Respect Life

In 1973 when the United States Supreme Court legalized abortion in America, a group of St. Mary’s parishioners got together to see how we could advocate for the right to life of the unborn. Key figures in this group were former Massachusetts Supreme Court Justice Francis P. O’Connor and his wife Ann, Dr. Robert Blute, Sr.  and his wife Ann Marie, Attorney John Connors and his wife Andree and Dr. John Harding along with his wife Grace.

We want to be a group of St. Mary’s parishioners who are visible, active prayerful, accessible, and informed on life issues. In addition, we wish to effectively promote the culture of life and oppose the culture of death in our society, especially in how the latter finds expression in the activity of the abortion industry.

 

24 Hour Rosary & Adoration

In the spring of each year, usually at the end of March or early April in association with the feast of the Annunciation, we hold a twenty-four hour rosary and adoration for an end to abortion.  This time of prayer begins after the 8:30 am daily Mass on Friday and continues until the 8:30 am Mass on Saturday.  On Friday evening at 7:00 pm we celebrate a Mass for Life.

Respect for Life Mass

We join other parishes for the annual respect life Mass at St. Paul’s cathedral on January 21st followed by the bus trip to Washington, D.C. to join the March for life on January 22nd and return to Worcester by bus that night.

Education

Education  on and promotion of Natural Family Planning for pre-cana couples and married couples.  Education of the confirmation class on sex and  abstinence.

Respect Life - Physician-Assisted Suicide

On Election Day in November 2012 the people of Massachusetts will be asked to accept or reject the so-called “Death with Dignity” Act.  If passed, it will allow an adult resident of Massachusetts, deemed to have the capacity to make health care decision, and determined by two physicians to have a disease that will likely result in death within six months, to request and receive a prescription for a lethal drug that he or she may self-administer.  Click here for more...

Physician-Assisted Suicide - Suicide Is Always A Tragedy

Netherlands & Belgium: Physician-assisted suicide and Euthanasia were legalized in both countries in 2002.  By 2010 the rate in the Netherlands had increased nearly 75%.  

Indeed, one euthanasia clinic has launched mobile euthanasia teams. Based on the most recent Netherlands report nearly 3% of all deaths in that country were secondary to euthanasia or PAS (Onwuteaka BD, et al. Lancet 2012;380:980-15).  Were we to extrapolate, it would make assisted suicide the 7th leading cause of death in the US or MA.  Since then,  the use of PAS and Euthanasia has been extended  to include children, and infants.  If parents disagree the physician is authorized to make the decision on his/her own.  Click here for more...