When to evangelize and how?

[JenDox]

When approached about my faith, I evangelize. I also try to evangelize by my actions everyday. But, there are times when I get really stuck.

My neighbor/friend told me about 2 years ago that her and her husband are going to start invitro. I was so upset- she is not Catholic. I did not know what to say or how to say it. Praise God it did not work for them and now they are going through the adoption process. I glaringly praised them for choosing to look into adoption.

About a month ago, I had another friend tell me she was going to start invitro the following week. Once again, I found myself very upset wanting to say something… but did not know how. She is also not Catholic but her husband is a fallen away Catholic. I have been praying for their souls almost everyday… what else can I do?

How does one evangelize about the glorious and precious gift of life in a moment like this?

 

[Brian_C]

With great care. It is very hard to get someone who has reached that point of desperation to understand the moralilty of the situation. I’m not saying don’t mention it at all, just be quite delicate if you do.

I’m probably not telling you anything here…but it’s tough. I couldn’t imagine being in that situation.

I may have to start putting some of mine up for adoption if we keep going at this pace!

 

[Catholig]

When approached about my faith, I evangelize. I also try to evangelize by my actions everyday. But, there are times when I get really stuck.

My neighbor/friend told me about 2 years ago that her and her husband are going to start invitro. I was so upset- she is not Catholic. I did not know what to say or how to say it. Praise God it did not work for them and now they are going through the adoption process. I glaringly praised them for choosing to look into adoption.

About a month ago, I had another friend tell me she was going to start invitro the following week. Once again, I found myself very upset wanting to say something… but did not know how. She is also not Catholic but her husband is a fallen away Catholic. I have been praying for their souls almost everyday… what else can I do?

How does one evangelize about the glorious and precious gift of life in a moment like this?

I know it’s easier said than done, but tell your friend that with in vitro more embryos are made than are use. That could be a good starting point for the conversation of why she and her hustand shouldn’t use in vitro.

Catholig

 

[stbruno]

priestsforlife.org/magisterium/donumvitae.htm

It’s always good to get the specifics on why we believe what we believe about invitro fertilization. Check out this link from the Priests for Life organization. You can explore it further as well for more information.

And before you do anything, pray to the Holy Spirit to put the right words in your mouth. Pray, Pray, and pray some more that you will be planting good seeds on fertile soil that will take root in your friends…

Most of the time, people are just not aware of the moral teachings of natural law…not just Catholic law but natural law which all come from the grace of God. God bless you!

 

[stbruno]

Just opened my email and maybe this will help you with more information regarding invitro fertilization. It came from:

Fr. Frank Pavone
National Director, Priests for Life

On February 22, 1987 - that is, twenty years ago - the Catholic Church gave our society a tremendous gift, and it’s time to open it again. It was a clear trumpet blast of truth and compassion, a ray of Gospel light on problems that continue to be some of the most vexing of our time.

The gift was a document called “Donum Vitae” (Latin words that mean “The Gift of Life”). Issued by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the document’s fuller title is “Instruction on Respect for Human Life in Its Origin and on the Dignity of Procreation: Replies to Certain Questions of the Day.”

The document is not long; it can easily be read in a single sitting. It talks about the tiniest human beings: who they are and how they come to be. It talks about how we treat zygotes and embryos - two categories to which each of us reading this article once belonged. It emphasizes the fact that each person has both a right to life, and a right to come into life in the proper way - not as the result of a scientific project in the lab, but as a result of the union of two people lovingly united in body and soul.

Among the questions the document tackles are the following: What is the relationship between science and ethics? Must the embryo be treated as a person? Is every human being a human person? Is pre-natal diagnosis morally acceptable? Is experimentation on human embryos and fetuses morally acceptable? What is the Church’s objection to in-vitro fertilization and surrogate motherhood? May embryos be frozen? How does the Church look upon infertile couples? In what way may medical science assist the act of procreation? What is the responsibility of lawmakers toward the human embryo?

The document does not simply lay down “dos and don’ts,” and it is not a condemnation. Rather, it places these teachings in the context of our personal relationship with God, who loves us. Donum Vitae says, “It is out of goodness – in order to indicate the path of life – that God gives human beings His commandments and the grace to observe them: and it is likewise out of goodness – in order to help them persevere along the same path – that God always offers to everyone His forgiveness. Christ has compassion on our weaknesses: He is our Creator and Redeemer.”

The document reminds us that every human being, from fertilization, must be treated as a person both inside and outside the womb. “How could a human individual not be a human person?” the document asks. Even “human embryos obtained in vitro are human beings and subjects with rights.” And in regard to the Church’s absolute prohibition on procured abortion, Donum Vitae declares, “This teaching has not been changed and is unchangeable.”

In short, children are a gift, and therefore can neither be discarded nor demanded. They are persons, not products. Let’s learn anew the message of Donum Vitae