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It is ironic in an era when medical advances are able to help both mother and unborn child in ways never before imagined that abortions are being performed at an unprecedented rate. Likewise, in a time when scientific knowledge proves conclusively that human life begins at conception, our law fails to acknowledge this fact.
Our ancestors in this country and in the faith were unaware of the precise details of the developing child, yet they were adamantly opposed to abortion. How, then, can we who have extensive and universal confirmation of the facts be excused for our failure to recognize and defend the rights of the unborn child from conception to birth?
Today, medical science provides us with the following life chart: Day One - At conception a unique human life begins. Day Seven - The baby attaches to the wall of the womb. Day Twenty-one - The baby's heart is beating. Day Forty-two - The baby's brain waves are measureable, and he/she moves and responds to touch. Day Fifty-six - The baby's heart can be heard, and he/she sucks his/her thumb and swims. Day Seventy-five - The baby's body is completely formed, including fingerprints. Day Ninety - All the baby's organ systems function. After this - There are no new developments or functions, only growth in size and maturity.
Once God creates a life in the womb He forever sustains it because He finds it very good. The human life is sacred because it finds its origin, purpose and destiny in God, Who is the Alpha and the Omega.
However, Jesus came that we might have life in abundance. The dignity possessed by each human conceived by God's creative power finds its ultimate expression in the individual's ability to hear, embrace and faithfully live out the unique call of Jesus under the influence of the Holy Spirit. Abortion prevents a human person from hearing and responding to God's call thus making it impossible to participate fully in the abundant life Jesus came to give.
It is "Christ, the new Adam, in the very revelation of the mystery of the Father and His love [Who] freely reveals man to himself and brings to light his most high calling" (Vatican II Gaudium et spes 22).
Christianity from its very beginning has promoted the sacredness of human life in all its forms. A first century document states, "You shall not procure abortion. You shall not destroy a newborn child" (Didache 2,2:Sch 248, 148). Christians have always believed that no human person may ever be exploited by anyone for any reason. Human dignity is of such value that no human may sacrifice his or her personal dignity for any amount of material gain or avoidance of any type of loss. All have dignity because each has been created by God, redeemed by Christ, called to become a living temple of the Holy Spirit and chosen to live forever in a resurrected bodily state of existence. Christians know by faith they are good because God the Father has created them in His image and His Son has become human. They know they are loved because God the Son has redeemed them. They know they are capable of great love because God the Holy Spirit comes to live in them. Humans have hope because they are called to an eternal divine-human communion of life and love with a God Who will wipe away every tear from their eyes.
A woman can rightly do what she wants with any part of her body that has been removed through surgery (appendix, gall bladder), due to an accident (severed leg) or loss through natural causes (loss of teeth or hair). However, she cannot do anything she wants with her baby after her baby has been removed from her.
With the exception of identical twins, no two humans have the same DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid). Every cell in a human being's body has the same DNA as every other cell. Every cell in a mother's body has the same DNA as every other cell. Every cell in the unborn child has a DNA cell different from the DNA cell of the mother.
If a child were part of a woman's body, then a man who impregnated a woman and abandoned her would certainly be justified in refusing to pay child support. His reasoning would be that since the woman claims it is a part of her body, he can't be responsible for creating a baby from one of her body parts. Furthermore, if a child were part of a woman's body, no one would have a father, only a mother.
Moreover, if a woman claims to have total rights over her body and believes she alone can decide whether to bear or abort a child, then she cannot expect to receive child support from a man who cannot make a decision about this "body part" of hers.
Many claim, "I can do whatever I want with my own body!" There are at least two difficulties with this reasoning. First of all, we have just shown that an unborn child is not part of a woman's body. Secondly, even if it were true, a person cannot do whatever she wants with her own body.
St. Paul gives us the true perspective: "Do you not know that you are a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been purchased at a price. Therefore glorify God in your body." (First Corinthians 6:19-20).
Some people think it is reasonable to haul a woman into court for abuses of alcohol and drugs that affect her unborn child yet find it acceptable for a woman to choose to abort the child within her.
Some are horrified at pictures of the babies whose mothers took the drug thalidomide yet think it morally justifiable for abortionists to directly attack and kill the unborn child.
