The Life-giving Work of Catholic Charities

October 6, 2024, is Respect Life Sunday. The Catholic Church teaches that all human life must be respected and protected from the moment of conception to natural death. Furthermore, every human being has inherent dignity due to the reality of being created in the image and likeness of God.

Typically, when someone hears the phrase “pro-life,” they most likely think of abortion. To be sure, abortion is of grave importance. As the United States bishops have said in the new “Introductory Note” to Forming Our Consciences for Faithful Citizenship:

“The threat of abortion remains our pre-eminent priority because it directly attacks our most vulnerable and voiceless brothers and sisters and destroys more than a million lives per year in our country alone.”

It continues, however:

“Other grave threats to the life and dignity of the human person include euthanasia, gun violence, terrorism, the death penalty, and human trafficking. There is also the redefinition of marriage and gender, threats to religious freedom at home and abroad, lack of justice for the poor, the suffering of migrants and refugees, wars and famines around the world, racism, the need for greater access to healthcare and education, care for our common home, and more. All threaten the dignity of the human person.”

At Catholic Charities, we strive to respect the life and dignity of every person that walks through our doors. We provide financial health services so individuals can be equipped to live at an economic level that reflects their dignity as human beings made in God’s image. We strive to find housing and employment for refugees. We work with families seeking to adopt children. We provide mental health services to promote healing and hope on this journey of life. And we work with immigrants to ensure that they have the legal paperwork necessary to live and work in this country and enjoy its benefits like anyone else.

Some of our new initiatives include: working with parishes to promote jail ministry in an effort to support the spiritual and pastoral needs of those who are incarcerated; rural life outreach to folks in communities that do not have the same access to certain services as those in larger cities; and finally, we will be sponsoring an Access Awareness Mass for Persons with Disabilities on October 27, 2024, at Most Blessed Sacrament Parish (St. Mary’s site) in Oshkosh. Click here for more information!

At Catholic Charities, we are putting our faith into action, and you can be a part of this life-giving work by volunteering, donating, and most of all: praying.

Lucas Holt is the Human Dignity & Life Advocate for Catholic Charities.