Lay Vocation dedicated to protecting the dignity of life

How can Catholics affect cultural change, given the direction the world has taken? That is the big question for John Kennedy, who has recently taken up the role of president at ACT Right to Life.

Alongside Jan, his wife of 56 years, John has committed his life to the church, with the couple living out their mission through lay vocation.

“It has been a conscious decision for us to work together consistently,” he said.

“We have complementary gifts that we are able to bring together.”

The couple are currently focused on supporting Right to Life through something of a transitional period.

“Right to Life has existed in the ACT since the 1970’s,” John explained.

“Back then, there was a very significant focus on trying to prevent abortion. Now if you fast forward, I see us as a transitional leadership, trying to take it from what it was, to what is appropriate for the times we live in now.”

Guided by Pope John Paull II’s words on life issues being understood as cultural issues, John said there was an important shift the organisation must recognise.

“When you’re dealing with Right to Life, you’re dealing with a whole world culture now that has changed, and a society that accepts things it has not before,” he said.

“The massive question is how do we play a part in affecting levels of cultural change, given the direction in which the world has moved?”

With the ACT Legislative Assembly recently passing legislation that will enable territory residents who meet specific criteria to access voluntary assisted dying from November 3 next year, John said the Bill was part of this cultural change.

“Both euthanasia and abortion fail to honour the truth that life has dignity and should be protected from conception to natural death,” he said.

“Those who are contemplating either should be offered every care and support by a society that remains faithful in respecting life, particularly the most vulnerable.”

John said despite the policy claiming to extend care and support for the suffering, it would lead to many deaths, becoming more inclusive as ‘protections’ disappeared, leaving the vulnerable increasingly vulnerable.

The Church, he noted, was faced with an enormous challenge in the modern day.

“Life matters at every stage. The older I get, the more I realise that. To protect it, we only have this one opportunity – our life – to do something. All we can do is the best we can do.”

John would like to see all Catholics and other Christians understand the importance of lay vocation to the mission of the Church.

“The lay vocation should fundamentally be focused on the state of the world,” he said.

“That is where we are called as lay people. That is where we live out our call. And the culture is changing on our watch. There must be a time people begin to reflect on their capacity to contribute to a better set of circumstances.”

John said the Church model is that communion gives rise to mission.

“So, I would be saying to parishes and other communities that within themselves, they need to foster and develop an attitude of mission,” he said.

“I see Right to Life as a sense of mission. Because even if it is like trying to deal with poverty in the world, you can’t get rid of it, but you can make an effort where you can. For one person, it might make a difference.”

John said one of the fascinations with cultural change is that it is not a question of what people do, but more who they are in their culture.

“If you are sitting at a dinner table, and there is a discussion and you are able to witness your beliefs, that is impactful, that’s sowing a seed,” he said.

“That’s what Christian lay life is often about – just being able to sow that seed of truth.”

Cultural change, John noted, has to begin with what people believe, and that will shape what they do.

“At the end of the day, the most significant point is that life matters in all stages,” he said.

“Any sense of people taking hold of that would be very, very encouraging.”