People are shocked when a woman kills her child immediately after giving birth. She is then charged with murder. However, seconds before the actual birth it would have been legal to pay an abortionist to kill this child.
Suppose the Ku Klux Klan decided to financially support abortions for all black people. Would you consider their decision racist?
Suppose the United States decided to require abortions be performed on women who were carrying unborn females. Would you consider the government sexist?
Suppose a neo-Nazi group advertised free abortions for Jewish couples only. Would you consider their action anti-Semitic?
If you favor abortion, you could not logically oppose any decision to selectively choose to support abortions for a particular group of people. If you criticize these groups for deliberately targeting certain people, how would you explain your reasoning? Would you be suspicious that they were trying to eliminate certain people? Then you admit that abortion destroys a person! If you are unwilling to admit that the unborn child is a person then what would be wrong with "helping" provide particular groups with financial and legal assistance for abortion?
Imagine your mother told you that years ago she was raped. You are shocked. You can't believe what you have just heard. You ask her if the person had been prosecuted, she responds, "No, I was never able to identify your father." Puzzled by her response, you then realize what she has just told you. Your life is a result of a violent act of rape.
Your mother asks you if you believe your life is worthwhile and if you are happy to be alive. You reply, "Yes". Then you ask if you are happy she was raped. You answer, "Of course not." Then she asks you how you can be happy to be alive since you know that the only reason you are alive is be cause she was raped. You respond that you hate the act performed by your father but love your own life.
Your mother says that she agrees and that is why she did not kill you after she was raped. She tells you that the reason you are alive is because she is Christian, and Christians believe that aborting the child does not prevent the rape or take away the memory but kills an unborn human life just like you.
Suppose you are the mother of a three-year-old child and decide to take her on a ride in a mini submarine. After exploring the ocean floor you discover you have 30 minutes of air left for the two of you and the trip to the top will take 45 minutes. You realize that you have two choices. You can kill your daughter and you will have enough air to reach the surface or you can just start driving the submarine to the top knowing neither of you will reach your destination alive. Would you kill your daughter to save your life, knowing that if you don't both of you will die?
At first glance it appears that the proper thing to do would be to kill your daughter to save your life in order to ensure that at least one person survives. Numerically, the death of two humans is worse than the death of one.
If you, like most women, would be horrified at the thought of killing your own child in such a situation, how would you explain it? The answer is that a moral ingredient must be factored into this human problem. Almost all people recognize that taking the life of the child would not be allowed because you are attackin her as a person and this is not allowed even in order to save your life. Interestingly enough, you realize that you are not allowed to attack her even if the refusal to attack her will have the same result - her death.
That is why Christians believe that a mother may not choose to abort her unborn child even if her very life is threatened. She would be directly attacking her child in order to save her life. In the submarine example the woman refuses to kill her child who will die anyway. Why would this same woman choose to abort her child in a life-threatening pregnancy since, unlike the child in the submarine example, this child will survive if not killed?
The traditional Christian teaching remains valid. All individuals must do everything morally possible to save both the mother and the child without intending to do harm to either. Certainly, there are difficult situations with which no one would ever want to be confronted. However, in calling us to refuse to do evil under any circumstance, Christian tradition upholds the dignity of each human person, not only the innocent person who is protected from the evil being considered but also the person who is tempted to commit the evil.
There are some who totally agree that the abortion is immoral but also express the belief that they should not impose their morality on others. But this reasoning is faulty because if abortion is immoral it must be so because it kills a human being. Jesus tells us to love our neighbor as our self ... (Matthew 25:45). If we would speak out against those who would at tempt to kill us, then we must speak out against those who would kill others. We must speak out in defense of all human life. The Jews of Germany had a right to live although the law of the land did not acknowledge that right. The African-Americans had a right to freedom even if the law of the land did not recognize that right.
Both laws were changed only because people who disagreed with the lawmakers were willing to confront them about these laws and the choices they protected. Was this a case of "imposing their morality"? Obviously not! Then those who are opposed to abortion cannot be accused of imposing their morality on others when they try to change minds and laws about the most fundamental right of all - the right to live. In fact, not only do those who know abortion is killing have a right to speak out against it, but it is their moral obligation.
