Celebrating the Oct. 7 archdiocesan Respect Life Mass at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Homeland, Bishop William C. Newman, retired eastern vicar, said all Catholics are called to “sow small seeds of simple words and simple deeds promoting the dignity of life.”
“When it comes to our culture and respect for life, we are not asked by God to do the whole job of redeeming or transforming other people – that is God’s work,” Bishop Newman said. “We are simply to sow seeds about the truth of the dignity of human life trusting that God will do the transformation of all toward respect for life.”
Catholics can commit to prayer, volunteer at pregnancy centers, speak out on prolife legislation and support programs for women who have had abortions, Bishop Newman said.
“All of these simple words and deeds make a positive difference in other peoples’ thoughts, attitudes and behavior toward the dignity of human life,” he said.
Bishop Newman said the archdiocese has been blessed with strong prolife leadership from Cardinal William H. Keeler, leadership that he believes will continue under Archbishop Edwin F. O’Brien.
During the liturgy, Bishop Newman awarded the archdiocesan Culture of Life Medal of Honor to Sheila Wharam, a parishioner of St. Joseph in Cockeysville who has been active educating people about abortion, euthanasia and other prolife issues.