January 14, 2026 Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ: This freedom of choice sounds so attractive. However, it is not absolute. We have allowed the concepts of independence and freedom to become so bloated that nothing can stand in their way. “I have a right to be unburdened with the care of a child.” “I can do what I want with my own body or that of a loved one. Period!” “Grandpa is old anyway and he’ll never get better. I would feel better if we just helped him to end his life.” No human law, no decision of a court, no State legislature can go contrary to God’s law, no matter what the polls tell us. The unborn, the poor, the elderly, those who suffer disabilities, the immigrant, the refugee, the dying, the prisoner everywhere and always is to be treated as a child of God. Ours is to be a Culture of and for Life, not the dark Culture of Death. The light of the Gospel that our Church for life seeks to spread sometimes seems pretty dim amidst the overwhelming darkness of such violence all around us today. It’s good to remember ours is the work of God. Every time we become discouraged, let us go to Mary and heed her words to those standing around with empty wine jars at Cana: “Do whatever He tells you.” Jesus will meet our every need. The Diocese of Ogdensburg is blessed to have so many individuals and groups who help to build a Culture of Life. We are certainly grateful to Colleen and John Miner for leading our diocesan Pro-Life efforts. Some of those efforts include those parishioners who participate in the Gabriel Project and provide needed assistance to mothers who are experiencing a crisis pregnancy. In my pastoral visits during the Jubilee of Hope, I saw parishioners visiting the homebound, those in nursing homes and our hospitals. Our chaplains in correctional facilities remind the incarcerated that they are not forgotten but are loved by God. Our Catholic Charities has been there for our neighbors providing them with direct care and advocacy to which they are entitled as precious children of God. All our parishes, through pastoral outreach and the support of prayer, uphold the dignity of the human faces that are encountered. God bless you for your prayers and support for the most vulnerable among us. Thank you for your response to this year’s Respect Life Collection. The many grants from this collection help build a Culture of Life by transforming hearts and minds here in our beloved North Country. Gratefully yours in Christ, |
|||||
|
|||||||||
