By Susan Ciancio
Throughout Respect Life Month (October)—a month dedicated to celebrating God’s gift of every human being—the Culture of Life Studies Program hosts a Pro-Life Essay Contest for kids. This year’s contest, cosponsored by the Institute for Excellence in Writing, Contend Projects, and Team Iron Will, is for students in 3rd-12th grade, and it is a fantastic way for students to demonstrate their pro-life beliefs and not only win great prizes but be featured on our website!
This year, 3rd and 4th graders are asked to use a Bible verse to reflect upon and write about human dignity, or they may research facts and write about a preborn baby’s development.
Students in middle school will write about the importance of moral courage when defending the vulnerable, or they may research the development of first-trimester babies and discuss ways to protect them.
And students in high school can write about treating those who have disabilities with authentic love and mercy, or they can interview parents of a child with a disability and discuss the child’s inherent value.
We are so excited about these topics, and we cannot wait to read what your students and children want to share. The contest is open now through November 7.
Teaching respect for life is crucial
Respect for the life of all human beings—from creation to death—is vital in our culture. For decades, we have seen a deterioration of this respect; that’s why it’s up to each one of us to teach the value and sanctity of every person, no matter his ability or stage in life.
Year after year, as hundreds of students submit essays, we feel a renewed hope in the younger generation. These students get it!
They understand that we all have a responsibility to protect the vulnerable from the very first moment of creation until death.
They understand that a human being begins the moment the sperm fertilizes the egg.
They understand that those with disabilities should never be pitied, made fun of, or treated cruelly.
They understand that we must respect the elderly, give to the needy, and love the unloved.
They understand all these things because their parents and teachers have taught them well.
Foster moral courage
But the culture of death never stops telling lies, so we must never stop courageously speaking the truth. The culture of death relentlessly attacks our children from morning until night—on social media, in songs, and even in their classrooms. Having a child who is pro-life at age ten doesn’t mean that same child will be pro-life at thirteen or sixteen or as an adult. That’s why it’s our responsibility as parents and teachers to consistently teach our children the truth, to continually discuss the reality of abortion, euthanasia, IVF, and other threats to life, and to always teach them the tenets of our faith. We must do so because it is our job to get them to heaven and to help them become saints.
Our kids will not become saints if they fall prey to a culture that rejoices at the killing of babies before birth, of the assassination of those courageously speaking in defense of life and liberty, or in any of the myriad threats to life that they encounter.
We know that the 5th Commandment says “Thou shall not kill.” Respecting life means living according to this commandment. But it’s more than just not taking someone’s life. It means respecting all people, no matter how young or old, and no matter his ability. And that respect includes compassion, support, and love.
Only when our children understand this and live according to these teachings will we truly have a culture of life.
So as you celebrate Respect Life Month throughout October, encourage your children to seek the truth, to learn more about pro-life topics, and to enter our contest. Spending time thinking about these topics and articulating their thoughts in an essay is a beautiful way for students to witness the sanctity of life. And when they truly understand and believe that they have a responsibility to protect all human beings, they will be one step closer to hearing those words we all long to hear: “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”