Dutchess County Catholic Coalition for Life
Powered by The Church of St. Denis Respect Life Committee

The mission of the Dutchess County Catholic Coalition for Life is to promote respect for all life, from the moment of conception to natural death. Our primary goal is to provide information for our fellow Catholics, and the community at large, on a variety of life issues. We'll present the Catholic Church's position on these subjects, which we encourage you to always support and defend.

This website provides resource links on life issues such as Abortion, Contraception, Death Penalty, Embryonic Stem Cell Research, Euthanasia, Suicide (Self & Assisted) and War. A section is also maintained for Area Events, Presentations and News to promote Respect Life activities.

To contribute links and announcements to this website, please email the information to DutchessRespectLife@yahoo.com or call Ed Haege at (845) 223-8228. Let us work together through this website and your local campaigns to protect all life.

Catechism of the Catholic Church

Article 5
THE FIFTH COMMANDMENT
You shall not kill.

You have heard that it was said to the men of old, "You shall not kill: and whoever kills shall be liable to judgment." But I say to you that every one who is angry with his brother shall be liable to judgment.

2258 "Human life is sacred because from its beginning it involves the creative action of God and it remains forever in a special relationship with the Creator, who is its sole end. God alone is the Lord of life from its beginning until its end: no one can under any circumstance claim for himself the right directly to destroy an innocent human being."56

Pope John Paul II Prayer for Life

O Mary, bright dawn of the new world, Mother of the living, to you do we entrust the cause of life. Look down, O Mother, upon the vast numbers of babies to be born, of the poor whose lives are made difficult, of men and women who are victims of brutal violence, of the elderly and the sick killed by indifference or out of misguided mercy. Grant that all who believe in your Son may proclaim the Gospel of life with honesty and love to the people of our time. Obtain for them the grace to accept that Gospel as a gift ever new, the joy of celebrating it with gratitude throughout their lives and the courage to bear witness to it resolutely, in order to build, together with all people of good will, the civilization of truth and love, to the praise and glory of God, the Creator and lover of life.
Amen.

To learn how to pray the Rosary, click here.

Please pray The Rosary to our Mother Mary to protect life
from Conception to Natural Death.

The Rosary is a magnificent and universal prayer for the needs of the Church, the nations and the entire world" (Pope John XXIII).
To learn how to pray the Rosary, click here.

Our Lady of Guadalupe Pray for Us

Virgin of Guadalupe, Patroness of unborn children, we implore your intercession for every child at risk of abortion. Help expectant parents to welcome from God the priceless gift of their child's life. Console parents who have lost that gift through abortion, and lead them to forgiveness and healing through the Devine Mercy of your Son. Teach us to cherish and to care for family and friends until God calls them home. Help us never to see others as burdens. Guide our public officials to defend each and every human life through just laws. Inspire us all to bring our faith into public life, to speak for those who have no voice. We ask this in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, who is Love and Mercy itself.
Amen.

Conversion Prayer for Pro-Choice Politicians

O, St. Paul the Apostle, great convert, preacher of truth and Doctor of the Gentiles, intercede for us to God, who chose you. You are a vessel of election, O St. Paul the Apostle, preacher of truth to the whole world. O God, You have instructed many nations through the preaching of the blessed apostle Paul. Let the power of Your intercession bring about the conversion of all other "Pro-Choice" politicians to the fullness of Your grace. Help our president, senators and representatives recognize the personhood of all human beings - born and preborn. Help us who venerate St. Paul's memory this day to continually seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit as we work to spread Your truth.
Amen.

Join the Catholic Advocacy Network

Join with thousands of others to work for justice in our society and to promote the values important to our faith. Together, we speak out in support of the poor and vulnerable, the sick and elderly, the unborn, families and children. Through the Catholic Advocacy Network, you can stay informed and strengthen the Catholic voice.
Introducing the Catholic Advocacy Network
Quick Facts about the Catholic Advocacy Network
Catholic Advocacy Network Sign-up

Need Help During Your Pregnancy or After an Abortion? Call Now...

