Respect Life
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Life, Love, and Limits: Catholic Answers to Infertility and IVF Event
~written by Pat Benham, Respect Life Committee Chair
Our recent speaker, Leah Sargeant, offered a thought-provoking talk on thee ethical and moral questions surrounding in vitro fertilization (IVF). Drawing from her own personal experiences with infertility and miscarriage, Leah provided both compassion and clarity in addressing this sensitive topic.
The discussion explored deep ethical questions such as:- Is it ethical to create human life through science rather than through the marital act?
- Do we have a right to demand a child, or is each child a gift from God?
- What happens to the embryos created through IVF — are they kept frozen indefinitely, discarded, or donated for research?
- How do courts view embryos: as property or as human beings?
- Is embryo adoption a moral solution for saving frozen embryos?
- How can we reconcile the eugenic implications of selecting and grading embryos
in IVF? - What alternatives to IVF, such as NaProTechnology, exist for couples struggling
with infertility?
If you missed this presentation, the full recording is available on the website HERE.
Articles and Books on IVF, Embryo Adoption, Embryo Burial, Alternatives to IVF -
We are a people of life, and a people for life.
Our mission is to promote and nourish respect for life in our parish community. We believe
that every human life is uniquely created in the image and likeness of God and that each person deserves that respect from the time life begins at fertilization to natural death. We also believe that during this life we have responsibilities toward God, self, and society to protect and nurture human life at every stage of its existence.
While recognizing the wide spectrum of human rights that comprises respect for life, we hold the right to life as fundamental. We believe it is the basis and source of all other human rights. Our primary goal is to deepen the understanding of the sanctity of life at its very beginning and its natural ending.Walking with Moms in Need
Walking with Moms in Need is a program for parishes to help women in need with prayer and action. One significant way our parish can help is to keep our crib in the rear of the church full of items (ex. diapers, formula, baby clothing up to 2 years). These items are donated to Birthright in St. Paul.
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Our Respect Life Sundays have focused on topics such as:
- Fathers and Abortion
- Post-Abortion Healing
- Abortion and Church teaching
- Surrogacy and Reproductive Technology
- Human Trafficking
- Abria and Guiding Star Pregnancy Resources for Mothers
- Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Suicide
- Adoption
- Euthanasia and Church teaching
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- Submitting pro-life intercessory prayers for Mass
- Introducing Spiritual Adoption Program to parish and school and faith formation
- Sponsoring Adoration on Monday afternoons
- Providing the beautiful Choose Life stained glass artwork that is displayed over the Respect Life crib where items are collected for Birthright. Our stained glass combines traditional elements with a contemporary appeal to the universal message of Deuteronomy 30:19. We hope that as parishioners pass through the church, the image provides a reminder to pray for those facing a crisis pregnancy.
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- Submitting pro-life intercessory prayers for masses
- Introducing Spiritual Adoption Program to parish and school and faith formation
- Sponsoring Adoration on Monday afternoons
- Providing the beautiful Choose Life stained glass artwork that is displayed over the Respect Life crib where items are collected for Birthright. Our stained glass combines traditional elements with a contemporary appeal to the universal message of Deuteronomy 30:19. We hope that as parishioners pass through the church, the image provides a reminder to pray for those facing a crisis pregnancy.
Our St. Odilia Respect for Life committee is a very active and committed group of parishioners who participate in various ways. Some members regularly attend monthly meetings and plan the parish activities, some stay involved via our email and bulletin communications, others support our activities by participating in 40 Days for Life, the March for Life, serving coffee and donuts on Respect Life Sundays, attending adoration on Monday afternoons, donating/ delivering baby items for Birthright collected in our crib at the rear of the church, or by supporting life-affirming activities like Baby Bottle fundraiser or Spiritual Adoption.
If you would like to join us, our meetings are held on the first Tuesday of the month at the parish. Check the bulletin for time and location. If you are interested in receiving our email notifications and minutes, send an email to Pat Benham at [email protected] with Join Respect Life List in the subject line.We have brought speakers to present information on:
- Students for Life
- Sex Trafficking 101: Hard Facts and Faith Response
- Archdiocese legislative issues
- Abria Pregnancy Resources for Women
- Silent No More
- Bella organization promoting adoption and foster care
- The REEL Hope Project (adoption of children in foster care
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