Dear e-link Subscriber,
May our Lenten Season be a time of
reflection, repentance, and renewal of heart and mind, and
through our sacrifices, prayer, and loving outreach, may Jesus
heal us in ways that will lead us closer to Him.
As always, we remind current members and inform new members that
past e-link bulletins and this current bulletin can be viewed at
www.osmelink.org.
Have a blessed
Season of Lent!
     
Friday, February 19, 2010 e-link Bulletin #84
Table of Contents
Remarks from Ron Prentice,
Executive Director of Protect Marriage, on the
federal marriage court battle
Key Upcoming Culture-of-Life
Gatherings/Projects (please join us)
1. She’s facing an unexpected pregnancy. Why isn’t
adoption an option?
Come learn why adoption may be a preferred option.
Saturday, February 27,
from 8:30 a.m. to Noon - San Diego First Assembly
Fellowship Center
2. "40 Days for Life" is underway in San
Marcos and will run until March 28 -
join hundreds of prayerful citizens in public witness in
front of the North
County Women's Medical Clinic on 120 Craven Road
3. Join the Ignatian Volunteer Corps on Sunday,
April 18, 2010, to get a
"Taste of San Diego" and honor the San Diego Catholic
Worker, at the
Annual Della Strada Award Dinner
4. Don't forget the two yearly events that take place on
Good Friday: the
Downtown Stations of the Cross at 8:30
a.m. and the Pro- life
Stations of the Cross at Noon- more
on these two events in March
Short Reports on Office for Social
Ministry Related Issues/Events
1. Bishop Brom celebrated a special
Diocesan Mass for Life on January 21,
2010, at Our Lady of the Rosary Parish in San Diego
- read an article by
Denis Graska and portions of Bishop Brom's homily
2. Faith Vigil and Procession for
Humane Immigration Reform called all to
get involved and stay involved
Web and e-mail-based Resources
- Visit Bryan Kemper's web new web site
http://www.standtrue.com where
you can order his new book, "Social Justice Begins in the
Womb"
Local and Regional
Events/Gatherings/Projects
1. Attend the San Diego Friends of Fair Trade
monthly meeting on Wednesday,
March 10, at 6:30 p.m. at the Open Door Book Store in
Pacific Beach
2. "Get Acquainted with Detention Ministry"
monthly information/training
sessions offered by Deacon Walsh at the
Pastoral Center - Wednesday,
March 10, 9:00 a.m. to Noon or Thursday, March 11,
6:00 p.m. to
9:00 p.m.
3. North County prayer witness at the
Carlsbad Planned Parenthood Clinic
scheduled for every third Monday of the month from
10:00 a.m. to
10:30 a.m.
4. Prayerful witness for life at two locations in
San Diego County - every
Saturday and Wednesday at 7340 Miramar Road, just east
of the Pyramid
Building, adjacent to Carroll Road, and the second
Saturday of every
month at 15546 Pomerado Road in Poway
5. St. Dismas Guild sponsors two weekly hours of
prayer for the unborn
in front of the North County Women's Medical Clinic on
Craven Way
6. St. Elizabeth Seton Parish in Carlsbad
also supports the St. Dismas
Guild prayer ministry in front of the North County
Women's Medical
Clinic on Craven Way
7. St. John the Evangelist Parish in Encinitas
Pro-Life Mass and Rosary held
on the first Monday of each month
8. Prayer Vigil at Planned Parenthood -
First and Grape Street, San Diego –
Saturdays from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
9. Most Precious Blood Parish in Chula Vista
Rosary Prayer Vigils held every
Wednesday at 8:45 a.m.
10. Prayer partners are needed at 1079 Third Ave.,
suite 3, in Chula
Vista - abortions are performed at this facility - Meet
each Wednesday
from 8:45 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.
11. Join neighbors and friends to pray in front of
the new Planned
Parenthood facility in El Cajon on Fridays
and Saturdays
12. The Goretti Group is offering a chastity prayer
gathering and a speaker
training monthly along with a Mass to celebrate
chastity
Article/Statement for February 19, 2010
- How many times have you heard the response, "I'm against
abortion, but..."
