A radical threat to human life
Monday, February 2, 2009
Joan Crown
A change has come and we are beginning to witness an expanded attack on the
life of the child in the womb. For the first time in U.S. history, abortion may
become an entitlement the government must fund and promote. If the Freedom of
Choice Act is signed into law, citizens will lose the freedom they now have to
enact even modest regulations of the abortion industry.
This proposed legislation, supported by President Obama, has been referred to by
Cardinal Justin Rigali, chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life
Activities, as the most radical abortion legislation we have ever seen.
The Freedom of Choice Act would:
- Eliminate regulations that protect women from unsafe clinics
and unscrupulous abortionists
- Force American taxpayers to fund abortions
- Force every state to allow partial-birth abortions
- Strip parents of their right and responsibility to be
involved in their minor daughter's abortion decision
- Remove the conscience rights of physicians, nurses and hospitals that oppose abortion on religious, moral or ethical grounds
Thirty-six years of killing the least among us has taken a toll on our collective consciences.
In the words of John Paul II:
“The acceptance of abortion in the popular mind, in behavior and even in law itself, is a telling sign of an extremely dangerous crisis of the moral sense, which is becoming more and more incapable of distinguishing between good and evil, even when the fundamental right to life is at stake. Given such a grave situation, we need now more than ever to have the courage to look the truth in the eye and to call things by their proper name.....abortion is apparent in all its truth if we recognize that we are dealing with murder.”
(Gospel of Life, #58)
Now is the time we have been given to rise up and say in one voice, NO MORE! Or, to quote Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., “We will have to repent in this generation not merely for the actions of the bad people but for the appalling silence of the good people.”
Will historians look back on these days and ask the same questions that we ask about the people who lived during Nazi Germany: Did you know? Did you speak up for life? Or did you turn your head, pretending to be an innocent bystander?
“God who gave us life gave us liberty. Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed a conviction that these liberties are the gift of God? Indeed, I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just, that his justice cannot sleep forever.” (Quotation from the walls of the Jefferson Memorial, Washington, D.C.)
Please participate in the postcard campaign against passage of FOCA. If you did not pick up the materials at your parish, call the Respect Life Office to obtain the postcards to be sent to your Congressman and both of Florida’s U.S. Senators. Call 305-653-2966.
You can also e-mail your representative Write Your Representative.
Joan Crown
Director, archdiocesan Respect Life Ministry
- Feb. 5, 10, 12 and 17, Chastity Days for 8th grade students
- Feb. 7, Walk for Life, St. John Vianney Seminary, Miami
- Feb. 21, Respect Life training workshop, Good Shepherd Church, Kendall
- March 7, Respect Life training workshop, St. Bartholomew Church, Miramar
- March 10-12, 2009, Catholic Days at the Capitol, lobbying trip to Tallahassee
Comments from readers
Fr. Frank Pavone did start an order of priests in Texas several years ago but since then has decided that he had to return his full attention to the Priests for Life organization which serves all dioceses in our country with priests and lay people qualified to educate the Catholic community on the critical LIFE issues. We are currently trying to invite someone from that organization to be our guest speaker at our annual Spring luncheon.
If you would like to receive our bi-monthly newsletter to keep up-to-date on the local Respect Life activities let me know.
Joan Crown
It does seem to many that the "vote your conscience" section of the bishops' statement, issued before the election, turned out to be a major loop hole which gave many people permission to overlook the deaths of 50,000,000 children in the womb. The bishops were talking about an "informed" conscience. But, it's hard to be informed on the abortion issue because everyone wants to shy away from controversial subjects.
The recent Freedom of Choice postcard campaign has proven to me what I already knew. People are just ignorant of the facts. I saw people with Obama bumper stickers on their cars absolutely outraged when they found out what the current administration plans to laws relating to abortion.
My office publishes a bi-monthly newsletter to keep people informed and up-to-date on the LIFE issues. Let me know if you'd like to be part of our mailing list and then you will be able to share it with your friends and family.
Thanks for your response.
Joan Crown
Thanks for sharing the wisdom of your mother's answer. That reminds me of a TV show I enjoy watching called "17 Kids and Counting". I'm always fascinated at how happy and well adjusted the children are and how much they love and take care of one another. I'm sure this can be attributed to the loving relationship of the mother and father and in turn their strong relationship with God. But, contrasted to that family is the current story of the woman who recently had 8 babies through invitro fertilization; a process the teaching Church has warned against as a perversion. The unitive act of husband and wife is separated from the procreative act of conception. While we celebrate the miracle of 8 new souls we should take pause at the way they were conceived and society's attitude which seems to demand children rather than acknowledge them as the supreme gift of marriage.
God bless you and your efforts for LIFE.
Joan
Thanks for the offer of your used vehicle. The most I can do is help you identify someone who is in need of a vehicle. Possibly one of our clients or even someone who is devoting their life to pro-life work for the Church. If you're interested contact me at [email protected].
Joan Crown
What must God be thinking?? President Obama is so concerned about the ethical treatment of prisoners at Gitmo, but thinks nothing of killing children who may be a burden. When growing up in a family of 16 children, I asked my mother why she had so many kids and she would turn it around and ask me who I would send back...I never had an answer because we were all glad we were here. Only prayer can heal us and protect these babies. Thank you for all you do at the Respect Life office to guide us.