Frontline Pregnancy Centers 914.224.5773 or 718.884.9210
The Option Line  1.800.395.4357
Birthright   1.800.550.4900
Pregnancy Services Network of Greater NY
Heartbeat International   1.800.395.HELP
National Life Center   1.800.848.5683
Resources for Pregnant Women and Their Babies
Bethany Christian Services: 1.800.238.4269
CareNet: 1.800.395.HELP
Catholic Charities: 1.800.227.3002
National Life Center: 1.800.848.LOVE

Rachel's Vineyard

Healing the pain of abortion - one weekend at a time.
Rachel's Vineyard is a safe place to renew, rebuild and redeem hearts broken by abortion. Weekend retreats offer you a supportive, confidential and non-judgmental environment where women and men can express, release and reconcile painful post-abortive emotions to begin the process of restoration, renewal and healing. Rachel's Vineyard can help you find your inner voice. It can help you experience God's love and compassion on a profound level. It creates a place where men and women can share, often for the first time, their deepest feelings about abortion. You are allowed to dismantle troubling secrets in an environment of emotional and spiritual safety. Rachel's Vineyard is therapy for the soul. Participants, who have been trapped in anger toward themselves or others, experience forgiveness. Peace is found. Lives are restored. A sense of hope and meaning for the future is finally re-discovered.

Rachel's Vineyard Ministries
808 N. Henderson Road, 2nd Floor
King of Prussia, PA 19406
Phone: 877 HOPE 4 ME (Toll Free)
Email: rachel@rachelsvineyard.org
Website: www.rachelsvineyard.org
Rachel's Vineyard 1.877.HOPE 4 ME

Area Events, Presentations and News

The 40 Days for Life Spring Campaign

What is the 40 Days for Life Campaign?
Based on the biblical transformation period of forty days, 40 Days for Life is a focused international pro-life campaign that is conducted at the local level. The campaign is a cross-denominational, faith-based effort made up of three key components: Prayer and Fasting:
People of faith are invited to join together for 40 days of fervent prayer and fasting for an end to abortion, and healing for those who have suffered the pain of abortion.
Peaceful, Prayerful Vigil:
Stand for life through a 40-day peaceful public witness outside a local abortion facility. This is not a protest or a rally, but rather a time to pray for our mighty God to intervene and end abortion in our land!
Community Outreach:
Participate in peaceful, prayerful life chains held throughout Dutchess County during the 40 Days, and take a positive, upbeat pro-life message to everywhere and to everyone!
Attend the 40 Days for Life Spring Campaign Opening Event
Place: St. Denis Parish Center
Date: Sunday, February 19th
Time: 4:00 to 5:00 PM
For more information click here or, contact Maureen at 845-853-6529
Please get involved to help protect the lives of unborn babies and their mothers

Department of Health and Human Services' New Rule Violates Catholic Values

The Obama Administration announced that it was going to issue final regulations that would require religious organizations to provide full health insurance coverage for sterilization, abortifacient drugs, and contraceptives. The Department of Health and Human Services announced that non-profit employers would have one year to comply with the new rule. Cardinal-Designate Timothy Dolan sharply criticized the decision, "Never before has the federal government forced individuals and organizations to go out into the marketplace and buy a product that violates their conscience. This shouldn't happen in a land where free exercise of religion ranks first in the Bill of Rights". Cardinal-Designate Dolan urged Catholics and the public at large to speak out in protest. He said, "Let your elected leaders know that you want religious liberty and rights of conscience restored and that you want the administration's contraceptive mandate rescinded". For Cardinal-Designate Dolan's complete statement on this issue, click here.

Latest Rasmussen Poll on Abortion

Election season is officially underway. Unfortunately, the abortion issue doesn't rank high in terms of voting importance. However, voters nationwide remain consistent on the topic. The latest "Rasmussen Reports" national telephone survey of "Likely U.S. Voters" shows that 49% are pro-choice, while 43% are pro-life. However, most voters - 53% - still believe abortion is morally wrong. No issues are more important than respect life issues such as abortion and euthanasia. Please vote for candidates that protect all Americans including the unborn and the elderly. For complete details of the January 5th, 2012 Rasmussen poll, click here.