Bryan Kemper explains how this reasoning
is completely and fatally flawed
Remarks from Ron Prentice
(At left: Ron speaks at a rally during the 2008 Prop. 8
Campaign)
ProtectMarriage.com’s lead counsel, Charles Cooper, confidently
strode to the podium in the San Francisco federal courtroom of
Chief Judge Vaughn Walker and began his opening statement in
defense of Proposition 8 and traditional marriage. He did a
superb job in setting forth the main elements of our case:
• Traditional
marriage has served society well for centuries;
• It is a pro-child institution;
• It exists in main purpose “to promote naturally procreative
sexual activity in a
stable and enduring relationship" that will nurture
children;
• That gays and lesbians were not the target of ill will or
discriminatory intent in the
"Yes on 8" campaign;
• That “there are millions of Americans who believe in equal
rights for gays and
lesbians but draw the line at marriage;” and
• That California voters were perfectly within their rights to
decline to take a risk
of suffering the consequences of destabilizing the
institution of marriage
As proud as I
was of Mr. Cooper and his eloquent articulation of the
importance of traditional marriage, I have to confess to a
feeling of being in a surreal environment. The courtroom was
packed shoulder to shoulder, and many more filled the overflow
room. Television cameras crowded the hallways. Reporters swarmed
the courthouse looking for an angle to cover. And some of the
most skilled attorneys in the nation argued before a federal
judge about whether the institution of marriage is somehow
illegal.
Never did I
think I would see the day where God’s institution of marriage –
the most stabilizing, pro-family, child-benefiting institution
in human history – would be on trial before a federal judge in
the nation whose forefathers founded the country on the premise
of “in God we trust.”
But here we
are…
For more
information on the critical issue of Marriage, to stay in touch
with the court battle, and to make a financial contribution to
this vital work, visit:
www.protectmarriage.com
Thank you. |
Key
Upcoming Culture-of-Life
Gatherings/Projects
Number 1: She’s
facing an unexpected pregnancy.
Why isn’t Adoption an option? Come
learn why adoption may be a preferred option.
When a woman faces an
unplanned or crisis pregnancy she usually thinks she has just two
choices, abortion or be a mom, even if she isn’t prepared. The
truth is, there are no easy choices. Our society presents Abortion
as a
 simple
choice for a woman in crisis. It’s legal, but definitely not an
easy choice. There are consequences to live with for a lifetime,
whether they be emotional, physical, or spiritual. When they are
not prepared, parenting is not an easy choice either. (Truthfully,
parenting isn’t easy even when you are prepared.) Adoption may not
be an easy choice, it may be the hardest decision a woman will ever
make. But what most people don’t understand is that there is
tremendous joy that can balance the loss and pain.
When facing a crisis
pregnancy most women won’t even consider adoption because they
imagine the loss to be unbearable. The truth is that adoption can
be a loving, empowering choice. If you have a heart for adoption
and hope more women would consider adoption then this program is for
you.
Join those interested
in promoting adoption on Saturday, February 27, 2010, from 8:30 a.m.
to Noon at the San Diego First Assembly Fellowship Center, 8404
Phyllis Place in San Diego. A panel of birthparents, adoptive
parents, and adopted kids will share their heartfelt stories of joy,
pain, blessings and miracles. Their personal stories and insights
may help us to better understand adoption.
For information or questions contact Kent
Peters at 858-490-8324
Number 2: The
second "40 Days for Life" is well under way in North
San Diego County - In San Marcos - From February 17 through March
28, 2010, join hundreds of prayerful citizens in public witness in
front of the North County Women's Medical Clinic on 120 Craven Road
Running through Sunday, March 28, San Marcos will be one of the over
200 cities joining together for the largest and longest coordinated
pro-life mobilization in history - the 40 Days for Life campaign.
40
Days for Life is a focused pro-life effort that consists of:
- 40 days of prayer and fasting
- 40 days of peaceful vigil
- 40 days of community outreach
We are praying that, with God's help, this groundbreaking effort
will mark the beginning of the end of abortion in our city -- and
throughout America.
