Every Human Life is a Gift to the World

"Every human life is a gift to the world. Whether born or unborn, young or old, healthy or sick, every person is made in the holy image of God. The Almighty Creator gives unique talents, beautiful dreams, and a great purpose to every person. On National Sanctity of Human Life Day, we celebrate the wonder of human existence and renew our resolve to build a culture of life where every person of every age is protected, valued, and cherished."

~ President Donald J. Trump, Proclamation on National Sanctity of Human Life Day, 2021, January 18, 2021

The family, based on the marriage...

…the family, based on the marriage of a man and a woman, is not a simple social convention, but rather the fundamental cell of every society. Consequently, policies which undermine the family threaten human dignity and the future of humanity itself...More generally, and with particular reference to the West, I am convinced that legislative measures which not only permit but at times even promote abortion for reasons of convenience or for questionable medical motives compromise the education of young people and, as a result, the future of humanity."
~ Pope Benedict XVI, Address of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI to the Members of the Diplomatic Corps Accredited to the Holy See, January 9, 2012~

The attack on the innocent...

"The attack on the innocent and defenseless life of the unborn has its origin in an erroneous view of human sexuality, which attempts to eliminate, by mechanical or chemical means, the essentially procreative nature of the conjugal act. The error maintains that the artificially altered conjugal act retains its integrity. The claim is that the act remains unitive or loving, even though the procreative nature of the act has been radically violated. In fact, it is not unitive, for one or both of the partners withholds an essential part of the gift of self, which is the essence of the conjugal union. The so-called "contraceptive mentality" is essentially anti-life. Many forms of so-called contraception are, in fact, abortifacient, that is, they destroy, at its beginning, a life which has already been conceived."

~ Cardinal Raymond Burke, Advancing the Culture of Life in Hope and With Obedience, October 29, 2011~

Nothing we do...

"Nothing we do to defend the human person, no matter how small, is ever unfruitful or forgotten. Our actions touch other lives and move other hearts in ways we can never fully understand in this world. Don’t ever underestimate the beauty and power of the witness you give in your pro-life work."

~ Archbishop Charles Chaput, Politics and the Devil: Living in a World of Unbelief, South Bend, Ind., April 8, 2011 ~

Given the breakdown in family life...

"Given the breakdown in family life, the wholesale attack on innocent and defenseless human lives, and the violation of the integrity of the union of marriage in our society, the call to the martyrdom of witness is ever more urgent."

~ Cardinal Burke, The Fall of the Christian West, March 11, 2011~

Society as a whole...

"...society as a whole must defend the conceived child's right to life and the true good of the woman who can never, in any circumstances, find fulfilment in the decision to abort."

~ Pope Benedict XVI, Holy Father receives the Pontifical Academy for Life, February 26, 2011 ~

But despite their differences...

"But despite their differences of nature and moral gravity, contraception and abortion are often closely connected, as fruits of the same tree. It is true that in many cases contraception and even abortion are practised under the pressure of real- life difficulties, which nonetheless can never exonerate from striving to observe God's law fully. Still, in very many other instances such practices are rooted in a hedonistic mentality unwilling to accept responsibility in matters of sexuality, and they imply a self-centered concept of freedom, which regards procreation as an obstacle to personal fulfilment. The life which could result from a sexual encounter thus becomes an enemy to be avoided at all costs, and abortion becomes the only possible decisive response to failed contraception."
~ Pope John Paul II, Evangelium Vitae, no. 13, March 25, 1995~

The sophistry is overwhelming...

"The sophistry is overwhelming: If I choose and desire my child, then ipso facto I have granted it the right to live, and it will live. But the inverse is equally the case, by means of nothing more or less than my choice: Caesar's thumb is up, or Caesar's thumb is down."

~ Lord Nicholas Windsor, Caesar's Thumb,  First Things, December 1, 2010 ~

The only differences...

"The only differences between the Herod of old and the Herods of today are in the weapons used and the number of victims. Herod used swords and spears to kill the Holy Innocents. Today's Herods use abortion, "The Pill" and other chemical weapons. And whereas Herod killed a relatively small number of babies, today's Herods have butchered literally hundreds of millions ... with no end in sight!"

