Mission Statement:

The Respect Life Office of the Diocese of Rockford was established to fulfill the objectives of the Pastoral Plan for Pro-Life Activities of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops. The office is under the direction of the Bishop of Rockford, the Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities of National Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Catholic Conference of Illinois. The Office is administered by a Diocesan Director appointed by and responsible to the Bishop.

 The Respect Life Office networks with other Diocesan Offices including, but not limited to, Catholic Charities (specifically adoption and crisis pregnancy counseling services), the Family Life Office, Catholic Education Office, Campus Ministry, the St. Francis Office for Persons with Disabilities and the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry. Additional networking activities include community and lay organizations as well as other Diocesan Respect Life offices across the nation.

 The Respect Life Office sponsors spiritual, pastoral care, educational, and public policy events related to pro-life issues. The Office condemns all acts of violence against persons or property and requests that all members of the diocesan pro-life effort work in cooperation with the goals and policies of the Pastoral Plan for Pro-Life Activities. No event is endorsed by this Office without official notification of approval from the Bishop or the Director of the Respect Life Office.

 The Director of the Diocesan Respect Life Office cannot possibly meet all the spiritual, pastoral care, educational, and public policy demands of the diocese. Work and responsibility must be shared with others including clergy, religious and the people of God within our parishes throughout the Diocese. Only then can we, with God’s help, secure a consistent ethic of life in this nation.

 The Gospel of life is for the whole of human society. To be actively pro-life is to contribute to the renewal of society through the promotion of the common good. It is impossible to further the common good without acknowledging and defending the right to life, upon which all the other inalienable rights of individuals are founded and from which they develop. A society lacks solid foundations when, on the one hand, it assets values such as the dignity of the person, justice and peace, but then, on the other hand, radically acts to the contrary by allowing or tolerating a variety of ways in which human life is devalued and violated, especially where it is weak or marginalized. Only respect for life can be the foundation and guarantee of the most precious and essential goods of society, such as democracy and peace.

 There can be no true democracy without a recognition of every person’s dignity and without respect for his or her rights. Nor can there be true peace unless life is defended and promoted. As Paul VI pointed out: “Every crime against life is an attack on peace, especially if it strikes at the moral conduct of people...But where human rights are truly professed and publicly recognized and defended, peace becomes the joyful and operative climate of life in society.”

 The “people of life” rejoices in being able to share its commitment with so many others. Thus may the “people for life” constantly grow in number and may a new culture of love and solidarity develop for the true good of the whole of human society.

 Pope John Paul II