2026 Respect Life Essay Contest Guidelines & Prompts
Theme: Religious Freedom, an essential requirement of the dignity of every person
“In the first place, religious freedom, an essential requirement of the dignity of every person, is a cornerstone of the structure of human rights.”
ST. POPE JOHN PAUL II FOR THE CELEBRATION OF THE WORLD DAY OF PEACE
January 1st, 1998
Grades K-8
Students in Grades K-8 are to respond to the directions for the prompt at each grade level.
Kindergarten through 4th grade: Please do not provide the students with any pre-made pictures for coloring. Please let them create the image themselves.
Kinder: Utilize the provided videos and lives of the saints’ summaries (on our site)
Teachers or parents, please have the children draw an image of either St. Oscar Romero or St. John Paul II. Talk to them about how these saints protected their Catholic faith. Please have them draw a picture of how the saint practiced or protected the practice of their faith.
1st, and 2nd Grade: Utilize the provided videos and videos and lives of the saints’ summaries (on our site)
Teachers or parents: Please have the children draw an image of either St. Oscar Romero or St. John Paul II. Talk to them about how these saints protected their Catholic faith. Please have them draw a picture of how the saint practiced or protected the practice of their faith. Have children write a sentence or two describing their picture.
3rd and 4th Grade: Utilize the provided videos and lives of the saints’ summaries (on our site)
Choose either St. Oscar Romero or St. John Paul II to draft your comic strip. Illustrate a comic strip that shows how the saint protected their faith and religious freedom. Please remember to write a description (a few lines) on each panel of your comic strip so we know what each panel on your comic describes.
5th and 6th Grade: Choose one of the three saints (St. Oscar Romero, St. John Paul II or Blessed Miguel Pro) to draft a reflection: Utilize the articles, saint summaries, and videos to write an essay. Please share what stood out for you about how that saint defended religious freedom and protected the dignity of the human person. Write (2-3 paragraphs) – handwritten or typed. Please have students in middle school handwrite the Academic Integrity AI clause on their information form.
7th and 8th Grade: Choose one of the three saints (St. Oscar Romero, St. John Paul II or Blessed Miguel Pro) to draft a reflection: Utilize the articles, saint summaries and video of the saint you chose as inspiration to write an essay sharing what stood out for you about how that saint defended religious freedom and protected the dignity of the human person. Write (3-4 paragraphs essay) – handwritten or typed. Please have students in middle school handwrite the Academic Integrity AI clause on their information form.
Resources for K-8:
Saints:
St. Oscar Romero
Oscar Romero, the Archbishop of San Salvador, was a prominent advocate for religious freedom and human rights during the El Salvadorian Civil War. He challenged the government’s human rights abuses, including persecution of religious figures and civilians, and called for conversion and adherence to God’s law. His unwavering defense of the poor and marginalized, and his vocal opposition to government violence, led to his assassination, making him a martyr for human rights and religious freedom.
Cartoon video for St. Oscar Romero:
For older children
St. John Paul II
St. John Paul II consistently championed religious freedom, viewing it as a cornerstone of human rights and the foundation of a free society. He believed it was essential for the Church’s mission of evangelization and argued that coercing religious belief undermined the freedom necessary for genuine faith. He saw religious freedom as the basis for all other freedoms, as it touches the most intimate sphere of the human spirit and is essential for the dignity of the person. He argued that recognizing religious freedom in law limits the state’s power and prevents it from infringing on individuals’ right to freely choose their faith. He stressed the importance of respecting individual consciences and the right to freely practice or not practice religion. He encouraged interreligious dialogue based on respect for different faiths and the freedom to practice them. He condemned systems that discriminate against religious groups and those that persecute people for their faith.
Cartoon video for St. John Paul II:
Highlight the cartoon at minute 3:25 “Above all he fought for the right to believe. He knew that a world without God is a world without joy, without beauty, without true humanity.”
Bl. Miguel Pro
Blessed Miguel Pro was a Jesuit priest who bravely practiced his faith and served the people in Mexico during a time of intense persecution of the Catholic Church in the 1920s. He defied a government that outlawed religious practice and ministered secretly, assuming many different disguises, to ensure the faithful received sacraments and spiritual comfort. His actions, including celebrating Mass and distributing communion secretly, and ultimately his martyrdom, demonstrated his commitment to religious freedom and the rights of Catholics.