Looking ahead: Mid-way Celebration
Tuesday, March 9, 2010, at 5:30 p.m., "Mass for Life"
at St. Mark's Catholic Church,
followed by a time of prayer and meditation: "The way to Calvary, a
memorial to the unborn" in front of the abortion clinic at 120
Craven Rd. San Marcos starting at 6:30 p.m.
Take a stand for life!
While all aspects
 of
40 Days for Life are crucial in our effort to end abortion, the most
visible component is the peaceful prayer vigil outside a local
abortion facility.
You
can help make a life-saving impact by joining our North San Diego
County vigil at:
San Marcos Care Center, 120 Craven Road, San Marcos CA in the
Palomar Pomerado Health Building - corner of Twin Oaks Valley &
Craven Roads
Sign up to participate in our local 40 Days
for Life vigil: Yes,
I want to Help!
http://vigilcalendar.com/sanmarcos/login/login_page
To learn more, sign up for specific vigil hours, or let us
know how you feel called to serve God in this effort, please contact
the local 40 Days for Life leadership team:
sanmarcos40daysforlife@gmail.com
760.438.2860
40 Days for Life takes a determined, peaceful approach to showing
local communities the consequences of abortion in their own
neighborhoods, for their own friends and families. It puts into
action a desire to cooperate with God in the carrying out of His
plan for the end of abortion in America.
 The
40-day campaign tracks Biblical history, where God used 40-day
periods to transform individuals, communities ... and the entire
world. From Noah in the flood to Moses on the mountain to the
disciples after Christ's resurrection, it is clear that God sees the
transformative value of His people accepting and meeting a 40-day
challenge.
Vision and mission
40
Days for Life is a focused pro-life campaign with a vision to access
God’s power through prayer, fasting, and peaceful vigil to end
abortion in America.
The
mission of the campaign is to bring together the body of Christ in a
spirit of unity during a focused 40 day campaign of prayer, fasting,
and peaceful activism, with the purpose of repentance, to seek God’s
favor to turn hearts and minds from a culture of death to a culture
of life, thus bringing an end to abortion in America.
Number 3: (SAVE
THE DATE)
The Ignatian Volunteer Corps (IVC)
invites you to attend the 2010 Della Strada Award Dinner -
This year's honoree will be The Catholic Worker of San Diego -
Sunday, April 18th at St. Catherine Laboure in San Diego - 2:00 p.m.
to 5:00 p.m. - More in the March e-link
The Ignatian Volunteer Corps (IVC) is a national service ministry of
volunteers and for volunteers. IVC connects the experience and
talents of men and women, age 50 and older, with the real and many
needs of people who are materially poor. IVC San Diego is one
of 16 regional programs nationwide, with 38 Ignatian Volunteers
serving in 20 community agencies having 31 service sites.
Sunday, April
18, 2010
2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Saint Catherine Laboure Parish
4124 Mount Abraham Ave., San
Diego, CA 92111
A Taste of
IVC - featuring savory hors d'oeuvres, sweet delights, festive live entertainment,
and a wonderful silent auction
If you have questions or would like to
receive an invitation in the mail - Contact:
Margie Carroll, Regional Director 619-881-9509,
mcarroll@ivcusa.org
Pat Doyle, Regional Coordinator 858-715-0900,
pdoyle@ivcusa.org
Short Reports on OSM Related
Issues/Events
Number 1:
Reflecting on
Roe v. Wade, Bishop Brom Promotes a Culture of Life in the Diocese
of San Diego
From The Southern Cross
Catholic Newspaper
By Denis Grasska
On the eve of the anniversary of
Roe v. Wade, San Diego bishop, Robert H. Brom, stressed the
importance of advancing a culture of life that recognizes the
inherent dignity of every human being.
Bishop Brom presided at a special
Mass on January 21 at Our Lady of the Rosary Parish, concelebrating
the liturgy with the Barnabite
 priests
who staff the parish – Fathers Steven Grancini, Louis Solcia and
Joseph Tabigue. Packing the small church, more than 300 people
attended the Mass in a demonstration of their commitment to the
pro-life cause. After Mass, during a reception in the parish hall,
representatives of local pro-life organizations were on hand to
provide information about their work.
