Editorial

Inspired by St. Teresa, let us do all we can to build a culture of life

“The life of every human being is sacred as the creation of God, and is of infinite value because he created each person, including the unborn child.” —St. Teresa of Calcutta

We begin our observation of Respect Life Month next week, and we hope that our prayers and actions in October—and beyond—help more in society understand the necessity to respect all human life, from conception to natural death.

The fall 40 Days for Life campaign, which began on Sept. 24 and continues until Nov. 2, offers each of us the opportunity of converting minds and hearts from a culture of death to a culture of life. Through our witness, we especially offer prayers for an end to abortion.

Earlier this month, we observed the feast day of St. Teresa of Calcutta on

Sept. 5. And we believe it is providential that a few weeks later each year, our Church marks Respect Life Month—including observing the first Sunday of October as Respect Life Sunday. There are few people in their lifetime who had a stronger commitment to life than St. Teresa.

From the lonely, abandoned, homeless, disease-ravaged, dying and “poorest of the poor” on Calcutta’s streets to the unborn child in the womb, St. Teresa made it her life’s mission to deliver a simple message: that love and caring are the most important things in the world.

Like the Church, Mother Teresa’s respect for life was based on the principle that every person, no matter what his or her status might be, is equal because every person carries the image of Christ.

She was an advocate for children and was outspoken against abortion. In a 1981 visit to New York, she proposed a characteristically direct and simple solution to the problem of unwanted pregnancy: “If you know anyone who does not want the child, who is afraid of the child, then tell them to give that child to me.”

St. Teresa also condemned abortion as the world’s greatest destroyer of people. “To me, the nations who have legalized abortion are the poorest nations,” she said. “They are afraid of the unborn child, and the child must die.”

And she noted, “Abortion is profoundly anti-woman. Three-quarters of its victims are women: Half the babies and all the mothers.”

In living out the words, “Do small things with great love,” St. Teresa became a universal icon of someone who “walked the walk” while “talking the talk” when it came to assisting and loving our brothers and sisters in need around the world.

While most of us will never have the global impact of a saint, we, too, are called to pray for all humanity, including the unborn.

One way to do so in the next several weeks is to take part in a 40 Days for Life campaign.

In the archdiocese, there are opportunities in Indianapolis and North Vernon.

The North Vernon campaign will take place at 143 E. Walnut St. outside of the city government office. To sign up for one or more hours, go to www.40daysforlife.com/en/northvernon.

In Indianapolis, the campaign will take place in front of the Planned Parenthood facility at 8590 Georgetown Road. Parking is available along Georgetown Road. Do not park in the Women’s Care Center parking lot or at the industrial complex across from the Planned Parenthood facility.

To sign up for one or more hours during the Indianapolis campaign, go to www.40daysforlife.com/en/indianapolis. The Knights of Columbus will hold an overnight prayer vigil at this location from 7 p.m. on Oct. 10 through 7 a.m. on Oct. 11. All are invited to join.

Catholics throughout central and southern Indiana are invited to attend the archdiocesan annual Respect Life Sunday Mass at SS. Peter and Paul Cathedral, 1347 N. Meridian St., in Indianapolis, at 10 a.m. on Oct. 5.

Life Chain events will also take place throughout the archdiocese on Oct. 5. They are peaceful, public witnesses of individuals standing for 60-90 minutes praying for our nation and for an end to abortion. The gatherings are a visual statement of solidarity by the Christian community that human life is sacred from the moment of conception until natural death. Visit tinyurl.com/LifeChain2025 to see where Life Chain events are taking place.

As we mark Respect Life Month, may our prayers and witness overcome all darkness in society, including the scourge of abortion, and shine Christ’s light where it is so desperately needed.

Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the unborn, pray for us.

—Mike Krokos