St. Gregory the Great Church has long been, and continues to be, committed to the defense of and respect for human life, as we believe without question that life is a gift from God. Human life is, by God’s own Word, the pinnacle of creation, and what was said to Jeremiah at the very beginning of his prophetic book, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born, I dedicated you,” is meant for each and every one of us. This reality calls us to respect ALL human life and to defend it when most vulnerable. These vulnerabilities arise, in particular, in those who have difficulty fighting or speaking for themselves: those at life’s beginning and at its end. Our commitment to the defenseless will always be central to who we are as a Church and parish. It is also true that when dealing with this particular subject, emotion and anger are inevitable, as the subject is so personal and sensitive. This is especially the case when the subject is abortion. As a Church, we believe – without exception – that abortion is the taking of a human life. The Church’s teaching on this subject is clear: procured abortion is a moral evil when “willed as a means or an end (CCC 2271).” This teaching is unchangeable, and material violation of it puts one outside the communion of the Church.
While the teaching is clear, how it is taught and the means by which life is defended and respected are also important. Last week’s parish bulletin included an update on our Respect Life ministry, outlining aspects of NJ State law that contradict our understanding of the defense of human life, as well as some upcoming ministry events in September and October for Respect Life month. Unfortunately these updates were presented with a headline and an image that, in hindsight, were inappropriate; it was poor judgement on our part to include them. The purpose of that headline and image, as I interpreted it, was to support the recent Texas “Heartbeat Bill” which would end most abortions in that state. In response, there are two things that must be said:
Without going into the details that were included in that particular piece of legislation, we as a Church, do give thanks whenever there is the possibility of saving human life.
However, one piece of legislation does not mitigate all attacks on human life and dignity in any particular state and in our nation.
The truth of being a Catholic in this world is that there is no nation, state, or legislative body in which we can truly find a home. There are always aspects of the way a “place” is governed that will be at odds with the truth of our God and the teachings of His Church. For that reason, while we hope and pray for legislation that truly defends the dignity of human life, aligning ourselves to any one place, person, or party means that we are also giving tacit approval to those things that are contrary to our faith which are supported by that same place, person, or party. For example, we might disagree with their immigration policy, lack of healthcare, the dignity of workers, or their usage of capital punishment. If we align ourselves based solely on one issue, the application of our teaching becomes inconsistent at best and hypocritical at worst.
I have often said that if we are ever to change hearts and minds when it comes to understanding the need for respect for all human life, then the role of Catholics is to educate, to present the truth through witness, and to provide concrete work, options, and support, so that choices against life begin to become unthinkable within our society. It is my belief that the images and words accompanying the bulletin article were used in celebration of what was thought to be a victory for human life. However, the manner of presentation could be perceived as fomenting already existing divisions and gloating about our “victory” to those who “lost” in this particular case. That might make us feel good in the short term, but it does not forward the cause of life, nor does it make any progress in changing hearts and minds. Only the truth, told with firmness, but also with love and compassion, has any chance of advancing this change.
Make no mistake, we are a Church and a parish that will always firmly respect life and defend it in its most vulnerable forms. We will act against and pray for an end to any practice that is attack on that life, particularly always praying for and working towards an end to abortion. However, we know that although legislation is important, our responsibilities go much further. We are responsible not just for those whose lives must be defended, but also as a parish for those who need to hear the truth of our faith. No doubt, there is intrinsic evil in this world and when encountered it must be pointed out and fought. That said, when it comes to our fellow human beings, this dialogue is not to be conducted with an “us versus them” mindset. In the end, what God wants most is for all lives to find their way into eternity in His presence. Thank you for your patience and thank you to all those who, in so many ways, defend human life every day.
Mary, Mother of the Church and St. Joseph, Defender of Life….pray for us.