Hunman life's sanctity celebrated

By BILL GLEN
WCR Staff Writer
Edmonton

"We need to proclaim this from the rooftops if need be, that human life is sacred and worth preserving - honouring it at every chance we get," said John MacDonald, director of the Family Enrichment Centre.

"We don't do enough of that."

As one of 15 committee members who met for more than a year, MacDonald said discussions leading up to the proclamation were evidence that the time had come to celebrate the immeasurable value of life.

"This is definitely part of our Catholic faith that we believe in the sanctity and dignity of human life," MacDonald said.

"It's time for us to acknowledge who this human creature is and just how incredibly special our life is as a gift from God." - John MacDonald

"In today's world, contemporary society is challenging the living daylights out of that in many aspects. It's time for us to acknowledge who this human creature is and just how incredibly special our life is as a gift from God."

Abortions, euthanasia, embryo research, war - all are destructive influences on a changing society that has begun to accept a culture of death.

The intent of an annual Sanctity of Human Life Sunday, beginning this Oct. 5, is to turn this tide and raise awareness that life must be preserved.

"This is meant to be a celebration. This is the archbishop's approach here. This is not anti-abortion or anti-euthanasia, but a celebration about life and all that is beautiful in life," said MacDonald.

"We are not going to be anti-anything. We are just going to be pro-life in all of its beauty, splendour and all of its sacredness."

Certainly there are those who attempt to pick apart the human journey from one end or the other and diminish it to merely useful components, he says.

"I don't agree this is for the betterment of humanity," stated MacDonald. "Most of this is driven by the major pharmaceutical research facilities which are entirely interested in profit. This has to do with profit generation down the road. Yes, it has then to do with the future, but it's not about the future of the individual. It's about the future of the corporate well-being."

There was a fair bit of deliberation among the committee before the proclamation as they tried to find a period that was relatively special-celebrationfree.

"When we settled on the first week of October, we thought it was a beautiful month because it has to do with the rosary," said MacDonald. "It also coincides with International Life Chain."

Also included in the celebration is a Sanctity of Human Life logo contest throughout junior and senior-high schools. Currently only in Edmonton, MacDonald said it will eventually be broadened to other areas. Submissions will be accepted up to and including Nov. 30.

MacDonald said a number of other initiatives were considered for the celebration before deciding to provide all of the parishes with some prayer intentions for the event, a copy of the archbishop's proclamation letter, and the connecting point for the life chains that are available in some areas where they are going to happen.

"We encourage everyone to find a way to celebrate life themselves in their parish."

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