Fight Against Abortion

On Thursday of this coming week, our nation will observe the 36th anniversary of the Roe vs. Wade decision that legalized abortion in the United States. Thirty-six years ago, the Supreme Court decided that it was mightier than God and gave its permission to kill children in their mother’s wombs. We know people – our friends and even our own family members – who would agree with the decision. We also know of many others – hopefully ourselves – who would not.

The question as to when human life begins has occupied the minds of physicians, philosophers, and jurists from Greece's golden age of famous thinkers until now. The question is ancient, and for us once again new.

In our time the debate over abortion rights has often been skewed by assertions that those who are against abortion on demand are imposing their religious beliefs on those favoring abortion rights. They couch the debate in terms of faith, doctrine, and religious belief. But what are the factual elements that belong in the debate quite apart from religious beliefs?

At the end of the first three weeks of pregnancy (just twenty-one days), medical science, not religious faith, tells us that the child in the womb has brain cells that are developing. Likewise the child is developing a stomach, lungs, and its own pair of eyes. The child’s heart first begins beating when it was only eighteen days old. Electric brain activity begins in the fourth week of pregnancy. Soon its arms and legs make their first appearances. These are medical facts, not articles of faith. Can we say it is not a human life in being?

A fetus in its mother’s womb has its own blood type, not its mother’s. It has its own body cells, its own DNA coding, it’s own heartbeat, and its own electric brain activity. Quite clearly it is not merely a part of its mothers protoplasm. It is not even a part of its mother’s body. The fetus is, however, connected to its mother’s body via an umbilical cord in order to receive nutrients. It is dependent on its mother; it is distinct from its mother but not yet separated from the shelter of its mother’s body. Clearly it is not a simply a part of its mother’s bodily cells.

In simplest terms, a fetus is a human life that, if nurtured and protected, will grow to be eighty or ninety years old. These considerations are matters of science, of fact, and of common sense, not faith. These truths are held not only by Catholics but also by people of other faiths, and people who do not claim to profess any particular religious faith. To claim that a fetus is not a human life is to turn a blind eye to reality.

Let us be mindful in these days ahead that the Lord is calling us to action. Abortion on demand is legal but that is just the tip of the iceberg. Pro-abortion activities and their allies in Congress are now promoting an agenda that would deprive Americans of their freedom to enact any restraint on abortion at any stage of pregnancy.

For those of you who do not know, the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) was introduced in the United States House of Representatives on January 21, 2004, and in the United States Senate on January 22, 2004. Although the bill received no further action in the 108 congress, it was again reintroduced in the 110 congress. President elect Barack Obama promises to sign it if it is passed by Congress. The Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) is the next chapter in the book of abortion. If made a law then all limitations on abortion will be lifted which will result in the following:

1. All hospitals, including Catholic hospitals will be required to perform abortions upon request. If this happens Bishops vow to close down all Catholic hospitals, more than 30 % of all hospitals in the United States.
2. The FOCA would overturn the national Partial Birth Abortion Ban. This means, the Partial birth abortions would be legal and have no limitations.
3. The FOCA will overturn hundreds of current laws, including limits on tax payer –funded abortion . In other words, all U.S. tax payers would be funding abortions.
4. Also, it will overturn the current law of parental involvement in the decisions of their minor children regarding abortion. If FOCA will be made into law, then Parental notification will no longer be required.

This information is disturbing, but sadly true. As Catholics, as Christians, as anyone who is against the needless killing of innocent children, we must stand as one. We must stop this horrific act before it becomes a law.

These current laws must not be swept away, all at once or even one at a time. So what can we do?

First, consider writing your Senator and your congressional representative asking them to vote against the Freedom of Choice Act.

Second, pray (say a novena) along with fasting. For Catholics and non-Catholics, I encourage you to pray your strongest prayers with the same intention. The hope is that this will branch and blossom as to become a global effort with maximum impact. We have very little time so we must act fast.

Remember that with God all things are possible and the power of prayer is undeniable. If you are against the senseless killing of defenseless children then the time is now to do something about it.