Pro-life message explores call for a consistent life ethic

The call for a consistent life ethic can be challenging for many Catholics. It calls them to place their faith in the Church’s teaching that life is sacred from the moment of conception to the moment of death and all moments in between. This was the message from Father Tim Graff, the director of Social Concerns for the Archdiocese of Newark, who recently offered a pro-life message entitled, “A Consistent Life Ethic in Divided Times.”

The talk was conducted via Zoom and included more than 80 Secular Franciscans who discussed racism, the environment, and poverty at their annual meeting known as Convivenza (togetherness). Participants were from the Our Lady of the Angels Region of the Secular Franciscan Order based in the NJ/NY/CT tri-state area.

“So often in this time of deep division in the country and across the world, we can begin to reflect that within the Church,” Father Tim said. “The hope of the presentation was to see how we can live out the consistent life ethic throughout the life of the Church and within the Secular Franciscan community as well.”

The reaction to Father Tim’s reflection was positive, and one attendee said the key takeaway was understanding that being pro-life goes beyond being against abortion.

“We cannot dismiss or ignore other serious threats to human life and dignity,” said Chris Leone, Regional Animator for Justice, Peace, and the Integrity of Creation for the Our Lady of the Angel’s regional fraternity of the Secular Franciscan Order. “These include euthanasia, the death penalty, racism, environmental justice, anti-immigration sentiment, gun violence, and other social injustices.”

The Secular Franciscan Order was established by St. Francis of Assisi more than 800 years ago. The Church accepts the Secular Franciscan Order as part of the Franciscan family, and the order is directly under the Pope. Members follow a Rule of Life but are not bound by vows, instead a promise to live the spirit of moderation in all things, explained Leone. Secular Franciscans remain in their secular state, pursuing their careers, living in the world as witness to the Gospel.

There are over 360,000 professed Secular Franciscans throughout the world. In New Jersey, 615 men and women practice this way of life. Of those, 130 are in the Archdiocese of Newark. For more information, visit the regional website (ourladyoftheangelsregion.org) or the national website (secularfranciscansusa.org).

Image of St. Francis of Assisi provided by Edward Wojciechowski.