by Ron Kelsey
Special to The Leaven
The late Pope John Paul II asked for the church to “activate a great campaign in support of life. All together we must build a new culture of life.”
Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann’s annual Call to Share campaign provides the needed funds to the pro-life office to participate in this bold goal. Funds are used to conduct various activities in the archdiocese. For example, Father Tad Pacholczyk, director of education for National Catholic Bioethics Center in Philadelphia, has given three presentations on end-of-life issues in Topeka and Kansas City this year that over 650 people were able to attend. Topics covered included advance directives, moral principles, artificial nutrition and hydration and many others.
The pro-life office also hosts annual pro-life forums for eighth-graders. There, students learn about various life issues, including abortion. Over 2000 students, parents and teachers attended these forums in 2010.
Another important activity funded by ACTS is Project Rachel, the post-abortion healing ministry of the Catholic Church. Through Project Rachel, women and men can find forgiveness, hope and healing from their decision to participate in abortion. With over 50 million abortions since Roe v. Wade in 1973, there are many in need of this healing ministry.
Another very important activity of the pro-life office involves the good works of crisis pregnancy centers. These centers play a pivotal role in helping women and men choose life for their child rather than abortion. The lives of many babies have been saved through these efforts.
Wyandotte Pregnancy Clinic in Kansas City, Kan., an initiative of Archbishop Naumann, is one example of such a pregnancy center. Pregnancy centers must raise their own monies for their ministries. The pro-life office encourages Catholics, parishes and schools to help in this support with baby item drives, financial donations, volunteer efforts and other activities. Additionally, it should be noted that the Knights of Columbus are significant supporters of these centers.
The above are just a few of the activities of the pro-life office that are possible because of your support of ACTS. Thank you for supporting ACTS and for participating in building “a great campaign in support of life.”
