Commitment Pledge
As a future ordained leader in the Catholic Church, I understand
that it will be my privilege and duty to embrace all that
she teaches. One of the fundamental truths of our faith is
that all human beings are created in the image and likeness
of God. In accordance with this truth of the Gospel of Jesus
Christ, I am obliged even now as a seminarian to promote and
defend the dignity of all human life, from natural conception
to natural death.
By signing this commitment pledge, I agree to make this defense
of the dignity of human life an essential part of my priestly
formation process, devoting prayer and apostolic action to
it when possible. As a model for the true integration of this
pro-life ethic into my formation, I agree to follow the teaching
of our American Bishops:
We believe that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is a "Gospel of
Life"…We cannot commit ourselves to human rights and progress
while eliminating or marginalizing the weakest among us. Nor
can we practice the Gospel of Life only as a private piety.
American Catholics must live it vigorously and publicly, as
a matter of national leadership and witness, or we will not
live it all." (US Bishops, Living
the Gospel of Life, 1998 n. 20)
As a member, I pledge to pray with perseverance for a deeper
respect for human life in our society, and especially for
an end to abortion and euthanasia. I will collaborate to the
best of my abilities with the projects that this organization
promotes, provided that it does not conflict with my obligations
as a seminarian.
Our Lord Jesus Christ by His passion, death and resurrection
has already won victory over death. I am confident that with
a humble willingness to add my prayers and labors of love
to that of the Christian faithful, the Church will transform
the culture of death into the Kingdom of Life: "So that at
Jesus’ name every knee must bend in the heavens, on the Earth
and under the earth and every tongue proclaim to the glory
of God the Father: JESUS CHRIST IS LORD!" (Philippians 2:11)
Signature
Date
Mail to:
SEMINARIAN LIFE LINK
Eric Bowman, National Director
6616 Beechmont Ave.
Cincinnati, Ohio 45230
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