Over 50 years ago, the Second Vatican Council described the purpose of the Catholic school as creating “for the school community a special atmosphere animated by the Gospel spirit … (Vatican II, “Declaration on Christian Education, 8″).”
When Jesus was speaking to the crowd about being the Good Shepherd in John’s Gospel he assured them, “I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.” Notice that he did not speak conditionally. He did not say, “I have come that they may have life,” except the unborn; except those with handicaps, physical or mental or social; except the elderly or the terminally ill; except the guilty or the criminal; except anyone in certain socially questionable circumstances. His mission and promise of life was and remains to all and for all. All human beings, born and unborn, are intentionally created by God and in God’s image.