Richard A. Sokerka
The message was to the point. “Protect life.”
Those two words from Pope Francis to members of the International Catholic Legislators Network with whom he met last week were applauded moments after the group had presented the Holy Father with a document outlining their commitment to promoting life in their respective nations.
Some might say that the Pope was simply preaching to the choir. But to many legislators in today’s throw-away culture, the words, “protect life” cannot be repeated often enough. How many elected Catholic officials choose to check their faith at the door when it comes to life issues? Sadly, far too many.
That’s why Pope Francis urged Catholic legislators to be protectors of human life, challenging them to “be strong” against a throw-away culture which tosses aside with no regard the unborn in the womb, those with disabilities, migrants forced to flee their homelands and those being persecuted because of their faith.
The only way these issues of protecting human life will be addressed with Gospel values is for members of the International Catholic Legislators Network to go back to their nations and let the pope’s words resonate in their hearts, so that they may be bold in addressing them and be a voice for the voiceless.
May the courage of these legislators to live out their faith in their work bring other legislators to see the error of their ways and turn toward seeing all life as being a precious gift from God.