Following the US Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Pastoral Plan for Pro-Life Activities, the Respect Life Office follows a 4-Point Plan for building a Culture of Life:

1) Education and Public Information
The Chastity Education Initiative: A dynamic program bringing the empowering message of chastity and abstinence from drugs, alcohol and all risky behaviors to teens and young adults throughout the Archdiocese (grades 7 and up). At minimal or no cost, the Respect Life Office provides to all Catholic schools, youth and young adult groups, parishes, universities and other organizations in the Archdiocese the following in Spanish and English:

• Dynamic speakers
  
• Up-to-date and medically-informed curricula
  
• Retreats
  
• Rallies
  
• Chastity educational materials

Media Outreach: Working with secular and religious media to convey the beauty and fullness of the Catholic Church’s teachings on life issues to Catholics and the general public in a way that is understandable and relevant to everyday living.

• “Life Talk” radio program – 1st Wednesday of the month at 9 am on AM 820. (click here to view upcoming guests!)
  
• Articles in Chicago Tribune, Catholic New World, Chicago Catolico and other publications (click here to view published articles by Mary-Louise Kurey)
  
• Project Rachel media campaign that included radio ads, billboards and large placards in subway stations throughout Chicago (click here to view the ads)
  
• Frequent interviews with news media, including appearances on Daytime and Evening News for Channels 5 and 7, FOX, CLTV, in the Chicago Tribune, Red Eye and Daily Herald, on “Morning Air” national radio program and EWTN

Educational Materials: The Respect Life Office offers an extensive selection of resources on life issues including books, videos, brochures, Church documents, posters, bookmarks, and other materials, available to Catholic organizations throughout the Archdiocese at minimal or no cost.

Newsletter: A quarterly publication mailed to Parish Respect Life Coordinators and pastors on life issues, upcoming events and local opportunities for service.

2) Pastoral Care: Our passion for the sanctity of human life from the moment of conception compels us to put faith into action. In particular, the Church reaches out to those suffering serious emotional, psychological or spiritual pain from undergoing an abortion, or those who are considering abortion because of material, emotional or spiritual needs.
Project Rachel: Post-abortion healing ministry for women and men suffering spiritual, emotional and/or psychological trauma from aborting an unborn child. Hotline number and referral service available toll-free at: 888/456-HOPE.

Adopt-a-Mother and Baby Project: Material, emotional and spiritual support for women facing a crisis pregnancy situation.

3) Public Policy: “If it hadn’t been legal, they couldn’t have forced me into it,” state many women who undergo an abortion. Our mission is to advocate for women and children by influencing public policy to reflect the sanctity of human life, in union with the Catholic Conference of Illinois.

“Faith in Action” Email Alerts: A weekly email alert providing updates on legislation, ministry, activism and life-oriented events in the Chicago area.

Support to Catholic Conference of Illinois: Testimony and analysis on legislation pertaining to life issues. www.catholicconferenceofillinois.org

Testimonies on Recent Bills: Recent testimonies on life issues prepared by the Respect Life Office.

4) Prayer and Worship: The most powerful instrument for building a culture in which all human life is valued and protected from the moment of conception until natural death.

Annual Liturgies celebrated by Francis Cardinal George:

• The Archdiocesan Mass for Life raises in prayer the women and children whose lives have been wounded or destroyed by abortion. Occurs the Saturday evening before the anniversary of the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton decisions, which made abortion legal at any time in a woman’s pregnancy. (January)
  
• During the Mass for Expectant Mothers on Mother’s Day, Cardinal George confers a special blessing on all pregnant women and their unborn children. (May)
  
• The Mass of Hope and Healing is celebrated for all parents, grandparents, siblings and relatives who have lost a child through a variety of means, including abortion, illness, miscarriage, stillbirth, accident, suicide, abduction, or family breakup. The culmination of a 2-day Lost Child Pilgrimage that includes speakers, workshops and grief counseling. (October)

The Mother Teresa Project: Each parish in the Archdiocese is encouraged to spiritually adopt an abortion clinic and pray for the conversion of the abortionists and staff, as well as for the protection of women and children who enter the facility. A special prayer is provided for this program.

Sunday Petitions and Bulletin Inserts prepared by the USCCB: The USCCB Pastoral Plan for Pro-Life Activities states, “Parishes should include in the petitions at every Mass a prayer that ours will become a nation that respects and protects all human life, born and unborn, reflecting a true culture of life.” These petitions are provided at this link, to be downloaded and included in the Prayers of the Faithful during weekend liturgies.