Part Two
Several weeks ago, these Daily Reflections talked about the two ways that evil works against us in our lives: the devilish works by dividing us from each other, tearing us apart through untruths, slander, jealousy, and accusation; and the satanic that works to unify us in malevolent ways such as drawing us into us vs. them mob hatred. We see evil working in both these ways in any discussion that we have concerning the killing of the unborn.
This past week I received comments from a certain Protestant minister who said, in response to the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision, that women “… suffer through nine months of physical, emotional, mental, and economic changes” during pregnancy. The minister rightly implies that these changes are extremely difficult to endure for the mother when the father of the child is not present to support the mother and child during the pregnancy. The minister goes on to say, “the responsibility [for the angst brought on by an unplanned pregnancy] must be placed directly upon irresponsible men [and boys].” I agree. We have failed our children, we have failed our society, in not teaching our sons and daughters that a few minutes of fun in bed has life-long consequences and responsibilities. Wonderful and loving consequences. Wonderful and loving responsibilities. Responsibilities that do not include termination of any life that results from our actions.
It is true that it “takes two to tango” and except in exceedingly rare cases, the woman/girl is a willing, sometimes eager, participant in the act that creates a baby. Here is where our friend, the Protestant minister, goes off course. What about rape and/or incest? What about the safety of the mother? The minister argues that we need to have the availability of abortions in these cases. The truth is that very few abortions happen because of rape, incest, and safety concerns for the mother. According to statistics developed by the independent Guttmacher Institute, from data provided by every agency/facility performing abortions in the U.S., and data collected by the Centers for Disease Control, less than 0.16% of all pregnancies terminated by abortion in 2020 resulted from rape/incest. Less than 0.2% of all pregnancies terminated by abortion were to save the life or health of the mother. Less than 1% of all pregnancies terminated by abortion were because of serious abnormalities in the unborn baby. Let me state these statistics in a slightly different way: over 99% of pregnancies terminated by abortion of the unborn baby result from willing participation by both the mother and the father. The logical conclusion from these statistics is that over 99% of the terminations of lives of unborn children, abortion is chosen strictly for contraceptive and/or convenience reasons. And contraceptive and convenience are never valid reasons to commit murder.
Murder. Why do I say murder?
I took a fun class called number theory as an undergraduate, and I taught this class later as a professor. In mathematics, there is a method of proof called inductive reasoning. Inductive reasoning, also called inductive logic, is an easy concept to teach. If you accept that the number 1 exists, you can prove, through inductive reasoning, that the number 2 exists. Since the number 1 exists and the number 2 also exists, you can prove, by inductive reasoning, that the number 3 exist. And so forth and so forth. Eventually, you can prove, by inductive reasoning, that all real numbers exist. In the same way, we can use inductive reasoning to prove that killing any living person, regardless of age, is murder. The logical argument goes like this: Let us assume we all agree that killing an individual who is 20 years old is murder. How, then, about when an individual is half that age, say 10 years old. Is killing a 10-year-old murder. It is? OK how about a 5-year-old? Yes? How about a 1-year-old—is killing a 1-year-old murder? How about a person who is one month old, one day old, one minute old, during birth, a month before birth? Do you see where I am going with this? Using inductive logic, you can prove that killing any individual any time after conception is the equivalent of murder—even if the individual is an unborn child. Logic. Some of us love logic, others not so much, especially if we do not want to accept the moral consequences of using logic.
When people do not want to accept the consequences of logic, it is time to bring in raw emotions. The minister that I discussed earlier concludes her/his treatise by saying that outlawing abortion “will destroy our young [women] and women in general, even kill them in [sic] the hands of back alley abortionists and self-induced abortions.” I remember hearing this argument 60 years ago when I was a young boy. Back-alley abortionists are going to kill our young women. Much safer to have an abortion in a doctor’s office, our friend the minister argues. Abortion in a doctor’s office may be safer for the mother, but it sure isn’t safer for the unborn child! I would argue that if abortionists are killing people, perhaps we should commit the resources to apprehended, try, and imprison them for the murders they commit.
So now it is time for us to end on a positive note. Our beloved Bishop, Most Reverend Jaime Soto (Diocese of Sacramento), released the following statement on bringing hope in a post-Roe world:
At different moments the disciples of Jesus were not always sure of where their journey would lead them. As Jesus approached his own sorrowful passion and death, the disciples were seized with fear and dread. To all the questions and worries, the Lord responded, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” (John 14:6) The response of Jesus was personal and faithful. He offered himself to the disciples as a faithful shepherd and companion who would not abandon his friends. He sacrificed himself for them.
With the recent Supreme Court decision, overturning the flawed 1973 abortion decision of Roe v. Wade, many people are worried about the uncertain future ahead of us. No number of years of standing precedence could erase the contrived legal machinations justifying the deliberate destruction of innocent life, but many still ponder, “Where do we go from here?” The political leadership in California is clinging stubbornly to the throw-away ideology of abortion, refusing to imagine better alternatives for women and their children.
In the face of the pervasive hostile denial and distress, look to Jesus and follow his example. Our response to this historic moment must be personal and faithful. Since the 1973 decision, the Catholic community in Northern California has not only taught about the dignity of human life; we have earnestly sought out the ways to accompany women and families through many fears and uncertainties, including unplanned pregnancies. The Sacramento Life Center, the Mother Theresa and Bishop Gallegos Maternity Homes, and many other robust charitable Catholic organizations have offered a hand and given hope. In many cases, support and companionship made the difference for women and their children.
The disciples of Jesus in this generation were born for this moment. We were born ready to bring the hope and mercy of Jesus. The Lord speaks to our hearts: “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” May our words as well as our works of mercy continue to echo this saving message for others.
Now is a critical time for people of faith to become even more involved in assisting women, children and families in California needing help during an unexpected pregnancy and beyond. Our support will make the difference so that all families can flourish. Find out more at WeWereBornReady.com.
Join me in praying that we may personally and faithfully accompany others on the path to the way, the truth, and the life that Lord Jesus has given us since the very moment of conception. May the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary grant us the confident grace to bring ourselves and others to the fullness of life.
May God Bless You and Grant You His Peace!