michael Padilla, who received the Archbishop Edward T. O’Meara Respect Life Award, and Eric Dessauer, who received the Our Lady of Guadalupe Pro-Life Youth Award.) †