Respect Life
As disciples of Christ, we are called to build a culture of life and to respect the sacredness of human life from conception to natural death.
The Respect Life Ministry lovingly seeks to promote this teaching through
awareness, action and prayer.
Make a Difference
Rosary for the Unborn - The Respect Life Ministry prays a Pro-life Rosary on the first Thursday of the month after the 8:30 a.m. and noon Masses. We meet in the courtyard at the Memorial Site for the Unborn or in the church.
What We Do
We pray at…
St. Mary Magdalene’s Memorial Site for the unborn
the abortion facility on Fridays during the 40 Days for Life Campaign
in the Adoration Chapel: Members may commit to pray 1-hr a week for an end to abortion
We Participate in
40 Days for Life Campaign – Prayer, fasting and vigil at the abortion facility
Life Chain – a 1-hour prayerful witness on the 1st Sunday in October
Statewide pro-life rallies – March for Life at the State House in Columbia
Baby Bottle Campaign for Birthright – Fundraiser for the local pregnancy crisis center
We participate in “Walking with Moms in Need” – an initiative inspired by Pope St John Paul II and sponsored by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). We are here to help women with unexpected or challenging pregnancies and mothers struggling to care for their young children find local assistance through our Catholic Church.
We will:
Be a positive support system, encouraging, praying, listening to, and supporting mothers in need without judgment,
Refer them to resources for medical help, financial needs, car seats, diapers, baby clothes, housing, transportation, food, and other things they might need, and walk them through using available resources.
We are always looking for women and men to join our team and to support our efforts to help spread awareness for Respect Life and Walking with Moms in Need among all of our parishioners. We especially need Spanish-speaking parishioners and to help mothers who speak Spanish and not English.
We are also looking for other ministries to partner with us to make St. Mary Magdalene an “island of mercy in the midst of a sea of indifference,” as Pope Francis said.
A Respect Life Minute
-
Scientific research has verified that “human life begins at conception—fertilization. At fertilization, the human being emerges as a whole, genetically distinct, individuated zygotic living human organism, a member of the species Homo sapiens, needing only the proper environment in order to grow and develop.” (“When Human Life Begins”,the American College of Pediatricians - March 2017).
All human life, starting at conception, is sacred and made in God’s image. Therefore, elective abortion at any stage of pregnancy is the killing of an innocent human. (CCC 2270)
While South Carolina has a Heartbeat Bill that prohibits abortions once a heartbeat is detected – usually around six weeks, reports show that there were still 8,200 abortions in South Carolina in 2023: 2,500 were surgical and 5,700 were chemical (i.e., abortion pill) abortions. This means about 70% were chemical (i.e., abortion pill) abortions. Of course, the number of illegal abortions by pills will never be known. Greenville Women’s Clinic on Grove Road provides 70% of this state’s abortions right here in the Upstate. (SC DHEC)
Please join us in praying to end abortions, in your homes, or join us in our 40 Days for Life campaign this fall in front of the abortion facility.
Source:
When Human Life Begins | American College of PediatriciansCatechism of the Catholic Church: 2270-2275
South Carolina abortion data:
https://dph.sc.gov/sites/scdph/files/media/Abortion-Report-2023-Part-1-Jan.1-Aug.22.pdfhttps://www.scstatehouse.gov/reports/DHEC/Abortion-Report-2023-Part-2-Aug.22-Dec.31.pdf