417 / 665
Chapter 29. Fifth Commandment: Promote the Culture of Life • 389
As the archbishop of New York City, Cardinal John O’Connor pointed
out in his endorsement of her cause for sainthood that she “anticipated
the teachings of John Paul II” in her uncompromising devotion both to the
Church and to the cause of social justice. The Cardinal said he consid-
ered her a model for everyone, “but especially for women who have had
or are considering abortion.”
Dorothy Day’s life was dedicated to seeking holiness, defending
life, and promoting social justice and peace. In valuing human life,
she came to reject the violence of abortion and to abhor war and
crushing poverty. Her story seems most suitable for our reflection on the
Fifth Commandment.
•
RESPECT HUMAN LIFE
Human life is sacred because from its beginning it
involves the creative action of God and it remains for
ever in a special relationship with the Creator, who is its
sole end. God alone is the Lord of life from its begin-
ning until its end: no one can under any circumstance
claim for himself the right directly to destroy an inno-
cent human being.
—CCC, no. 2258; citing
The Gift of Life
(
Donum Vitae
), no. 5
God’s creative action is present to every human life and is thus the source
of its sacred value. Each human life remains in a relationship with God,
who is the final goal of every man and woman.
The Fifth Commandment calls us to foster the physical, spiritual,
emotional, and social well-being of self and others. For that reason, it
forbids murder, abortion, euthanasia, and any life-threatening acts. We
are called to create the culture of life and work against the culture of
death. This presents us with three challenges.