Ultimately, Father Pro was executed for his defiance of the anti-Catholic laws and for his continued ministry. His martyrdom further cemented his status as a martyr for religious freedom and a champion of faith. Blessed Miguel Pro’s example continues to inspire those persecuted for their faith, demonstrating the importance of standing up for religious freedom and serving others, even in the most difficult circumstances.
Videos (similar)
Blessed Miguel Pro: How to Rescue Religious Freedom
Father Miguel Agustin Pro, martyr
The Modern Day Saint Who CONFRONTED Mexico’s Persecution
Articles for 5-8 grade:
Blessed Miguel Pro:
https://www.ncregister.com/blog/blessed-miguel-pro
https://www.ncregister.com/blog/viva-christo-rey-how-miguel-pro-martyrdom-united-a-nation
St. John Paul II: “The Fourth of July and St. John Paul II: A Polish Pope with a Heart for the US” https://www.ncregister.com/commentaries/the-fourth-of-july-and-st-john-paul-ii-a-polish-pope-with-a-heart-for-the-us
St. Oscar Romero: Saints, martyrs and the cross – Los Angeles Archbishop Jose Gomez on true freedom https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/34144/saints-martyrs-and-the-cross-%E2%80%93-archbishop-gomez-on-true-freedom
Grades 9-12
Please answer the following:
Draft your reflection based on one of the three countries we have chosen (Nicaragua, Nigeria, or China) where religious freedom is violated. Utilize the articles provided for that country as well as the comprehensive religious freedom reports to highlight the importance of religious freedom. Please base it on the two excerpts provided (Dignitatis Humana and the USCCB excerpt for the country you choose.)
Please have students handwrite the Academic Integrity AI clause on their information form.
Nicaragua
USCCB Excerpt: The Church in Nicaragua—by far the most trusted and the last remaining independent civil society institution in the country, ever since the regime of Daniel Ortega and his wife and Vice President Rosario Murillo imprisoned and exiled virtually the entire political opposition—is facing a critical intensification of religious persecution. Since 2018, when the Nicaraguan bishops supported civil society’s right to protest unpopular government policies, the Church in Nicaragua has been facing a systematic and persistent campaign of aggression from the government and pro-government operatives, with churches being attacked with deadly force, priests and religious imprisoned or exiled, the Apostolic Nuncio expelled, and, in February 2023 the unjust sentencing of Bishop Rolando Alvarez of Matagalpa, Nicaragua, to 26 years in prison. In February 2023, the regime exiled 222 political prisoners, including 11 priests, to the United States. The viciousness of the persecution is highlighted in the numerous acts of desecration against the Blessed Sacrament that have been committed by pro-government forces and the banning of traditional processions by the majority Catholic population during Holy Week. These are politically calculated acts of psychological and spiritual terrorism against the faithful in Nicaragua. They are intended to send a message to the bishops, priests and faithful that the regime will go to any lengths to quash and silence the moral voice of the Catholic Church in the country.
Nicaragua Resources:
US Commission on International Religious Freedom Annual Report for Nicaragua: https://www.uscirf.gov/sites/default/files/2025-04/Nicaragua%202025%20USCIRF%20Annual%20Report.pdf
Aid to the Church in Need Report by Country: Nicaragua:
https://acninternational.org/religiousfreedomreport/reports/country/2023/nicaragua
Article: Ortega Regime Shuts Down Another Catholic Radio Station in Nicaragua
https://www.ncregister.com/cna/ortega-regime-shuts-down-another-catholic-radio-station-in-nicaragua
Article: Ortega Regime in Nicaragua Violently Shuts Down Catholic Radio Stations
Article: Radio María in Nicaragua Shut Down by Country’s Dictatorship
https://www.ncregister.com/cna/radio-maria-in-nicaragua-shut-down-by-country-s-dictatorship
Nigeria
USCCB Excerpt: Nigeria, a country that is half Christian and half Muslim, has been plagued by complicated and multifaceted dynamics of religious conflict, including competition for natural resources between Muslim Fulani herders and Christian farmers. At the juridical level, however, the resurgence of Sharia Law in 12 of the 20 northern states in 2000 has further marked the north-south divide that has been present in Nigeria since before independence from the British Empire in 1960. Christians in states under Sharia Law are many times obligated to adhere to its tenets, and face much civil society discrimination, including the denial of public services and the imposition of Muslim religious garb. Archbishop Matthew Man-Oso Ndagoso of Kaduna once remarked: “Religious persecution in the north is systemic. For you to be able to practice your religion freely, you should be able to preach anywhere. That is not possible in the north. I cannot build a church, yet the Government employs and pays imams to teach in schools. Every year they have money to build mosques in the budget but will not let you build churches.” Beyond the political dimension, radicalization of Fulani herders, as well as elements of Boko Haram—which persecutes both Christians and Muslims—has contributed an increase in anti-Christian violence. The country ranks first in the numbers of Christians killed in 2024 (3,100) and kidnapped (2,830).