The evening liturgy took place on
the vigil of the 37th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s
controversial Roe v. Wade decision. The 7-2 ruling, which created a
constitutional “right” to abortion, was issued Jan. 22, 1973. In
response to the decision, the U.S. bishops declared Jan. 22 a day of
penance and prayer for life.
The following was excerpted from
Bishop Brom’s homily message:
Apart from God, nothing would
exist; nothing could remain in existence. And in the order of
creation, we cannot forget the dignity of human life as established
by God.
“God said: ‘Let us make man in Our
image.’” Thus, “in the image of God, He created him; male and
female, He created them.”
But there’s more: To the dignity
of human life, God added sanctity.
From the beginning, God intended
man – male and female – to share in the very life and love of the
Trinity. And when this plan was thwarted by sin, God became flesh in
Jesus for the salvation of the human race. Jesus is the gate through
whom all might enter into communion with God, now and forever: “He
came that we might have life and have it more abundantly … to the
full.”
In plain works: God is our origin,
God is our destiny, God is our companion on the journey. Human life
has a dignity and sanctity that cannot be denied, nor can the right
to life and invitation to life in its fullness. It’s God’s plan.
Human and holy have become inseparable.
And so, in Evangelium Vitae, Pope
John Paul II wrote: “It is urgently necessary, for the future of
society and the development of a sound democracy, to rediscover
those essential and innate human and moral values which flow from
the very truth of the human being and express and safeguard the
dignity of the person: values which no individual, no majority and
no state can ever create, modify or destroy, but must only
acknowledge, respect and promote” (#71).
In other words, written by God
into the very fabric of human beings is a truth about life,
including essential human and moral values, which must be respected,
defended and promoted. Why? For human beings to find their
fulfillment as designed by God. Why? For the survival of the human
race as human. Why? Because, when nature’s way as established by God
is violated, God might well forgive, but nature takes revenge.
And so, to be committed to a truly
consistent ethic of human life and love, for all human beings in all
circumstances – especially the unborn, the disab led
and the elderly – this is not a disservice to society, but actually
a tremendous service to society and every member of it.
Our efforts need to begin with
prayer and be sustained throughout with prayer and sacrifice.
Respect for the dignity of the
human person and sanctity of human life requires a conversion of
mind and heart above all, never without the grace of God, most often
in heart-to-heart communication, one person at a time, after the
manner of Jesus.
Our activities to protect and
serve every member of our society, especially the most marginalized,
voiceless and vulnerable among us, must be rooted in our faith and
expressed in love for all, even for the hard-hearted who oppose us.
Above all, I believe we need to foster a culture of life. Parents
and teachers teach, preachers preach, but cultures inculturate.
A culture of death is all too
prevalent in our country and world today. It has actually won over
many of our own people with its “doctrine” dressed up in the
language of liberty, choice, autonomy and equality – of course, all
misinterpreted. We need to do more to foster a culture of life,
which will properly define liberty, choice, autonomy and equality.
Everyone in the Church is chosen and sent by Jesus to participate in
His mission and evangelizing activity: the ordained primarily by
ministries, the laity primarily “by engaging in temporal affairs and
ordering them according to the plan of God, which they do by virtue
of their baptism and confirmation” (Lumen Gentium #31).
To develop a culture of life, a culture which will be
inculturating, the laity, according to Pope John Paul II, are to
evangelize the various cultures of which they are a part, proposing
and bearing witness to the truth about life, including the human and
moral values which, as I have already said, must be protected,
defended and promoted for human beings to find fulfillment and for
the survival of the human race as human.
The lay faithful -- politicians, public officials, doctors and
nurses, educators, business people, common laborers, people in the
entertainment world and so on and so on -- must affect their
environment for God. When this happens, we will answer the culture
of death with a culture of life, life rooted in love, love stronger
than sin and more powerful than death.
The Southern Cross
Number 2: Faith
Vigil and Procession for Humane Immigration Reform Calls All to Get
Involved
No one can dispute that the
immigration system is broken. It continues to tear families
 apart,
erode meaningful worker protections, and keep millions of people in
the shadows. On February 18th, close to 150 people and clergy
gathered at St. Joseph’s Cathedral for a prayer vigil and procession
for immigration reform. Participants prayed for their elected
representatives so that they may have the courage to support a
humane, workable, and fair immigration reform. Participants then
processed to Senators Feinstein and Boxer’s offices while praying
the rosary and singing various hymns. The procession was led by
several clergy from member congregations of the San Diego Organizing
Project, organizers of the event.
