Throughout Respect Life Month, the Church celebrates and recommits to building a culture that cherishes and protects every human life. We asked eight men and women around the Archdiocese of Detroit why they commit themselves to this work. As you reflect on your own pro-life efforts, let their responses inspire you!

Lauren Vitale, Divine Child, Dearborn

“It’s reasonable given what I know about science and love. The choice to cherish and protect each human life becomes simple — even if it’s not always easy – when I recognize that each of us is created in God’s image to love and be infinitely loved from the first moment of our existence. Personally, the concrete beauty of chubby baby thighs, making visible the invisible delightfulness of the human soul, makes being pro-life a joyful option!”

Dan Meloy, St. Joseph Shrine, Detroit

“Being pro-life is a recognition that each person is made in the image and likeness of God. It’s not a philosophical or political opinion, but a decision each and every day to be a Christian disciple, acknowledging God’s presence in his creation, whether that be the unborn, the elderly, one’s neighbor and friends, the poor or the incarcerated. It’s an affirmation that every person belongs to God.”

Kathy Carsten, OFS, St. Aloysius, Detroit

“Pro-life is action, because we, all our brothers and sisters, have in our humanity the capability, through God, to express our love for life. We do this as we treasure the life of the young and old; we honor the life of this earth, and all that is in it; and we adore God for life given to us through the love he expressed in the incarnation of Christ.”

Jonah Lyon, St. Aloysius, Detroit

“I am pro-life because the love of human life is at the heart of the Gospel. Jesus Christ fully revealed the love of God for humanity by laying down his own life for all of humanity. I am also pro-life because the foundation of justice is the protection of the innocent and among the most innocent are the unborn children. Protection of the dignity of the human being is essential to achieving peace.”

Father David Pellican, Priest of the Archdiocese of Detroit

“I was 17 when my youngest sister was born. I vividly remember sitting in the hospital holding her as a newborn infant. Over the past 11 years, I have watched her grow into a joyful young girl with an energetic personality and a great love for her older brother. I cannot imagine her never having been born because of a choice to end her life as it was just beginning. Every person has a right to be born, a right to life.”

Caryn Dannah, Our Lady of the Rosary, Detroit 

“I am pro-life because I believe that life is sacred from the moment of conception. No one is created by accident! God thought of each one of us and created us in his image and likeness!!”

Napoli Beachnau, National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica, Royal Oak

“I am pro-life because I believe that each life was created intentionally by him, regardless of the circumstances of a child’s conception. Being pro-life is being pro-woman because women are strong, compassionate and empathetic in a way that’s limitless — able to do and handle anything. As women, we embrace our God-created identity by accepting this reality. Women are incredibly resilient, life-giving and unique — it’s the way we were designed by our creator, and everything about our bodies reveals that truth.”

Sergio and San Juanita Lopez, St. Mary, Wayne

“Unfortunately, we were indoctrinated into believing that using birth control was a responsible and acceptable method of family planning. It wasn’t until we took the Billings natural family planning (NFP) class that we changed our minds. For 14 years, it has been our mission to educate others about the dangers of contraception in hopes of saving the lives of the unborn who are vulnerable, silent and voiceless.”