A Historic Opportunity … To Witness on Behalf of Life

You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden.

Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father. 

Mt 5:13–16

BISHOP KEVIN J. SWEENEY

“Historic,” I like the word, but I also believe that it can be a very challenging word. I was happy to see it used in the headline of an article on the front page of last week’s Beacon. You may recall the headline: Faithful to raise voices for Respect Life at historic N.J. March for Life on Sept. 26. The article, written by Michael Wojcik, described an upcoming Mass, Rally, and March for Life in Trenton, stating: “For the first time, all five Roman Catholic dioceses in the Garden State and the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Passaic will come together for a March for Life — an event that will include a Mass for Life and a rally.”

For those who will travel on their own, no registration is required. For those who would like to travel on one of the buses from our Diocese, we will keep registration open as long as there are seats available on the buses. Register and for more information or you can email Father Michael Rodak at: [email protected]

One of the reasons I find the word “historic” (or history) challenging is due to the way I once heard Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. describe the “judgment of History.” He said:

“… History will have to record that the greatest tragedy of this period of social transition was not the vitriolic words and violent acts of the bad people, but the appalling silence and indifference of the good people. Our generation will have to repent not only for the words and actions of the children of darkness, but also for the fears and apathy of the children of light.”

Dr. King spoke those words as part of the struggle for civil rights, at a tragic historical juncture when people of color were routinely victims of racism and prejudice that, at times, was sanctioned by State and Federal Law. I ask myself, “How we will be judged?” by our Merciful God and by History when we consider legalized abortion and what seems to be more and more a “Culture of Death” in our country, especially during the past 50-plus years?

I have shared before and I trust that readers are aware that the March (and Rally and Masses) for Life have been taking place every year in Washington, D.C. since Jan. 22, 1974, the first anniversary of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion throughout our nation. The June 24, 2022 the “Dobbs” Supreme Court decision returned the legalization of or restrictions on abortion to the States. The sad reality is that, at the level of the legislature and our elected leaders, our beloved State of New Jersey is a very “pro-abortion” State. While we should never underestimate the power of prayer and the possibility that miracles can happen, it is unlikely that one March and Rally will “all of a sudden” change the hearts of voters and leaders of our State, both of whom help to chart the course of public policy. At the same time, we need to “start somewhere” and the Mass, Rally, and March in Trenton on Thursday, Sept. 26 gives us that opportunity. I am cautiously optimistic that many people of faith and goodwill and other fair-minded people will hear and answer the call to witness on behalf of Life, on behalf of the dignity and value of each and every human person from the moment of conception to the moment of natural death.

The words of Dr. King that I quoted above are from a speech of his that is shown in the 1989 Movie Driving Miss Daisy. Before Dr. King speaks of the “judgment of History,” he speaks of his optimism and Hope that “people of goodwill” will “gird their courage (and) speak out.” He says:

“… There are millions of people of goodwill whose voices are yet unheard, whose course is yet unclear, and whose courageous actions are yet unseen. These millions are called upon to gird their courage, to speak out, and to offer leadership that is needed.”

I am optimistic and Hopeful as well. Thursday, Sept. 26 is a “work day” for many and I know that there will be many people of faith and goodwill who would like to be able to be at the Mass, Rally, and March, but will be unable to get there. I ask them to be united with us in prayer and penance. For those who may be able to attend, I respectfully ask you to please consider this historic opportunity. I am very happy that our Catholic high schools will be encouraging and allowing students and faculty members to attend the Rally and March, after an early morning Mass at school. I am grateful to our Superintendent of Schools Mary Baier, and our high school presidents and principals for their support and participation.

I am also very grateful to Mrs. Eni Honsburger, director of our Diocesan Office of Family Life and acting director of our Diocesan Respect Life Office for her leadership. Along with Father Michael Rodak, diocesan director of Pilgrimages, and many other diocesan and parish leaders, we have been working hard as a team to encourage as many members of the diocese as possible to join us for the Mass, Rally, and March.

I began this column with the words of Jesus, from the fifth chapter of Matthew’s Gospel. At the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount, following the “Beatitudes,” He calls us (each of us) to be the “Salt of the Earth” and the “Light of the World.” There are many (ordinary) ways for us to be that “Salt and Light” in our day-to-day lives, but we each have to examine our consciences and consider our responsibilities to “speak out,” with Love, in a public way. There are moments and opportunities, in the course of history, when we each have to ask ourselves, where do we “stand”? The Mass, Rally, and March for Life in Trenton on Sept. 26 is truly a historic opportunity for us to witness on behalf of Life here, in our beloved State. I hope and pray that you will join us — and invite others to join us as well.