A Preview of the Catholic Bishops' Respect Life Program: "Created, Loved, Redeemed by God. Priceless!".

Respect Life Sunday, October 1, 2006, marks the start of the 35th annual Respect Life educational program of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. That day, and throughout the month of October, parishes across the country sponsor a variety of events and activities to help deepen respect for human life in all stages and conditions of dependency.

The theme of this year's program is Created, loved, redeemed by God. Priceless!

This year's Respect Life packet features six articles on topics of current interest. They are available in both pamphlet-length printed versions (great for pamphlet racks and Sunday bulletin inserts) and in full-length versions on the accompanying CD.

Western civilization is rooted in the principle that human rights and dignity inhere to every individual as a creature made in God's likeness, and possessing attributes of intellect, reason, conscience, and free will. America's founders freely acknowledged their debt to this principle in establishing a government of, for, and by the people, in contrast to one imposed by royal succession or Platonic guardians.

Of course, one need not profess the Christian faith or, indeed, any faith to recognize that the existence of a secure, just, free, and prosperous society depends on the recognition of every individual's right to life. Every human is by nature unique, unrepeatable, and priceless.

But many cultures and political systems even today value humans by a purely utilitarian calculus. Some individuals enjoy power and privilege; others are dehumanized and treated as pawns of the state or pests that must be eradicated.

These observations may have brought to readers' minds nations under totalitarian rulers who use terror, genocide, and infanticide to maintain control. But this same mentality has made inroads in our culture, too.