Abortion Methods

Over 52 million unborn babies have been killed nationwide since the Supreme Court invalidated laws protecting unborn children in all 50 states in the January 22, 1973 Roe v. Wade decision. Contrary to what many believe, in this country an unborn child can be legally killed at any time during the nine months of pregnancy - simply because he or she is not wanted by his/her mother, is inconvenient, imperfect or even the "wrong" sex. An estimated 1.2 million babies are killed annually by abortion each year...one baby approximately every 24 seconds. To review the many methods of abortion, click here.

Sign up for the Catholic Advocacy Network

The most effective tool we have to influence our legislators is the Catholic Advocacy Network. The Network was established by the Bishops of New York State to provide Catholics with a modern, effective way to contact their representatives about issues of concern to the Church. It uses the convenience of email to alert you of important issues that are before our State Legislature such as:
Family Life / Respect Life
Health Care
Education
Human Services / Social Justices
Criminal Justice
and lets you lobby your legislators from your own home, with just a few clicks of the computer mouse. The Archdiocese of New York encourages all parishioners to participate in this Network.
To join today,click here.

Archdiocese of New York Respect Life Office

Our Office has been tracking a number of major legislative and judicial actions that affect our public policy agenda.
These issues include the federal health care reform law, regulation of abortion, marriage and divorce, sex education, and embryonic stem cell research.
For an update on the status of these issues, you can download our current public policy status report. Click here for the report

Topics

Abortion
Contraception
Death Penalty
Embryonic Stem Cell Research
Euthanasia
Suicide - Self & Assisted
War

The excerpts below that describe each topic were taken from the Catechism of the Catholic Church

Abortion
Every human life, from the moment of conception until death, is sacred because the human person has been willed for its own sake in the image and likeness of the living and holy God.

Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel for the Conversion of Abortionists

Generation Life (Young Adult Organization)
Pro-Life Internship in New York City
Sisters of Life
Abortion Changes You
Archbishop Timothy Dolan on Abortion
Knights of Columbus - Culture of Life
Life Athletes
Father John Corapi on Abortion Video, Part I
Father John Corapi on Abortion Video, Part II
Pro-Life Celebrity Jennifer O�Neill Speaks on Abortion, Video
Pro-Life Celebrity Kathy Ireland Speaks on Abortion, Video
U.S Conference of Catholic Bishops on the "Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA)
Susan B. Anthony List
Westchester Institute for Ethics & the Human Person
Priests for Life Prayer to End Abortion
Pro-life Anti-Abortion Video: Development of the Unborn Baby
Father Frank Pavone Video - Demonstrates a Suction Abortion
Father Frank Pavone Video - Demonstrates a Dismemberment Abortion
Video on Induced Labor Abortions
Priest for Life YouTube Channel
Born Alive Truth
Americans United for Life
Pro-Life Unity
National Pro-Life Radio
Jill Stanek on Induced Labor Abortions
Life Site News
Operation Rescue
Pro-Life Blogs
Blogs4Life
Defend Life
Good Counsel Home
Pro Life Quotes
Pro-Life America
National Pro-Life Action Center
Abortion and the Catholic Church
The Catholic League
Pope John Paul II on Abortion
Pope Benedict XVI on Abortion
John Cardinal O'Connor on Abortion
Edward Cardinal Eagan on Abortion
The Catholic Planet
Pro-Life Lectures
American Life League: Abortion Issues
Students Turning Around a Nation of Death
Abortion: Medical Facts
Baby Body Parts Trafficking
Baby Parts for Sale
Facts on Fetal Development
The Silent Scream
National Black Catholic Congress
Pro-Life Action League
Students for Life
Rock for Life
When Does Human Life Begin?
Life Decisions International
New York State Right to Life Committee, Inc.
New York State Catholic Conference
Contact Your Local Representative about "Right to Life" Issues
Human Life International
Order Pro-Life Wrist Bands
Silent No More 1.800.707.6635
The Covenant News Reports: The Baby Parts Industry
Life News
Abortion Facts
American Life League
After Abortion
Feminists for life
Hope after Abortion
Life Dynamics
Pro Life Physicians
Pro-Life Celebrities Speak Out

Death Penalty
If bloodless means are sufficient to defend human lives against an aggressor and to protect public order and the safety of persons, public authority should limit itself to such means, because they better correspond to the concrete conditions of the common good and are more in conformity to the dignity of the human person.

