In my latest column that ran in the Sept. 28 edition of the St. Louis Call, I explained why I thought September was the cruelest month.

My younger brother contracted polio in September 1964. He was left a paraplegic until his death in September 1990. On Sept. 11, 2001, nearly 3,000 perished in the terrorists’ attacks.

This month I thought I would be more upbeat and discuss life.

October is designated by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops as “Respect Life Month”. It is an opportunity for Catholics to contemplate the sanctity of life and for parishes to reflect upon how they can build a culture that protects life.

Life is one of three inalienable rights of man referenced in the Declaration of Independence. The other two are liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The 14th Amendment to the Constitution provides that no one should be deprived of life without due process of law.

When I was in the state legislature, the Safe Place for Newborns Act of 2002 was enacted. The law was designed to protect newborn babies from injury or death through abandonment by a parent and to provide a safe and secure alternative to such abandonment. A parent could leave a newborn with a first responder or staff member of a maternity home or pregnancy center up to 45 days with no legal consequence.

This year, the state’s first Safe Haven baby box was installed at a Mehlville Fire Protection District engine house in south St. Louis County. This temperature controlled and alarmed box allows parents to anonymously abandon a newborn without fear of prosecution.

As a senior citizen, I am happy that our society does not practice senicide. This is the practice of killing the elderly who are deemed expendable because they are incapable of contributing. But, perhaps some readers would consider my columns beneficial and thus I am a contributing member to society.

Each life is precious whether it is that of a newborn or a senior citizen. Each will or has made a difference in someone’s life. I have married and fathered three children. My children have children and I am a grandfather of six. Nine lives exist because I have lived. I am sure each reader can make a similar claim how his or her life has benefitted another or others.

This month, Respect Life Month, reflect upon the sanctity of this inalienable right and how you can contribute to ensuring that we are always remain a society that protects life.