Posted on 01/17/2013 9:29:29 AM PST by frogjerk
And so, we march A message from Most Rev. David M. O'Connell, C.M., Bishop of Trenton
While standing in a grocery store checkout line recently, I could hardly believe my eyes when I saw the cover of Time magazine which read: 40 Years ago, abortion-rights activists won an epic victory with Roe v. Wade theyve been losing ever since.
Wow! That certainly is good news in a battle that those of us committed to the pro-life cause have been waging ever since the Supreme Courts tragic decision in 1973. I bought the magazine and read the article which pointed out the gradual but steady restrictions being introduced or enacted in various states to limit abortion on demand. May those efforts continue.
Usually, a 40th anniversary celebration is a happy occasion. Most unfortunately, this anniversary can only be remembered as one of the darkest days in our history. It not only calls to mind the destruction of human life at its earliest and most vulnerable point in the womb, but it underscores a pervasive disregard for the sacredness of human life at all stages that, sadly, has come to characterize the culture of death in contemporary society.
I just cannot understand the willful killing of a human being and most scientists today agree that life begins at conception. In cases of abortion, whatever the motivation, we are not dealing with a potential human life we are dealing with a human life with potential. Since 1973, well over 54,559,615 abortions have been committed and I use that word deliberately in the same way I would refer to people who commit murder. That is what it is, regardless of how it may be spun under the banner of choice or reproductive rights or privacy. The choice in abortion is to end a life. The right being exercised ignores the right of the child within the womb, again, a human life. Privacy? What is private about taking anothers life.
In this country a baby is aborted every 26 seconds. Why? Research indicates that three-fourths of those who commit abortion do so because having a baby would interfere with work and other dimensions of a persons life. That same number also claims they abort because they cannot afford to have a baby. Almost one-half of those who obtain abortions simply state that they do not want to be single parents or that their relationships with spouse or partner are troubled. Less than 2 percent of abortions occur because of rape or incest.
Those who are pro-choice and who support abortion will look at those motivations and will attempt to create sympathy, making victims of those who abort. And they succeed! I feel sorry for those who choose abortion but I cannot excuse it, I simply cannot condone the killing of innocent human life because of a job or finances or struggles in a relationship. At some point, people have to face the fact that abortion is murder, regardless of motive.
There is research indicating that the tide is turning and that is encouraging. Although over 1.2 million abortions are committed in the United States annually as of the latest recorded data, the number is slowly declining. The attitudes of citizens seem to be changing toward abortion on demand, with a 2011 Marist poll indicating that 79 percent of Americans do not support it.
As hopeful as that is, we cannot relax our efforts to step up and strengthen the pro-life cause, advocating for human life in the womb and at all stages until natural death. Although the Catholic Church, especially here in the United States, has been constant and unflagging in its proclamation of the sacredness of human life from womb to tomb, abortion is not simply a religious issue or the Catholic Churchs thing, as I hear it labeled. No Catholic can consider himself/herself truly Catholic if he/she supports or, worse, advocates for abortion. The issue, however, is fundamentally a human issue not merely a religious one, negatively affecting everyone in a culture that accepts, allows, legalizes, seeks and promotes it.
The pro-life cause is not simply our own as Catholics and it is ours; the pro-life cause is or should be that of everyone God has created, everyone who has been given the chance to be born and live, everyone who has been given the gift of life to enjoy. Theres no two sides to this story, as hard as that is for a pluralistic I might say, rather, relativistic society to accept. When Christ said in Johns Gospel, I have come that you may have life and have it to the full, he was speaking to everyone of every time and in every culture: born and unborn, healthy and sick, innocent and guilty, young and old, useful and inactive. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. For the person of faith, that is the only thing we need to know to be pro-life.
Let us consider these words:
This is our first task caring for our children. Its our first job. If we dont get that right, we dont get anything right. Thats how, as a society, we will be judged. And by that measure, can we truly say, as a nation, that we are meeting our obligations? Can we honestly say that were doing enough to keep our children all of them safe from harm? Can we claim, as a nation, that were all together there, letting them know that they are loved, and teaching them to love in return? Can we say that were truly doing enough to give all the children of this country the chance they deserve to live out their lives in happiness and with purpose? Ive been reflecting on this the last few days, and if were honest with ourselves, the answer is no. Were not doing enough. And we will have to change
We cant tolerate anymore. These tragedies must end. And to end them, we must change. We will be told that the causes of such violence are complex, and that is true. No single law no set of laws can eliminate evil from the world, or prevent every senseless act of violence in our society.
But that cant be an excuse for inaction. Surely, we can do better than this. If there is even one step we can take to save another child then surely we have an obligation to try.
These are not the words of some bishop, priest or preacher. They are not the words of the leadership of a pro-life group. They are not even the words of a pro-life person. They are the words of the President of the United States on the occasion of the tragic massacre of innocent children and teachers in Newtown, Connecticut, shortly before Christmas this year. Shouldnt they also be spoken of children in the womb? Shouldnt they be the start of a national examination of conscience regarding abortion? Shouldnt they help convince us all that without love and respect for innocent, vulnerable children in the womb, all life is at risk?
By the age of 40, most of us accumulate the experience and maturity to understand and embrace our lives and to seek what is right and good not only for ourselves but for others. As Roe v. Wade turns 40, we realize that what may be true of individuals is not necessarily true for a nation. And, so, we pray and we march and we raise our voices in the unfailing hope that abortion will end and that respect for life from its beginning to natural death will become the law of the land and the legacy of its people.
No Catholic can consider themselves truly Catholic if they carry democrat water or allow Godless democrats into their fold.
Notre Dame should have been removed from the Catholic roles after their barry worshiping and hiding the crosses.
Prior to the last election, the pollsters told us that the majority of Americans were against abortion. Yet, the Democrats, who favor abortion, suffered no penalty at the ballot box for their views. We’ve won the abortion debate. People understand that killing babies is bad. Where we’ve lost is in the fight for selfless behavior. Look at who our heroes are. Beautiful young women and attractive male actors and athletes. Why should we admire them? How are they selfless? We have thousands of heroes on patrol in Afghanistan and around the world. “Where your money is, there also is your heart.” We give a lot of our money to beautiful people. What do they give us? Jesus was selfless. Hector went out to fight Achilles knowing full well that he would be killed. Our heroes these days are selfish, self-serving and self -aggrandizing. The young man on patrol in Afghanistan is worth more to us than a hundred Kardashians or Kobes. The young woman who toughs out her pregnancy and works hard to raise her child to be a good citizen is a hero. As long as she doesn’t do it over and over. We need to change our heroes.
Excellent point.
The Church’s long-standing support for the March for Life is greatly appreciated. Yet a unified stand against Obama’s re-election would have done so much more to spare innocent lives.
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