RIVERSIDE, California, November 24, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Orthodox Christians for Life has been restored by new leadership, after many years of inactivity. The group was originally founded in 1986, but fell dormant in the early 2000s. Orthodox Christians for Life (“OCLife”) has now obtained 501(c)(3) nonprofit status, and will once again bring a unified Orthodox Christian voice to the pro-life movement. Emily Wilkinson is its President and Executive Director.
OCLife’s mission is “To equip the Orthodox Christian community to strengthen its commitment to the sacredness of human life from conception to death, illuminating the Church’s teaching on life issues through education and engagement.”
The initial focus of the organization will be to re-establish its parish ministry program, mobilizing lay people to serve their church and community through affiliated Orthodox Christians for Life ministries. The groups’ activities will focus on sanctity of life prayer, education, and service.
“We are very excited to begin cultivating an Orthodox pro-life ethic,” said Wilkinson. “It is the duty of the Church to care for the vulnerable, which includes women at risk for abortion and their children. Our parish ministries will collaborate with local pro-life organizations to strengthen their impact and support pregnant women.”
In order to best assist Orthodox parishes with addressing life issues, especially abortion, OCLife will be surveying clergy about their pastoral needs. In the long term, OCLife plans to develop many sanctity of life resources that are currently lacking in the Orthodox community.
More information can be found on the Orthodox Christians for Life website and Facebook page. Those interested in starting a parish ministry should contact [email protected] for more information.
In spite of COVID and the ongoing election disputes, Americans will gather on Thursday to give thanks for all that they have received, and to show gratitude to God and neighbor.
In many places across the nation, however, state governors are "cracking down" on Thanksgiving by implementing additional, seemingly arbitrary limits on citizens' right to free assembly.
At the same time, these same governors are allowing Black Friday shopping to go on practically unabated, without additional restrictions than those already in place for their states' COVID response.
This kind of discrimination is wrong!
Please SIGN this petition, asking state governors not to cancel Thanksgiving while favoring Black Friday.
Here are a few examples:
- In Oregon, Democratic Governor Kate Brown issued an emergency order limiting the number of people who may gather in private homes, to six, on Thanksgiving Day. But, shopping on Black Friday will go on almost unaffected, as retails establishments may remain open at a capacity of 75%.
- In New York, Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo has issued a directive limiting the number of people who may gather in a private home to ten, while Black Friday sales continue.
- And, in Maryland, Republican Governor Larry Hogan 'High Visibility Compliance Units' will be deployed around the state, including state troopers being sent to all counties to strengthen enforcement of COVID regulations. Meanwhile, retail establishments remain open at a capacity of 50%.
While LifeSite believes in taking appropriate precautions for COVID especially for the elderly and those already suffering poor health, we also believe that individuals and families should be allowed to use their good sense and their own discretion rather than being coerced by the state in these matters.
Moreover, states should not be in the business of discriminating against family gatherings, like Thanksgiving, in favor of commercial pursuits, like Black Friday.
Please SIGN and SHARE this Thanksgiving Day petition, urging governors not to discriminate against family gatherings and impose greater, disproportionate COVID restrictions for Thanksgiving Day than they would for shopping on Black Friday.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
''There is no way' to enforce COVID Thanksgiving bans, New Mexico governor admits' - https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/there-is-no-way-to-enforce-covid-thanksgiving-bans-new-mexico-governor-admits
'Illinois governor refuses to say whether he’ll obey Thanksgiving COVID lockdown' - https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/illinois-governor-refuses-to-say-whether-hell-obey-thanksgiving-covid-lockdown
'The Governor Canceled Thanksgiving. Why Not Black Friday?' - https://www.wweek.com/news/business/2020/11/18/the-governor-canceled-thanksgiving-why-not-black-friday/
**Photo Credit: Shutterstock.com