African-American Fathers Challenged to Give Pro-Life Witness

By Kathleen Sweeney, Outreach Department

Fr. James E. Goode, O.F.M., president of the National Black Catholic Apostolate for Life, used the occasion of Father's Day, which was celebrated June 18, to call on African-American fathers "to stand boldly for the sacredness of life."

Fr. Goode, a Franciscan of New York City who in 1997 organized the pro-life apostolate for outreach to Black Catholics under the sponsorship of the National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus, issued a statement in which he urged African-American "fathers for life" to make commitments to promote responsible fatherhood, including the commitment to stand up "unconditionally for the dignity and respect of human life from the moment of conception to its natural end.''

The statement included comments by Bishop J. Terry Steib of Memphis, Tennessee, chairman of the U.S. bishops' Committee on African-American Catholics. Bishop Steib described the Father's Day pro-life connection as "a splendid opportunity to recognize our fathers and to encourage them to witness the Gospel of life.''

"The black community is in serious need of positive male role models who will enhance the growth and development of our children,'' the bishop said, in comments included in Fr. Goode's statement.

Fr. Goode's statement, issued in coordination with the bishops' Secretariat for African-American Catholics, highlighted Pope John Paul II's urgent challenge: "We need to bring the Gospel of life to the heart of every man and woman and make it penetrate every part of society."