Nigeria Resources:
US Commission on International Religious Freedom Annual Report for Nigeria: https://www.uscirf.gov/sites/default/files/2025-04/Nigeria%202025%20USCIRF%20Annual%20Report.pdf
Aid to the Church in Need Report by Country: Nigeria: https://acninternational.org/religiousfreedomreport/reports/country/2023/nigeria
Article: Report: Christian Persecution at Its Highest Point in 30 years https://www.ncregister.com/cna/report-christian-persecution-at-its-highest-point-in-30-years (Nigeria continues to be the epicenter of massacres with 5,014 Christians killed in 2022, nearly 90% of the total number of Christians killed worldwide — 5,621.)
Article: Nigerian Bishop Decries Anti-Christian Attacks, Calls on US to Put Pressure on His Country’s Government https://www.ncregister.com/news/nigerian-bishop-decries-anti-christian-attacks
China
USCCB Excerpt: While the Chinese constitution grants its citizens “freedom of religious belief,” in reality that freedom is conditioned by what the government deems to be permissible. In remarks in December 2021, President Xi re-emphasized the need for “Sinicization” of religion, “upholding the principle of developing religions in the Chinese context and providing active guidance for the adaptation of religions to socialist society.” The case of Uyghur Muslims in China has been much publicized and with good reason. It is estimated that over 1 million Uyghurs in the Xinjiang region of China have been detained in what the Chinese call “re-education” camps but are basically prison camps. Human rights groups have found credible evidence of Uyghurs being tortured, placed in solitary confinement, and subjected to forced labor. For those not in the camps, the CCP uses extensive electronic surveillance (facial recognition, voice pattern sampling) and armed checkpoints to limit the movement of Uyghurs.
But the growing restrictions apply to all religions. Christian institutions and clergy/religious have been come under increased pressure to register with state-sanctioned religious bodies. For Catholics, this would be the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association (CCPA). There are an estimated 12 million Catholics in China, with half being part of CCPA registered congregations led by bishops selected with the approval of the Chinese Communist Party, the rest being members of the “underground” church who adhere to the authority of Rome. In September 2018, the Vatican and China signed a provisional agreement concerning the appointment of bishops with the CCPA recommending candidates for bishops and the Pope having the final say. While the text of this agreement has not been made public, it was intended to pave the way for the unification of the underground and CCPA sanctioned Catholic communities. It remains to be seen whether the Vatican’s hope of building trust and friendship through dialogue will bear fruit in improvements in religious freedom, not only for Catholics, but for all who want to exercise their “right to live in the truth of one’s faith and in conformity with one’s transcendent dignity as a person.”
China Resources:
US Commission on International Religious Freedom Annual Report for China: https://www.uscirf.gov/sites/default/files/2025-04/China%202025%20USCIRF%20Annual%20Report.pdf
Aid to the Church in Need Report by Country: China: https://acninternational.org/religiousfreedomreport/reports/country/2023/china
Article: China’s New Religious Restrictions Severely Limit Foreign Missionary Activity. https://www.ncregister.com/cna/china-s-new-religious-restrictions
Article: China is Removing Crosses From Churches, Replacing Images of Christ With Xi Jinping https://www.ncregister.com/cna/china-is-removing-crosses-from-churches-replacing-images-of-christ-with-xi-jinping
MORE RESOURCES for 9-12:
Declaration on Religious Freedom DIGNITATIS HUMANAE
Second Vatican Council Declaration on Religious Freedom
DIGNITATIS HUMANAE Excerpt:
This Vatican Council declares that the human person has a right to religious freedom. This freedom means that all men are to be immune from coercion on the part of individuals or of social groups and of any human power, in such wise that no one is to be forced to act in a manner contrary to his own beliefs, whether privately or publicly, whether alone or in association with others, within due limits.