Once at the Senators’ offices,
clergy gave a biblical reflection on the migration and how fixing
the immigration system is a matter of urgent, moral concern and
canno t
wait, in spite of the many challenges that the country faces.
Several participants gave their personal testimony of how the broken
immigration system has affected their families and fellow
parishioners. The vigil ended with a commitment of a follow up
meeting with Senator Boxer’s staff.
Our Lady of Guadalupe parish of
San Diego has committed to inform and engage its parishioners on the
issue of immigration reform during this season of Lent. They will
write and visit their elected representatives, as well as pray for
the success of immigration reform. They are organizing a Way of the
Cross in March. Look for more information in the next issue of
e-link.
Web and
e-mail-based Resources
Listen to the following words from the Stand True web site:
We exist first and foremost to glorify God. Through the grace of
God, we stand for the protection of human life from the moment of
fertilization to natural death. Abortion is the act of killing a
human person and it is always wrong without exceptions.
We are committed to establishing a culture of life
and bringing light to a generation covered by darkness. We believe
that the only true way to end abortion is to turn hearts to Christ.
Though it is important for the unjust laws to change, we must first
turn the hearts of our nation.
We are committed to educate, equip and activate young people to
stand up and be a voice for their generation.
http://www.standtrue.com/
Please share this important message with all young people!
New
Local/Regional Events and
Gatherings
If you are planning an event that falls within the mission of social
ministry, send the particulars four to five weeks in advance to the
Office for Social Ministry via e-mail,
osmelink@diocese-sdiego.org. The OSM reserves the right to
publish or not to publish any proposed event information. We hope
this will assist your local efforts to rebuild a culture of life.
1. Attend the San Diego "Friends of Fair Trade" monthly
meeting
San Diego Friends of Fair Trade is a coalition of non-profit
organizations and congregations attempting to advance the cause of
fair trade. They work to insure that all individuals who toil, both
at home and around the world, to provide consumers with commodities
are paid a living wage, one that can sustain a life with dignity.
The next SD Friends of Fair Trade meeting will be on
Wednesday, March 10, 2010, at 6:30 p.m. at the Open Door
Book Store on 4761 Cass St., Pacific Beach - For more information,
please contact Carolyn Lief at
fairtradesandiego@gmail.com
2. Get Acquainted with Detention Ministry in the Diocese
of San Diego
Join Deacon Jim Walsh each month for an Information and Training
Seminar on detention ministry and restorative justice at
the Diocesan Pastoral Center, 3888 Paducah Drive, San Diego, 92117
Visit the OSM Restorative Justice Web site:
www.diocese-sdiego.org/restore
For the month of March...
Wednesday, March 10, 9:00 a.m. to Noon or Thursday, March 11, 6:00
p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Sorry, no walk-ins. Contact Deacon Jim Walsh for reservations or
questions: 858-490-8375 or e-mail Deacon Jim at jwalsh@diocese-sdiego.org
3. North-County prayer witness at the Carlsbad Planned
Parenthood Clinic
North County parishioners meet the third Monday of every month
from 10:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. to peacefully pray the rosary in front
of the Carlsbad Planned Parenthood Clinic. The clinic is located at
1820 Marron Rd. (in the shopping center just west of Plaza Camino
Real Mall). For more information, contact Jahna White of St.
Margaret Parish at 760-586-6356.
4. Prayerful witness for life at two locations (7340 Miramar
Road in San Diego and 15546 Pomerado Road in Poway) in San Diego
County
Helpers of God’s Precious Infants weekly rosary prayer vigil from
8:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. every Saturday and Wednesday at 7340 Miramar
Road, directly above Metro Flooring in the complex with the Pyramid
Building, adjacent to Carroll Road. Prayer warriors also needed as
early as 7:30 a.m.
Call Roger Lopez at 619-276-7525 for more information.
