The following is by Bishop Kevin Vann of the Diocese of Orange:

While our commitment to affirm and defend the life and dignity of the human person is year-round, the Catholic Church in the United States sets aside each October as Respect Life Month.

This year’s theme, “Christ Our Hope: In Every Season of Life,” is particularly appropriate for these times in which the dignity of human persons is under attack in so many different ways.

In the face of increasing polarization, expansion of abortion in a number of our states and attempts to do so in others (my home state of Illinois, for example, and New York), callousness towards migrants, scapegoating of those struggling with homelessness, domestic violence, assisted suicide, and indifference to threats to our common home, we cannot help but be overwhelmed at times by what seem to be such interconnected and deeply rooted problems.

In the Gospel for Respect Life Sunday, in response to the apostles’ cry to our Lord Jesus “Increase our faith,” He responds with the example of a mulberry tree. Now, the mulberry tree is a fairly large tree with an extensive root system. The idea that it could be uprooted and replanted in the deep waters of the sea is beyond belief. And yet, the Lord says that “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed…” even the unexpected and seemingly impossible is possible for God.

Full story at Orange County Catholic.