Since 1983, Americans have observed Sanctity of Human Life Sunday as a day to celebrate the intrinsic value of all human life. This important day also provides an opportunity for pregnancy centers to share about the work they do each day to bring life-affirming resources to their communities and to empower women and men to choose life for their unborn children.
In 2012, SOHLS will take place on January 22nd. In honor of this important day, Care Net Pregnancy Center of Indian River County has provided beautiful brochures to area churches as a bulletin insert to promote the sanctity of human life.
To learn more about Sanctity of Human Life Sunday or to find out how you can participate in this event through the distribution of SOHLS brochures, contact Care Net Pregnancy Center of Indian River County at 772-569-7939. To view the brochures online, click here.
What is National Sanctity of Human Life Sunday?
Twenty-seven years ago, the Christian Action Council Education and Ministries Fund, which is today known as Care Net, asked President Ronald Reagan to create a special day to focus on the intrinsic value of human life and the fundamental right to life, as recognized by the American Founding Fathers.
In 1983, President Reagan issued a proclamation establishing a National Sanctity of Human Life Sunday (SOHLS). Since 1983, the SOHLS proclamation has also been issued by Presidents George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush.
When is SOHLS?
The National Sanctity of Human Life Sunday is held on the Sunday in January that falls closest to the day on which the Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton decisions were handed down by the U.S. Supreme Court on January 22, 1973.
This year SOHLS will take place on January 22nd, 2012.
How can I get involved?
Each year, individuals and churches sponsor a variety of activities and events to commemorate SOHLS, including special prayer services, ringing church bells, and special sermons and Sunday school lessons. In addition to worship services, thousands of Christians petition the Lord privately through prayer and fasting to codify the right to life in the United States.
As a national network of pregnancy centers has arisen to help women facing unplanned pregnancies, church leaders have begun to encourage members of their congregations to support their local centers in a variety of ways.
Care Net, the nation's largest network of pregnancy centers in North America, has distributed over 17 million SOHLS brochures to pregnancy centers to place in local church bulletins. Through such efforts, crisis pregnancy centers, which are widely recognized as reducing the number of unplanned pregnancies and abortions, are able to raise awareness among churches for their various needs. These centers, whose services are free, rely heavily on churches for volunteers, prayer support, board members, and financial and material contributions.
