Message for Pro-Life Sunday 2007:

God sees the value of each one of us

By Archbishop Raymond Roussin, SM

Pro-Life Sunday was celebrated in the Archdiocese of Vancouver on Father's Day, June 17.

In his inaugural homily Pope Benedict XVI reminded us that "we are not some casual and meaningless product of evolution. Each of us is the result of a thought of God. Each of us is willed, each of us is loved, each of us is necessary."

Pro-Life Sunday echoes the Holy Father's message: we are all created in the image and likeness of God, Who has loved us and willed us into being for life in this world and with Him in eternity. God loves us all equally, including the unborn, the elderly, the sick, and the physically and mentally challenged. The world may see these children of God as unlovable, not necessary, or without dignity, but God sees the value of each and every one of us.

We all have the responsibility to help protect the life and dignity of each person: to aid women in crisis pregnancies, to care for those who are terminally ill, to help those who are disabled or sick. Today's collection supports organizations that help us do that by providing support for crisis pregnancy centres, Birthright, post-abortion counselling services, euthanasia prevention groups, and other organizations that uphold the dignity of human life.

I invite everyone in the archdiocese to be part of this most important work. Your prayerful and financial support can enable us to spread in our society the good news of God's care for every human life.