On the hot topic of abortion and in the recent wake of five events surrounding it including
1). The continued and most recent World Youth Day event in Panama that celebrates our Catholic faith by young lives and who will be visited by our Holy Father, Pope Francis,
2). The March for Life,
3). The “alleged” uncharitable incident of the Covington High School Students in Washington DC during the March or here (and it appears different than what was originally portrayed by mainstream, secular media sources (#98d of E.V.) and by what many people thought…Don’t rush to judgment until all of the important details are gathered ),
4). What the Native American Protesters did in response, and
5). The horrendous act of legislation by “Catholic,” New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, there is an urgency for all Catholics to give a Pro-Life witness at this moment in prayer and possibly through a charitable defense/explanation when called upon to do so, because the Evil One is hard at work in trying to sow confusion, disunity, and anger in our country, in our Church, and in our souls. But let us always take confidence and live in the victory won by Jesus Christ.
While we champion women’s rights, what about the right to life in the womb? What about defending both a mother and her child’s rights in being protected against violence in and outside of the womb? Lately, it doesn’t seem safe in either environment. Knowing that women have recently been the victims of a large number of domestic violence abuse cases as well as victims from the violence of abortion too through family or peer pressure, medical deception, and ignorance, the vulnerable and defenseless babies are the primary and most underrated, innocent victims from the violence of abortion who are not being defended in the womb of their mothers by this nation’s laws. Abortion is not and never will be an acceptable form of women’s health care, and it doesn’t help women solve their problems either. Rather, it makes matters worse, because while the truth of abortion is that it’s an intrinsic evil and a sin, one cannot justify the intentional killing of an innocent human being in the womb. Abortion hurts and harms children but also women, and not just a woman’s body, but her soul too.
We pray to our compassionate, Lord Jesus Christ in repentance for those guilty of abortion, mercy for our country, healing for women, for mothers, and fathers; conversion of heart for the world, and eternal life for the millions of babies taken way too young and too early.
Below is a pastoral reminder from St. John Paul II of timely, wise, prophetic, and hopeful words in a passage from his 1995 encyclical letter, The Gospel of Life/Evangelium Vitae, appropriately given on March 25th, the Solemnity of the Annunciation. The letter inspires, encourages, and comforts. The first paragraph is addressed to women, the second to mothers, and the third is to post-abortive women. May we renew and reaffirm the dignity of all women and of all human life which begins at conception and ends in natural death. God said to the Israelites: “I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. Choose life, then, that you and your descendants may live” (Dt. 30:19). May we choose God’s will by choosing life. Life…What a gift!
– Fr. Jeff
“In transforming culture so that it supports life, women occupy a place, in thought and action, which is unique and decisive. It depends on them to promote a “new feminism” which rejects the temptation of imitating models of “male domination”, in order to acknowledge and affirm the true genius of women in every aspect of the life of society, and overcome all discrimination, violence and exploitation.
Making my own the words of the concluding message of the Second Vatican Council, I address to women this urgent appeal: “Reconcile people with life”.133 You are called to bear witness to the meaning of genuine love, of that gift of self and of that acceptance of others which are present in a special way in the relationship of husband and wife, but which ought also to be at the heart of every other interpersonal relationship. The experience of motherhood makes you acutely aware of the other person and, at the same time, confers on you a particular task: “Motherhood involves a special communion with the mystery of life, as it develops in the woman’s womb … This unique contact with the new human being developing within her gives rise to an attitude towards human beings not only towards her own child, but every human being, which profoundly marks the woman’s personality”.134 A mother welcomes and carries in herself another human being, enabling it to grow inside her, giving it room, respecting it in its otherness. Women first learn and then teach others that human relations are authentic if they are open to accepting the other person: a person who is recognized and loved because of the dignity which comes from being a person and not from other considerations, such as usefulness, strength, intelligence, beauty or health. This is the fundamental contribution which the Church and humanity expect from women. And it is the indispensable prerequisite for an authentic cultural change.
I would now like to say a special word to women who have had an abortion. The Church is aware of the many factors which may have influenced your decision, and she does not doubt that in many cases it was a painful and even shattering decision. The wound in your heart may not yet have healed. Certainly what happened was and remains terribly wrong. But do not give in to discouragement and do not lose hope. Try rather to understand what happened and face it honestly. If you have not already done so, give yourselves over with humility and trust to repentance. The Father of mercies is ready to give you his forgiveness and his peace in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. To the same Father and his mercy you can with sure hope entrust your child. With the friendly and expert help and advice of other people, and as a result of your own painful experience, you can be among the most eloquent defenders of everyone’s right to life. Through your commitment to life, whether by accepting the birth of other children or by welcoming and caring for those most in need of someone to be close to them, you will become promoters of a new way of looking at human life” (Source: The Gospel of Life/Evangelium Vitae #99, by St. John Paul II).
Resources:
- Hope After Abortion
- Rachel’s Vineyard
- The Dignity and The Vocation Women/Mulieris Dignitatem, by St. John Paul II, 8-15-1988
- The Gospel of Life/Evangelium Vitae #s 98d – 99, by St. John Paul II, 3-25-1995
"Speak The Truth with Love," A Catholic Blog by Fr. Jeff Allan 