Culture of Life Committee infuses community with respect for life

Since the parish's Culture of Life Committee was formed a little over a year ago, it has firmly established a pro-life presence in the parish community, addressing life from conception until natural death.  Through education, prayer and service, the committee has quite the list of accomplishments already!

Education:

• Sponsored a three-part class on "End of Life Issues," during October 2009's Respect Life Month.
• Dr. Cari Henry, parishioner, runs bulletin articles on Pope John Paul II's Evangelium Vitae.  She's also working on chastity classes for teenagers, to be presented in fall 2010.  Cari has been interviewed on Relevant Radio regarding Catholic chastity and Natural Family Planning teachings.

Prayer:

• Developed a prayer for the committee.
• Coordinated Adoration on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception in December 2009.
• Participates in the Diocese of Austin's Office of Pro-Life Activities and Chaste Living's Prayer Chain.
• Participated in the 40 Days for Life campaign.
• Prays regularly for Death Row inmates.

Public Policy:

• Worked closely with the diocesan Public Policy Committee by sending out legislative alerts and information that support life issues.
• Kevin Kerner, parishioner, facilitated the Diocese Petition Drive at our parish, against abortions funded from Travis Country property taxes.
• Attended the Travis County Healthcare District meetings to object to Travis County funding for abortions.

Gabriel Project:

• Visited the downtown Gabriel Project Life Center to better understand their ministry.  The committee has since adopted the life center as one of its own ministries.  
• Visited four pregnancy centers in Austin to understand how they operate, are supported, etc.  
• Met with a representative from the Texas Pregnancy Care Network to better understand how this government funding is used at the life center.  After learning there is no spiritual counseling made available at the life center, the Culture of Life Committee raised concern about not being able to pray with clients at the center and is awaiting a response from the diocese.

Congratulations to the Culture of Life Committee for an amazing first year of ministry at St. John Neumann Church!