~ Msgr. Ignacio Barreiro-Carámbula, HLI Interim President,  Spirit & Life Newsletter, December 8, 2010 ~

Unfortunately, next to positive...

"Unfortunately, next to positive and encouraging results, there are opinions and lines of thought that wound it: I am referring to questions such as those connected with so-called "reproductive health," with recourse to artificial techniques of procreation entailing the destruction of embryos, or with legalized euthanasia. Love of justice, the protection of life from conception to its natural end, respect for the dignity of every human being, are to be upheld and witnessed, even against the current: the fundamental ethical values are the common patrimony of universal morality and the basis of democratic coexistence."

~ Pope Benedict XVI, Letter to 25th International Conference of the Pontifical Council for Health Care Ministry, November 18, 2010 ~

There is no element...

"...there is no element of the common good, no morally good practice, which a candidate may promote and to which a voter may be dedicated, which could justify voting for a candidate who also endorses and supports the deliberate killing of the unborn, euthanasia or the recognition of a same-sex relationship as a legal marriage. The respect for the inviolable dignity of innocent human life and for the integrity of marriage and the family are so fundamental to the common good that they cannot be subordinated to any other cause, no matter how good it may be."

~ Archbishop Raymond Burke, The Teachings of the Catholic Church, National Catholic Prayer Breakfast, May 8, 2009 ~

The undeniable fact...

"The undeniable fact is that those who defend the destruction of innocent human life in the form of abortion and euthanasia cannot confront the moral issues, nor can they confront the history that proves beyond a doubt the similarity between their reasoning and that of the most heinous murderers of history."

~ Msgr. Ignacio Barreiro-Carámbula, HLI Interim President, Human Life International e-Column, September 24, 2010 ~

To be Catholic...

"To be Catholic means to be pro-life."

~ Bishop J. Peter Sartain, March for Life, Washington, D.C., January 22, 2010 ~

Let me tell you...

"Let me tell you why I believe abortion is the crucial issue of our age. First, because abortion, too, is about living within the truth. The right to life is the foundation of every other human right. If that right is not inviolate, then no right can be guaranteed. Or to put it more bluntly: Homicide is homicide, no matter how small the victim."

~ Most Reverend Charles Chaput, Archbishop of Denver, CO, Living within the truth: Religious liberty and Catholic mission in the new order of the world, August 24, 2010 ~

What society...

"What society would continue if it declared that it is the right of citizens to kill innocent persons by majority [vote]? In the best scenario it would be converted into a tyranny, against which upright persons would have to react, according to this advice by Gandhi: 'As soon as one understands that obeying unjust laws is contrary to his dignity as a man, no tyranny can dominate him.'"

~ Most Reverend Francisco Gil Hellin, Archbishop of Burgos, Spain, July 11, 2010 ~

When we consider...

"When we consider that women are treated as property, it is degrading to women that we should treat our children as property to be disposed of as we see fit."

~ Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Women's Rights Movement Organizer, October 16, 1887 ~

The extermination of...

"The extermination of millions of unborn children, in the name of the fight against poverty, actually constitutes the destruction of the poorest of all human beings."

~ Pope Benedict XVI, Message for the World Day of Peace, 12/11/08 ~

As bad as the economy is...

"As bad as the economy is, as bad as the war is, the destruction of innocent human life, especially in the womb, is a greater evil, and correction of this grave evil must take place. Each of us has a role in making this correction in our duties as citizens."

~ Bishop Samuel J. Aquila, Has America Lost Its Way?, October 24, 2008 ~

That every national...

"That every national and trans-national institution may strive to guarantee respect for human life from conception to natural death."

~ Pope Benedict XVI, General Prayer Intention for June 2010 ~

We always must remember...

"We always must remember that when a difficult medical situation involves a pregnant woman, there are two patients in need of treatment and care; not merely one. The unborn child’s life is just as sacred as the mother’s life, and neither life can be preferred over the other. A woman is rightly called ‘mother’ upon the moment of conception and throughout her entire pregnancy is considered to be 'with child.'"

~ Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted, Statement of the Diocese of Phoenix Re: Situation at St. Joseph’s Hospital, May 14, 2010 ~