A PASTORAL LETTER FROM BISHOP MARTINO  
March for Life 2005

January 20, 2005

 My Dear Brothers and Sisters:

 As you know, we are about one-third of the way through the observance of the Year of the Eucharist. Our Holy Father has asked us to exhibit special reverence for the Blessed Sacrament from October 2004 until October 2005. I thank you for the many indications which I receive that “something is happening” in the Diocese of Scranton. There are reports of special efforts to highlight more and more the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist, at Mass, in the tabernacle, and during exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. I am aware as well that as a means to participate more deeply in the mystery of the Holy Eucharist, many are returning more frequently to the Sacrament of Confession. Our Blessed Mother watches over us in all these endeavors. Her prayers urge us on. As your Bishop, I remind you that the greatest gift we have is the life of Jesus Himself, given to us in the Holy Eucharist.

Since we believe that Jesus is really and truly present in Holy Communion, we must courageously take up the challenges presented to us by this truth. We human beings have not simply been created by Jesus Christ. Our human flesh has been redeemed by him. We are truly precious in his sight. We are perfectly loved by Him whether we are very old or only at the very moment of our conception. If we despise human life, we despise Jesus Himself, who gave Himself completely for our sake.

As we observe once again the sad anniversary of the legalization of abortion in our country, we recall that respect for the sanctity of life continues to be eroded through efforts to legalize infanticide, euthanasia and certain scientific experiments contrary to the sacredness of life. But perhaps what is more tragic is that we Catholics are increasingly passive to these anti-human life evils. We believe that there is nothing we can do.

Are we willing to say that to Our Lord? Are we willing to have Him come to share our human nature and reject by our passiveness the very sacredness of human life? If we truly value the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist, we will immediately see that Jesus makes not only our individual lives sacred, but also the person next to us, the person in the womb, the person who is dying, and everyone infused by God with a human soul.

I ask at this time that you continue to pray for the end of the evil of abortion and other acts against human dignity. I ask as well that you act in ways which will foster the sacredness of life. Do not support civic leaders, especially Catholic ones, who are indifferent to the sacredness of all human life from the moment of conception until natural death. At the workplace and in social settings, when abortion is held up as a good thing or as something lamentable but about which we can do nothing, speak up in defense of human life.

Throughout these early months of the Year of the Eucharist, our Holy Father, Pope John Paul II has consistently told us that in the Eucharist we see the concreteness of God’s love for us. We are called to be equally concrete and specific in the love which we give back to God. Perhaps the most basic and concrete response we can make is to increase our own respect for human life and urge others to do the same. May our Mother Mary, who had such a special role in bringing God into the world, help us to bring her Son Jesus to everyone we meet. May our commitment to the sacredness of human life bring others to be in awe of God’s dwelling among us.

Sincerely in Our Lord,

Most Reverend Joseph F. Martino, D.D., Hist. E.D.  
Bishop of Scranton