Dear Parishioners,
In the coming days or weeks, we expect to hear a decision from the Supreme Court in the case of Dobbs v. Jackson. With leaked documents pointing to a reversal of Roe v. Wade, we have seen celebration and outcry from both sides of this issue. We Catholics are pro-life. Abortion is an objective evil, as it kills an innocent person, a human being in the womb that God created. At the same time, the mother and father are also human beings and we need to be mindful of them and do whatever life-giving things we can to support them. In order to be truly pro-life, we need to also keep in mind the poor, the hungry, the unemployed, the sick, the migrant, and more. Issues such as racism, harrassment, bigotry, war, violence also loom large. Commonly, these issues of justice are broken away from political discussions due to the reigning party lines. As for us Catholics, these and more make up the “seamless garment” of Catholic Social Teaching. But, for the sake of brevity, and in light of current events surrounding the SCOTUS, I ask your indulgence, as I focus on this one aspect today.
Ever since Roe v. Wade, the Church has prayed and sought out the protection of the poorest of the poor, those who have no voice and whose lives may be at risk, the children in the womb. Opponents are currently making an argument that the pro-life movement has been too focused on the child and not the mother. And they may have a good point. Whenever we have had our local Pregnancy Care Center (PCC) come to our parish to encourage us to support them, I have thanked them for their wholistic approach to life, and have tried to remind us that saying no to abortion is not enough. Our local PCC not only helps the mother know what is going on in her womb via an ultrasound machine (thank you all who helped our Knights of Columbus acquire a new state-of-the-art ultrasound machine for our PCC), but they also accompany her and the father regardless of the decision they make in the days and months that follow.
It is critical that the holocaust of abortion upon the youngest of our children end. That is an important first step! Yet, it is not enough. We must also engage more fervently in the care for women who find themselves, for whatever reason, pondering on having an abortion. To be truly pro-life is to think and act holistically, encompassing the mother, the father, the extended family, and the child in the womb. It should not be myopic in approach, as some in the current debate appears to be claiming. Being pro-life is an all-inclusive or, “both-and” approach. This is part of our Catholic tradition, and we should do what we can to protect all lives involved. The details of how to do this are complicated and difficult. But, let not the current rhetoric of false dichotomies entrap us. We love babies and mothers, and fathers, and their extended families. We want life for them all!
Now more than ever, let us be pro-women, pro-fathers, and pro-children, for there are solutions that can help them without the specter of death. Let us lovingly walk with those who are contemplating abortion, and let them know that we love them. Let them know that God loves them and their children. Do not shame them. Lovingly lift up these moms and dads who are fearful of what may happen next, and offer them life-giving options. Let us walk in solidarity with our sisters and brothers who are newly pregnant and help them rejoice in the gift of life that they have been given. May we defend the precious children growing in their mothers’ wombs, for they will be our next generation. Let us encourage new mothers when they are afraid.
If Roe v. Wade is overturned, our work is not done. We need to do more to lift up adoption as a truly heroic option. We need to work together so that abortion is no longer conscionable, and love, support, encourage, pray, and offer other life-giving solutions that are our hallmarks to remedy the difficulties for expectant mothers and fathers.
We, as a society, have much more to do to lift up the poor and vulnerable. That work is also not done. May we never turn a blind eye to the needs of others and be willing to reach out a hand, lift them up, and help them to do the same for others.
Finally, I urge you not to enter into any dialogues that disrespect others, encourages violence, uses derogatory words, is purely argumentative, calls people names, and more. To be truly pro-life, we must live and speak in life-giving ways. Do not succumb to base behavior, but stand dignified and lift up those with whom you are speaking. Honor others as God knows them to be: precious, loved, and one-of-a-kind. May we be truly pro-life from womb to tomb so that we will keep the commandments of our Lord (cf. John 14:21, 23-24) who has made all life human life precious.
Blessings,
Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor