The end of January each year often brings the Church’s attention to the ongoing efforts to promote respect for human life, from conception to natural death. Each year, I struggle to find words to express the deep sadness that this divisive issue brings to my heart. I was born fifteen years after the legalization of abortion in the United States, and so mine has
always been a world in which thousands of my peers, those who would be my brothers and sisters in Christ, perish before they have a chance to live, grow, and be loved. There is much hurtful and dangerous rhetoric on both sides of this issue, and instead of being a
productive and fruitful conversation amongst those who disagree over something of immense importance, it is now a decades-long shouting match.
 
Many hurtful accusations of varying degrees of truth are routinely leveled against those who are firmly pro-life. It is said that we only care about the children until they are born, and then we immediately turn our backs on them. Even in the cases where this is true,
it is not a reasonable justification to terminate an innocent life, let alone hundreds of thousands of them. It is said that if we would divert all our efforts into supporting mothers at risk instead of legal activism, there would be far fewer abortions. Even if this is true, and it is disputed, we would still live in a barbaric time that allowed mothers and fathers to destroy their children not out of fear of poverty, but out of convenience, lifestyle, or other motivators that are less desperate than destitution.
 
The talking points could go on and on, and one could very easily devolve into partisan politics. Yes, some national, state, and local political platforms are explicitly pro-choice and frame this as a human rights issue, and other national, state, and local political
platforms are opposed to abortion on a fundamental level. Fr. Jeff and I have done our best to provide information on voting as Catholics. That said, the legal precedent stripping unborn children of their protections has endured through ten presidencies, split almost evenly between the two major parties. The battle goes back and forth, with access to abortion strengthened and weakened intermittently. This is a political issue, but on a much deeper level, it is about conversion of hearts. I’m not excusing pro-choice
politics, but I also don’t want my people to feel like their only responsibility is to vote and then sit back and let the system take care of it.

Perhaps the two most important things that one can do to advance the cause of the sanctity of human life are (1) to offer a witness contrary to the stereotypes and talking points held by the culture of death, and (2) to pray and fast. To the first point, if there is an accusation against the pro-life movement that particularly harms or offends you, then be a part of the solution. Live a life that promotes life, takes care of mothers, takes away the fear of unwanted pregnancy, and is a source of refuge and support for those facing difficult choices in a culture that tells them it’s okay to terminate their pregnancy. In other words, live out the Gospel. To the second point, Jesus himself, in a Gospel
account of casting out a demon, says that some types can only be driven out by prayer and fasting. We live in an age that values action over reflection. The witness of Jesus, however, shows us how true progress is always built on the foundation of prayer. Make daily sacrifices, cast off the comfort that blinds us to the pain and suffering of others, and offer this in reparation for the sins of our age, and in loving support of all the mothers out there who wrestle with such brutal decisions in the midst of an age that does not care for their ultimate well-being. It is difficult living as a Christian in any age, but there is precious little support right now. Pray, sacrifice, and serve the needy, and do all this in charity. These small steps will do more than we may ever know.
Prayers always,
Fr. McC