“With [the tongue] we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings who are made in the image of God...This ought not be so, brothers” (Jas. 3:9-10).
Lord, You created us with Your Word,
And You call us to build up one another
With our words.
Protect Your people from using language
That dehumanizes our brothers and sisters,
Or implies that some do not have the same dignity as others.
Grant that as we think and speak
Of the unborn children in the womb,
We may speak of them as children who are already here,
Rather than children “on the way,”
And may never refer to them
As anything other than fully human.
May we always affirm,
In word and deed,
That they are Your children,
Fearfully and wonderfully made
And that they are our brothers and sisters,
Loved by You and cared for by all of us.
We pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director, Priests for Life