Every person has the unique privilege of being created in the image of God. All of us carry the likeness of our Maker (Genesis 1:26-27; Genesis 5:1-2; Genesis 9:6; James 3:9). For this reason we ought to love and respect one another.
Moreover I will be greatly offended if someone spits on and tears a photograph of my wife, even though it’s just a picture. Even so, when someone mistreats, injures or kills a fellow man, God considers such behaviour as a personal affront against him (see Genesis 9:6).
The way I treat other people is a sign of my attitude to God in whose image they are made. I cannot be ‘for God’ unless I am also ‘for life’ – from its beginning to its end, from conception to death.
What does it mean to be pro-life? It is a celebration of the gift of life given to us by the Lord. Despite the sorrows and pains that come our way, we need to learn to enjoy all that is beautiful and good, with thanksgiving and a grateful heart. We need to care about others too. We should do everything possible to help, support and protect the life of other people, whoever they may be.
May God open our eyes to see in each other the image of our Maker. Let us set aside every prejudice. We are first of all human beings, the image-bearers of God, irrespective of skin colour, nationality, social status, educational level, age, sex, disability, political affiliation, conduct, character, sexual orientation, religion, or any other category that we can think of.
Simply because you are a human being, it is my privilege and my solemn duty to respect and love you, and in so doing I express my love to God, our Creator.
This principle applies to all people, but in particular, to those among us who are small, weak and vulnerable, especially the unborn children. Let us cherish and defend their precious life! Although hidden in the mother’s womb, the unborn child already bears the image of him who is forming and knitting her with his loving and skilful hands.