FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Question: What is a "Spiritual
Adoption" Program?
Answer: Spiritual Adoption is a simple enrollment process where
participants pledge to pray daily for nine months for a baby in danger of
abortion. By naming their baby on a pledge card, people find that it keeps
them focused on the reality that their prayers are helping to save a baby and
it's real mother from the harm of abortion.
Question: Who can participate in a
Spiritual Adoption Program?
Answer: Technically anyone can participate. This program is in
response to the Holy Fathers request that Catholics become a
people of, and for, life. Pope John Paul II has asked all Catholics to
"activate a great campaign in support for life." We have initiated
this program to encourage parish communities and schools to actively pray for
babies and mothers in danger of abortion. By enrolling entire communities
in the program we truly "activate a great campaign."
Question: Is there any other purpose
to this campaign?
Answer: Yes, the idea is to educate students and parishioners about the
development of the unborn child. Through prayer and education hearts will
be changed and thus bring about an end to abortion. Participants are also
encouraged to help mothers in need by donating baby items at the end of the
program.
Question: Do you mean we need to take
up a baby item drive?
Answer: No! What we ask your parish or community to do is throw a
"Baby Shower" for all of your spiritually adopted children at the
conclusion of the 9 month prayer campaign. This is an opportunity to build
a stronger pro-life community through a social gathering. It may be coffee
and donuts or cookies and punch after Mass, something very simple, all you have
to bring is a small gift for your baby. These "Gifts" are then
donated to pro-life organizations in your community.
Question: Is this prayer difficult to
learn or time consuming?
Answer: No, participants pledge to say a 10 second prayer everyday for 9
months. Ten seconds doesn't sound like much, it's not the quantity of personal
prayer but the quality. If you so desire, there is a longer format.
This one might take a minute to pray, in either case it involves taking a few
seconds out of your day to ask God to spare the life of a child.
Question: Ok, this sounds nice but what do
the Catholic Bishops say about "Spiritual Adoption"?
Answer: In July 2000, The National Conference of Catholic Bishops
(NCCB) notified us (Crusade for Life) that they have endorsed our SPIRITUAL ADOPTION
PROGRAM. Also, on September 1, 1999 The Denver Catholic Register
published an article about the "Spiritual Adoption" titled, "Catholics urged to use power of prayer to end
abortion." Not only that, the prayer we say was started by Bishop
Fulton J. Sheen who encouraged prayer as an end to abortion.
Question: If the Bishops have
endorsed this program why hasn't my parish participated?
Answer: We don't want to presume anything but, more than likely no one
has asked your pastor to participate in this "Great Campaign" of
prayer for the preservation of Life.
Question: I'd like to see my parish
participate in this prayer campaign, how can I get it started.
Answer: That's what we are here for! We will provide all
the materials you need to accomplish the task. What we suggest to get
started is: If you are a member of a parish organization like Altar and
Rosary, Knights of Columbus, Liturgy Commission, Prayer Group or
Pro/Respect-Life group to approach your group at the next meeting and present
them with the idea. If you are not a member of a group then contact the
leader of one of these organizations in your parish. Once you have
garnered their support then approach your pastor and tell him your group would
like to do a "Spiritual Adoption Enrollment" in the parish.
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