Home / News & Publications / Michigan Catholic News / 2007 / Catholics take special steps
Catholics take special steps to promote life in October
Joe Kohn of The Michigan Catholic
Published September 28, 2007
Pro-life activities
Aside from Life Chain Sunday on Oct. 7, the Archdiocese of Detroit in October is promoting the dignity of life by
Sending every Catholic in the Archdiocese of Detroit a DVD about embryonic stem cell research, and why it's important to protect human life from it.
 watch the video
Having Mass at 11 a.m., Oct. 14, at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament in honor of those who desire a baby, or who have lost a child either in the womb or born. The cathedral is at 9844 Woodward Ave. in Detroit. Call (313) 237-5893.
Preparing a promotional DVD on Natural Family Planning an effective, safe and healthy way to achieve and avoid pregnancy that does not require contraceptives and respects the human gift of sexuality. |
Detroit You typically won't flip on your local news station or pick up your local paper and learn about the horrors of abortion, the lives of children that it takes and the intense psychological damage it can do to women and families.
The same would apply for the destruction of human life in embryonic stem cell research.
"In these situations," Pope Benedict XVI said to the Pontifical Academy of Life last February, "the conscience, sometimes overwhelmed by the powerful collective media, is insufficiently vigilant concerning the gravity of the problems at play."
Because the media doesn't keep these matters in the collective mind of society, it falls on the Church's shoulders to do so which is why Catholics across the archdiocese are recognizing October as Respect Life month.
In October, Catholics will hold prayer services for the unborn and those touched by abortion. The Church will educate the faithful about embryonic stem cell research. And the Archdiocese of Detroit will have a Mass Oct. 14 to recognize those who are pregnant and those who have lost a child, either born or in the womb.
The most visible show of support for the unborn comes Oct. 7 the first Sunday of October having been designated Life Chain Sunday. Around the country, and locally, pro-lifers will line major roads that day, holding signs promoting an unborn child's right to live.
This practice started in 1987 with a small community near Sacramento, Calif., and has since spread across the nation. More than 100 churches and groups, most of them Catholic, participate in Life Chain Sunday in metro Detroit.
Organizers at each life chain equip participants with approved signs to display. The signs include the messages, "Pray to end abortion," "Jesus forgives and heals," "Abortion kills children," "Abortion hurts women," "Adoption is the loving option," and "Life the first inalienable right."
The following are Life Chains in the metro Detroit area, arranged by city. Life Chains are from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., and are conducted in a silent, prayerful manner:
Belleville Main Street from Five Points*
Commerce Township Commerce and Union Lake roads*
Dearborn Telegraph and Cherry Hill roads**
Dearborn Heights Telegraph Road at Ford Road to Hass Street, and Ann Arbor Trail and Kinmore Street, and Ann Arbor Trail and Kinmore Street*
Dearborn Heights (south) Telegraph Road and Van Born roads**
Detroit Gratiot Avenue at 6 Mile Road*
Farmington Hills 12 Mile and Halsted roads*
Fraser 14 Mile and Utica roads
Highland M-59 at Milford Road*
Lake Orion Lapeer and Indianwood roads*
Lapeer Main Street (M-24) and M-21*
Lincoln Park Fort Street at Champaign Road, and Goddard and Southfield roads*
Livonia Middlebelt Road at Jamison, south of Five Mile Road, and Farmington road at I-96*
Milford 620 General Motors Road, between S. Milford Road and Main Street*
Monroe Telegraph Road north of Elm Road, call (734) 552-5668*
Pontiac Telegraph and Walton roads*
Riverview Fort Street and Sibley Road**
Rochester Hills John R Road between Auburn and Hamlin streets*
Romulus Ecorse and Merriman roads*
Royal Oak/Huntington Woods/Berkley Woodward Avenue between 11 Mile and 12 Mile roads*
Shelby Township Schoenherr Road between 21 Mile and 22 Mile roads*
Southgate Fort Street from Eureka Road to Northline Road**
Sterling Heights 18 Mile and Ryan roads
Taylor Telegraph Road at Eureka, and Northline at Wick roads**
Trenton Fort Street and King Road**
Walled Lake Pontiac Trail between Maple Road and Walled Lake Drive*
Westland Warren Avenue and Wayne Road, and Ford Road at Wildwood Street*
Wyandotte Fort Street from Eureka Road to Northline Road**
* For information, call Right to Life Lifespan Life Chain coordinating office at (248) 478-8878.
**For information, call Deborah Bloomfield at (734) 283-9753.
To learn more about the National Life Chain, visit www.nationallifechain.org or www.lifechain.net.
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