"Pro-choice" is a term used in an attempt to squelch the voices of two particular groups of people - the unborn and those who know abortion is wrong but believe in the value of freedom. However, this freedom is not a freedom to do as one pleases. St. Paul says, "...remember that you have been called to live in freedom - but not a freedom that gives rein to the flesh. Out of love, place yourselves at one another's service. The whole law has found its fulfillment in this one saying: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself' " (Galatians 5:13-14).
Christians everywhere must continue to speak out when Christ is being persecuted. "I assure you, as often as you neglected to do it to one of these least ones, you neglected to do it to Me." (Matthew 25:45).
Never learning to walk or reason, Never feeling the change of season, Never given a chance to choose, Or even a way to express my views, Never the experience of overcoming trials, Or changing my mind every once in a while. Never having birthday cake for dessert, Or anyone there to heal my first hurt. Never trying to subtract or divide, Or knowing the thrill of a piggy-back ride. Never to see a rainbow or catch a bubble, My life ended without causing trouble. My little life taken without shedding a tear; Just what was it, Mom, that caused you such fear?
"Truly You have formed my inmost being; You knit me in my mother's womb. I give you thanks that I am fearfully, wonderfully made; wonderful are Your works. My soul also You knew full well; nor was my frame unknown to You when I was made in secret, when I was fashioned in the depths of the earth" (Psalm 139:13-15).
"What then should I do when God rose up; what could I answer when He demanded an account? Did not He who made me in the womb make him? Did not the same one fashion us before our birth?" (Job 31:14-15).
"I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. Choose life, then that you and your descendants may live, by loving the Lord, your God, heeding His voice, and holding fast to Him" (Deuteronomy 30:19-20).
"Let the children come to Me and do not hinder them. It is to just such as these that the Kingdom of God belongs" (Mark 10:14).
"See that you never despise one of these least ones. I assure you, their angels in Heaven constantly behold my heavenly Father's face" (Matthew 18:10).
"I assure you, as often as you neglected to do it to one of these least ones, you neglected to do it to Me" (Matthew 25:45).
Just as Christian tradition has always given witness to the sanctity of human life it has with equal force proclaimed that God's mercy is wider than our weakness. His compassion is deeper than our sin. This is not to minimize the evil of abortion. It remains an unspeakable crime against God and humanity. However, for those who humbly acknowledge their sin there is nothing that can separate them from God's love.
Jesus does not condemn the adulterous woman but lovingly challenges her to change her ways. His parables about the lost son, sheep and coin reveal the extent to which God is willing to go to restore to the sinner his inheritance, identity and image. There is more joy in Heaven over one repentant sinner than over ninety-nine who have no need to repent (see Luke 15:7).
Rather than count our transgressions against us God desires to show sinners the way. If anyone remains unconvinced of Jesus' willingness to intercede on our behalf he need only reflect on Jesus' attitude on the cross, Jesus, the innocent One, while dying at the hands of sinners whom he came to save, uttered, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34).
Can we who have experienced such love and mercy from God fail to extend his love and mercy to others? The Christian life ethic is clear and consistent - Support human life in all its forms. Extend mercy and forgiveness to those who break these norms.
"I am sure of this much: that He Who has begun the good work in you will carry it through to completion, right up to the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6).
"Come to Me, all you who are weary and find life burdensome, and I will refresh you. Take My yoke upon your shoulders and and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble of heart. Your souls will find rest, for My yoke is easy and My burden light" (Matthew 11:28-30)
"Turn away Your face from my sins and blot out all my guilt. A clean heart create for me, O God, and a steadfast spirit renew with- in me. Cast me not out from Your presence, and Your holy spirit take not from me. Give me back the joy of Your salvation, and a willing spirit sustain in me" (Psalm 51:11-14).
"For I am certain that neither death nor life, neither angels nor principalities, neither the present nor the futures, nor powers, neither height nor depth nor any other creature, will be able to separate us from the love of God that comes to us in Christ Jesus, our Lord" (Romans 8:38-39).