Hundreds of Catholics of all ages joined in solidarity for life with Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., March 12 in Red Bank.

There, at the annual Witness for Life, sponsored by the diocesan Office of Life and Justice Ministries, they answered his call to rise above the wave of moral relativism sweeping society today with their prayers, their applause and their feet.

Making his first appearance at the event, which dates to the early 1990s, Bishop O’Connell was the principal celebrant and homilist of the Respect Life Mass in St. Anthony of Padua Church, which traditionally begins a day of pro-life activities.

In a stirring and profound homily, the bishop began by referencing Pope Benedict XVI, who, as Cardinal Josef Ratzinger, spoke of the consistent message of support for life from conception to natural death that is the clear heart of Catholic teaching.

Bishop O’Connell went on to speak of the doctrinal relativism which is “the unrelenting assault upon human life and human dignity we witness in our day. And, there is no sign of (it) dying down.”

More than mere winds, he said, “contemporary movements against life have reached gale force and hurricane proportions,” which engulf human life, from stem cells and embryos destroyed in “medical research” to the elderly and people of every age with progressive chronic illnesses.

“Some of the most vulnerable among us are swept away in the hurricane that measures human value with human convenience, the ‘quality of life’ argument,” Bishop O’Connell said. “Innocent life, guilty life, have become ‘issues’ rather than people with whom we share a common, God-given humanity.”

Quoting the prophet Isaiah, he encouraged the faithful to “cry out full-throated and unsparingly and lift up our voice ‘like a trumpet blast’ to ‘tell my people their wickedness and the house of Jacob their sins.’”

This, he said, “is what we do today.”

The bishop spoke of how fortunate Catholics are to have, in the words of Pope Benedict, “a clear faith based upon the creed of the Church” which must, of necessity and devotion, be shared with the community at large.

“Our message must go out to those who reject this Gospel,” he said. “Those who are healthy do not need a physician but the sick do.”

In a passage that drew nods of affirmation from many at the Mass, he spoke of the Catholic faith as “not an either-or proposition.”

“We cannot, as some would have us believe, simply care for the poor or strive for social justice without being convinced in the fundamental teaching of Christ and the Church that all human life is sacred, every human life at every stage of its humanity.

“The so-called ‘social justice Catholic’ who is not ‘pro-life’ has no more right to call himself truly Catholic than an advocate for life who turns his back on the basic needs of his brothers and sisters in this world.”

Prayerful Demonstration
After the Mass, amid a cascade of gold and white papal banners carried by the Knights of Columbus, scores of those who attended the Mass processed along with the bishop through the downtown section of Red Bank and on into Shrewsbury where, facing Planned Parenthood, they recited the Rosary.

Among them was Anne Di Bisceglie, a member of St. Rose of Lima Parish, Freehold, attending for the third time in as many years.

Like a number of people on the walk, she recalled how the Rosary was forced indoors last year due to inclement weather. “We could not complete the (procession) and that was a disappointment,” she said.

The bright, clear skies and comfortable temperatures this year made up for last year, she said, adding that sharing the walk with the bishop made it even more memorable.

“I’m 70 years old and, thanks be to God, I love the walk.”

Following the prayer witness, the group returned to the parish center for a light lunch and award reception for youngsters who were chosen as winners in the Office of Life and Justice Ministries’ seventh annual Respect Life Poster, Essay and Video contest.

Youthful Expression
The contest, open to youngsters from Catholic schools, religious education programs or  parish youth programs, included entries from students in 32 schools, with 87 children submitting posters, 32 submitting essays and 11 submitting videos.

This year’s theme was “The Measure of Love is to Love without Measure,” and the first prize winners in each division won $100. Second and third prize winners received $50 and $25 respectively.

Father Ian Trammell, diocesan director of the Office of Life and Justice Ministries, said the winning entries represented a fraction of all those that flood in once the theme is announced each year.

This contest was started when Father Michael Manning, now pastor of Holy Cross Parish, Rumson, was Respect Life coordinator for the diocese, Father Trammell said.

“And it’s been developing more every year. The aim is to cultivate a respect for life in children from grades kindergarten through eight,” he said.

“It reached a point where hundreds of entries were coming in. We had to ask the schools and parishes to handle the preliminary entries, with each picking three entries in each category,” he said. “The representation is wonderful. It makes judging the entries very difficult.”

The posters and videos were on display and the essays were available to read throughout the reception where the young people – surrounded by their families, and in many cases, their teachers as well – received their awards.

“What is so terrific is that there are so many parents with their children here this year. Many came up to me and said they had never gone to a respect life event as a family before,” Father Trammell said.

“They said it was a nice way to introduce their children to the cause for life. What struck me is that the parents found it such a positive experience, making the walk, praying and having a nice lunch.”

As each winner came forward, Father Trammell, who stands 6’9” tall, dropped to one knee so a photo could be taken.

Lynn Farrell smiled broadly as her son, James Jack, a seventh grade student in St. Charles Borromeo School, Cinnaminson, stepped forward to pick up his first prize award in the 6 to 8 category for video.

“I had no idea he knew how to do video with music,” she said. “I am so proud.”

His equally proud seventh grade teacher, Margaret Campbell, expressed her joy as well.

“This is a great, countercultural event,” she said. “To have children so involved, to hear the bishop spreading the word, this is really great.”