Second Saturday of the month: 20 decades of the Rosary are prayed
in procession past 4 clinics following the 7:30 a.m. Mass, 15546
Pomerado Road, Poway. For more information, call 858-748-2109.
5. St. Dismas Guild sponsors two weekly hours of prayer for
the unborn in North County
Join members of St. Dismas Guild for a rosary picket at North
County Women's Medical Clinic, 120 S. Craven Way, San Marcos,
(across from Cal State San Marcos), Tuesdays, 9:00 a.m. to 10:00
a.m.
The Guild also sponsors prayer (the rosary) in front of PayLess
at Mission Avenue and Escondido Blvd., 347 W. Mission, on Thursdays,
10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. For information on these prayer vigils,
call 760-751-8541.
6. St. Elizabeth Seton Parish in Carlsbad has a tri-weekly
prayer ministry in front of the North County Women's Medical Clinic
on Craven Way - San Marcos on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays
Please join the St. Elizabeth Seton "Life Matters" Culture of Life
prayer vigils at 10:00 a.m. to Noon every Tuesday, Thursday, and
Friday morning at "North County Women's Medical Clinic": 120 Craven
Road, San Marcos -
http://www.womensmedicalclinic.com/. Those interested can
carpool from St. Elizabeth Seton's upper parking lot at 9:30
a.m. Those who do not want to carpool, please feel free to meet us
at the Abortion Center at 10:00 a.m. or at any time between 10:00
a.m. and Noon. These vigils are not confrontational. We give
witness by being present in prayer and entrust our message to the
Blessed Mother. Contact Gene:
ejzoval@yahoo.com or 760-804-9656 for more information.
7. St. John the Evangelist Parish in Encinitas Pro-Life Mass
and Rosary held on the first Monday of each month
The first Monday of every month is designated Pro-Life
Monday at St. John the Evangelist Church, 1001 Encinitas Blvd,
Encinitas. The 8:00 a.m. Mass will be followed by a Rosary for
Life.
8. Prayer Vigil at Planned Parenthood - First and
Grape Street, San Diego – Saturdays from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
Prayer vigil contacts: Luis Mendoza 619-259-3906 or Roger Lopez
619-276-7525. Rosary processions the first Saturday of every month
from Our Lady of the Rosary, Date & State St., after the 7:30 a.m.
Mass.
9. Most Precious Blood Parish Rosary Prayer Vigils held on
Wednesdays each week
The Pro-Life Prayer Group from Most Precious Blood sponsors a
Rosary Prayer Vigil in front of "A Woman's Choice" Clinic abortion
facility at 1550 Broadway, Chula Vista, every Wednesday at 8:45
a.m. For more information, please call Shirley Henry at
619-420-7096 or Luis Mendoza at 619-259-3906.
10. Prayer partners are needed at the office of Feliciano
Rios M.D., 1079 Third Ave., suite 3, in Chula Vista - Dr. Rios
performs abortions at his medical facility - Meet each Wednesday
from 8:45 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.
Please contact Luis Mendoza, a Missionary of The Gospel of Life
Lay Associate, at 619-259-3906, with questions or to share interest
in this prayer ministry.
11. Pray in front of the Planned Parenthood facility located
at 1685 East Main, just off the Greenfield Drive exit in El Cajon -
join friends and neighbors
According to the PP website, chemical (RU-486) abortions
only are done at this location - not surgical abortions. They do
refer women for abortions to their surgical center on First Ave.
Join the group each Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and Saturday
from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Contact:
mfowler@nethere.com
12. The Goretti Group offers chastity prayer and speaker
training monthly
Every First Friday of the month, the Goretti Group
will celebrate a St. Maria Goretti Mass at Our Lady of the Rosary,
1654 State Street, at 6:15 p.m.
Every Second Monday of the month: ChasteMasters Meeting at Our
Lady of the Rosary, Giovanni Room, 7:00 p.m. Please join us in
prayer, a roundtable discussion, and providing feedback as chastity
speakers refine their talks.
For more info please visit:
www.thegorettigroup.org or call David at: 619-733-8439
Watch for OSM e-link bulletin
#85 around Friday, March 26, 2010
Article/Statement for February 19, 2010
"I'm Against Abortion, But..."
