Arlington
Bishop Michael F. Burbidge celebrated the annual Respect Life Mass at St. John
the Beloved Church in McLean the morning of Oct. 8. Father Christopher J. Pollard, pastor,
concelebrated.
Bishop
Burbidge called for a moment of silence at the beginning of Mass for the
victims of the Las Vegas shooting Oct. 1.
“Every
day is Respect Life day,” said Bishop Burbidge in his homily. “But
the church in her wisdom, designates October as Respect Life Month. This
designation helps us to remember to give thanks to God for a gift that we can
so easily take for granted.”
Parishioner
Jessica Maleski said the youngest of her seven children, Danny, has Down
syndrome. “Respect Life Month is something that’s important to us for personal
reasons but also just as a culture to see the beauty and importance of everyone,”
she said.
Parishioner
William Kmasel said the Mass was an important reminder that life is precious in
all forms. “It is a simple lesson, but one needed to keep repeating,” he said.
“We cannot take it for granted — the lesson or life.”
St.
John the Beloved is involved with the 40 Days for Life Campaign, which seeks to end abortion through prayer, fasting and vigils.
“The
fact that Bishop Burbidge (was) here during the fall campaign is very special,”
said Andrea DelVecchio, pro-life coordinator at the parish. “His strong
advocacy for the gospel of life and his prayerful witness at the abortion
centers around the diocese has impressed many to join in the pro-life
movement.”
The
U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill Oct. 3 that would ban abortions after 20
weeks with few exceptions. In a statement, Bishop Burbidge said he was
encouraged that “it offers a greater defense of human life to the most vulnerable
of people: the child in the womb. I pray that the U.S. Senate will also pass
this bill and that President Trump will sign it into law.”
“Every
person, no matter his or her condition or state in life, deserves basic
protection from harm and death,” his statement read. “Women deserve better than
abortion, and the Catholic Church stands ready to assist them in the challenges
their pregnancies might pose.”