The council further declares that the right to religious freedom has its foundation in the very dignity of the human person as this dignity is known through the revealed word of God and by reason itself. (2) This right of the human person to religious freedom is to be recognized in the constitutional law whereby society is governed and thus it is to become a civil right.
It is in accordance with their dignity as persons-that is, beings endowed with reason and free will and therefore privileged to bear personal responsibility-that all men should be at once impelled by nature and also bound by a moral obligation to seek the truth, especially religious truth. They are also bound to adhere to the truth, once it is known, and to order their whole lives in accord with the demands of truth. However, men cannot discharge these obligations in a manner in keeping with their own nature unless they enjoy immunity from external coercion as well as psychological freedom. Therefore, the right to religious freedom has its foundation not in the subjective disposition of the person, but in his very nature. In consequence, the right to this immunity continues to exist even in those who do not live up to their obligation of seeking the truth and adhering to it and the exercise of this right is not to be impeded, provided that just public order be observed.
What Church teaches on religious freedom:
https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/catechism/index.cfm?recnum=5776
USCCB on religious freedom:
https://www.usccb.org/committees/religious-liberty/how-talk-about-religious-freedom
Submission Instructions for all students in
Grades K-12
All submissions will be judged on the student’s ability to articulate his or her understanding of the issues, the message of the Catholic Church in relation to those issues, his or her own personal commitment to implementing the Church’s message and creativity.
Please send all entries to: Respect Life Program, Office of Human Life & Dignity
Archdiocese of San Francisco, One Peter Yorke Way, San Francisco, CA 94109
Essays should be postmarked by January 23rd, 2026.
Please do not put the name of the student on the front of the essay. Either attach it to the back of the essay—on the form provided—or print the form provided and staple it to their essay. We need the name of the student, student’s address, telephone number, grade, school, teacher & county.
Please print as legibly as possible so names on awards certificates will be accurate. If the teacher or student would like a copy of the essay, please copy before mailing. Due to the number of essays received, we might not be able to photocopy or return copies of essays.
Please have students in Middle School and High School handwrite the following Academic Integrity AI clause on the information form included with the essay:
“I honestly attest that my submitted response is my own original work and that I have not copied the work of anyone else or used AI in the generation of this response.”
Categories of Judging
Grade K – Grand Prize $25
First Prize $10 – one awarded in each County
Grade 1- Grand Prize $50
First Prize $ 25 – one awarded in each County
Honorable Mentions awarded as deserved
Grade 2 – Grand Prize $50
First Prize $ 25 – one awarded in each County
Honorable Mentions awarded as deserved
Grade 3 — Grand Prize $75
First Prize $ 25 – one awarded in each County
Honorable Mentions awarded as deserved
Grade 4 –Grand Prize $ 75
First Prize $ 25 – one awarded in each County
Honorable Mentions awarded as deserved
Grade 5 — Grand Prize $100
First Prize $ 50 – one awarded in each County
Honorable Mentions awarded as deserved
Grades 6 –Grand Prize $100
First Prize $ 50 – one awarded in each County
Honorable Mentions awarded as deserved
Grade 7 — Grand Prize $125
First Prize $ 75 – one awarded in each County
Honorable Mentions awarded as deserved
Grade 8 — Grand Prize $150
First Prize $ 75 – one awarded in each County
Honorable Mentions awarded as deserved
High School:
Grades 9-12 Grand Prize $250
First Prize $100
Honorable Mentions awarded as deserved
A Special Mass and Awards Ceremony will be held on Sunday April 26, 2026, beginning with Mass at 11 AM. To RSVP, everyone will go to sfarch.org/essay-contest closer to the date to confirm their attendance. Information will be updated on the site as the date for the Mass approaches.