A Pro-Life Response to the Frequent Pro-Abortion Claim
By Bryan Kemper
“I'm against abortion, but ...”
I think the statement that bugs me most when talking to people about
abortion is, "I'm against abortion, but..." I can actually respect
someone's total pro-abortion position more than someone who tells
me, "I'm against abortion, but..." It just makes no sense to me at
all; how can they be against something as vile and deadly as
abortion and have a "but"?
My first response to them is always to ask them first why they are
against abortion. What is it about abortion that would make you
start your statement with "I'm against abortion"?
It amazes me when they start telling me how killing a baby is so
wrong, life is so precious and we should respect it, and babies are
innocent and don't deserve to die. It would seem they have a firm
grasp on the pro-life perspective, but ... There it is, that little
three-letter word that destroys the very foundation of what they
just explained to me.
I am boggled at how in one breath you can call killing a baby
“murder” and in the next breath you can justify this murder because
you don't want to tell others what to do. I cannot fathom how
someone can say that life is precious and should be protected, then
turn around and support "the choice" to destroy that very life.
I have said this in past commentaries and I will say it again; this
is why people can add the word "but" into a sentence about being
against abortion. The problem is we are allowing abortion to fall
into a different category than every other act of homicide. But
abortion is not a different act; it is a different method of the act
of homicide. It is still one person killing another person.
Therefore, if we would feel compelled to take action to stop acts of
homicide such as those in Darfur, the Congo or anywhere else,
shouldn't we also take action to stop the acts of homicide that take
place in abortion clinics?
So many are refusing to take action because they have been able to
infuse the word "but" in order to free themselves of the
responsibility of standing against evil. As long as they can insert
that word, they can deflect or hide from the truth that is staring
them in the face: Innocent little babies are being destroyed.
Let's play a game I like to call "ridiculous analogies." In this
game, I switch the word “abortion” for some other grave evil and see
if you can justify a way to insert the word "but" into the sentence.
1. I am against child molestation, but ...
2. I am against what happened to the Jews during the Nazi Holocaust,
but ...
3. I am against men beating their wives, but ...
4. I am against slavery, but ...
5. I am against rape, but ...
Can you think of any situations where you can use the word "but" to
justify any of these evil, deplorable actions? How about this:
A. I am against slavery, but who am I to tell someone else they
can't own slaves?
B. I am against rape, but who am I to take away a man's right to
choose?
I hope you find these last two sentences make you cringe with
disgust. That is the same way I feel when I hear someone say, "I am
against abortion, but ..."
Abortion is the act of destroying the life of an innocent human
being, and there is just no justification for committing this act of
homicide. Just as justifying exceptions for these other horrifying
acts is unthinkable, so should justifying the act of killing babies.
I truly believe that, if the majority of people who claim to be
against abortion (with a "but" or not) would start acting the same
way we would if something like slavery was suddenly made legal
again, we would see an end to the slaughter of the innocents.
When I visited Auschwitz-Birkenau, a concentration camp in Poland, I
stood outside the gas chambers for some time. I had just gone
through most of the camp and was emotionally wrecked, to say the
least. As I stood outside this building, I was looking at houses in
the distance and wondering what I would have done if I lived in
those houses during the time of the Nazi Holocaust. Would I have
stood up and taken action, or would I have found a way to insert the
word "but" into any statement I made about the mass killing taking
place in my back yard?
What I realized is that I do live in those houses; there is a mass
killing taking place in my back yard. There in another holocaust
taking place to which I must decide how I will respond. There is a
holocaust taking place in all our back yards as almost 4,000 people
are killed every day in our cities and towns.
I want you to all imagine what it would be like to have a house
right next to a concentration camp in Poland during the Nazi
Holocaust; would you have used the word "but"? Even more important,
knowing that you do have a holocaust happening in your own back yard
right now, how will you respond? Will you stand up, or will you find
a way to say "but …?"
From LifeNews.com
Bryan Kemper is the president of Stand True Ministries, a pro-life
group that reaches out to youth and young adults. He is the author
of a new book, Social Justice Begins in the Womb. See the
Web/e-mail Resources section above. |