Prayer to Abolish the Death Penalty

Insight to God's Position on the Death Penalty

Sign Petition to End The Death Penalty
The Culture Of Life
Bishop Aymond Speaks on the Death Penalty (Video)
The Moratorium Campaign
Sister Helen Prejean's Official Website
The Death Penalty and the Catholic Church
The Catholic Campaign to End the Use of the Death Penalty
Capital Punishment and the Catholic Church
Pope John Paul II on the Death Penalty
Sister Prejean of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Medaille
Catholics Against Capital Punishment
U.S. Catholic Bishops' Statement on Capital Punishment
State Catholic Conference and Individual Bishops' Statements
Religious Organizing Against the Death Penalty
Citizens United For Alternatives to the Death Penalty
Human Rights Watch The Death Penalty in the USA
The Journey of Hope�From Violence to Healing
National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty
Murder Victim's Families for Reconciliation
New Yorkers Against the Death Penalty
Death Penalty Information Center - Resources
Death Penalty Discourse Network
Dead Man Walking School Theater Project

Embryonic Stem Cell Research
Because it should be treated as a person from conception, the embryo must be defended in its integrity, cared for, and healed like every other human being.

Bishops on Embryonic Stem Cell Research
Stem Cell Breakthrough
Stem Cell Research and the Catholic Church
National Catholics Bioethics Center
Father Tad Pacholczyk - Making Sense of Bioethics
Adult Stem Cell Research vs. Embryonic Stem Cell Research Ethics (Video I)
Adult Stem Cell Research vs. Embryonic Stem Cell Research (Video II)
Catholic Ethics Guiding Stem-Cell Research
Killing Human Embryos
Cardinal Edward Egan on Embryonic Stem Cell Research
Pope Benedict XVI Endorses Adult Stem-Cell Research
Catholic Support for Ethically Acceptable Stem Cell Research
Cloning and Catholic Ethics
Human Cloning: When Word Games Kill
Adult Stem Cell Research vs. Embryonic Stem Cell Research
Monitoring Stem Cell Research
Stem Cell Research Facts
Stem Cell Information - National Institute of Health
Vitae Caring Foundation
Coalition of Americans for Research Ethics
Human Egg Harvesting for Embryo Cloning

Euthanasia
Those whose lives are diminished or weakened deserve special respect. Sick or handicapped persons should be helped to lead lives as normal as possible. Whatever its motives and means, direct euthanasia consists in putting an end to the lives of the handicapped, sick or dying persons. It is morally unacceptable.

Father Thomas Berg on Living Wills and End of Life Issues
Father Frank Pavone on the Terry Schiavo Case
International Task Force on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide
Reflections on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide by Father Frank Pavone Priests for Life Web Page on Euthanasia
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops on Euthanasia
Pope John Paul II on "Life-Sustaining Treatments and Vegetative State: Scientific Advances and Ethical Dilemmas"
Articles on Euthanasia
Euthanasia - False Light (A Video)
End of Life Care Miracles
Euthanasia and the Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church and Euthanasia
Pope John Paul II Approves Declaration on Euthanasia
A Roman Catholics View on Euthanasia
American Life League: Euthanasia Issues
Euthanasia: Frequently Asked Questions
The Catholic Church's Declaration on Euthanasia
Euthanasia
Nightingale Alliance - Resources
Novena for Terri Schiavo
Terry Schiavo�s Website

Suicide - Self & Assisted
Suicide contradicts the natural inclination of the human being to preserve and perpetuate his life. It is gravely contrary to the just love of self. It likewise offends love of neighbor because it unjustly breaks the ties of solidarity with family, nation and other human societies to which we continue to have obligations. Suicide is contrary to love for the living God.

Assisted Suicide: What is at Stake?
Myths About Suicide
Suicide and the Catholic Church
John Cardinal O'Connor on Suicide

War
Because of the evils and injustices that all war brings with it, we must do everything reasonably possible to avoid it. The Church prays: "From famine, pestilence and war, O Lord, deliver us."

When is War Justified?
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops ("Just War")

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