Abortion a discussion

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ralph
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Ralph, I get what you are trying to say. Unfortunately, this is one of those issues that if you say it’s not the most important issue many feel it’s the same as saying it’s ok. High emotion, little room for discussion of nuance. I mostly just shut up about it outside of my close Catholic friends who get it.
 
I’m not getting that interpretation from what he posted.
 
Your post reminds me of a situation in my parish. We had a man in my very large affluent urban parish, who was an advocate for the unborn, the little babies that have no voice. This man worked tirelessly to save babies from abortion. He helped in supporting homes for unwed mothers, advocated for laws that would end abortion, limit abortion - anything to save a child’s life. From the beginning 1973 this gentle man and physician was tireless in his advocacy of the innocent unborn. May he rest in heaven’s peace. One evening he had a chance meeting with our deacon who did not know this doctor except by reputation. I knew both men fairly well. The deacon said to me after this chance 5 minute chat -
"the doctor is exactly what is wrong with the pro-life movement, they are only interested in one issue. There are many issues we need to address and abortion is just one, it is not any more important than any other"
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I was really astounded - because - yes there are many issues and we need to be active in many areas. I also knew this doctor was involved in many good works. I asked the deacon how he could condemn this good man and an entire movement based on one conversation that lasted such a short time? I asked him if he knew that doctor - then retired - donated his time several days each week at an inner city parish’s food bank handing out food to homeless and low income people? I asked him if he realized this man supported not only his affluent parish but that inner city parish so they could continue to offer food to those in need? Did he realize that this man volunteered his time and effort in many ways to support those suffering from addictions? That he worked [time] for and supported [money] a local charity that worked to move people from the streets into permanent housing? The deacon said he had no idea - in their time together the doctor only mentioned his advocacy for the unborn. I told home he should get to know his parishioners before passing judgement. This man did not talk about his actions to help others to pump himself up. He spoke out for the voiceless.

I reminded him that the Unborn Child has no voice but ours, no advocate except us and this the good doctor understood. In my state over 10,000 lives are taken through abortion each year. YET Our parish was far more vocal on ending the the death penalty - that anti death penalty group was fully supported by the parish while the pro-life advocates were barely tolerated and for the most part not supported in a meaningful way … In Oregon - since 1962 there have been 3 executions since 1962 … 1962, 1996 and 1997 - every year in Oregon there are more than 10,000 lives lost to abortion. Besides the disparity of victims - the biggest difference between these two situations are… in the first case serious crimes were committed the accused were provided a defense and a trial before their sentence was pronounced. In the second, the victim committed no crime, there was no defense and no trial - they had no voice - before their execution. They are unseen, they have no voice - it is a silent holocaust… unless we continue to speak for them.
 
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I’m not telling you to do anything. I’m discussing whether it’s taking president over all other issues.
 
I will shock the group by saying I agree with everything you say. Constructively what can we do to stop abortion. We’ve talked til we’re hoarse. We’ve marched til our legs give out. It’s not a matter that people haven’t got our message. It’s the law and it’s not going to be changed except by the courts namely the Supreme Court. I’m not going to be involved in that argument and those that would be know the opposing positions very well at this point. We’re singing to the choir now.
 
Ralph said:
It’s the law and it’s not going to be changed except by the courts namely the Supreme Court.
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No, the law and the courts are only the tail of the dog. We have such laws and courts because the people have chosen them.

Babies are killed in the womb not by laws or judges, but by people who value their own liberty, wealth, and pride more than their own children.

Babies are killed in the womb not by sweeping movements, but by one person choosing to kill one baby.

So, if you want to end abortion, figure out why one person kills one baby, and what it would take for that one person to love that one baby.
 
Agree. I was referring to legal position. Conversion of souls is the answer to one person living that one baby.
 
Conversion of heart/soul is not the whole answer. Why do people feel boxed in by circumstances, feel that they have no other choice? The situation/environment/culture is significant.
 
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I’m referring to loving. My love is insufficient. Only God’s love operating through me. I will say I’m not a political or spiritual activist in the way many are.
 
Well, my point is that we have not just talked and marched …we have provided real life and even long twerm support - both before and after birth , for both single Mom’s and for couples. We also support many causes …thus we need to push back on the idea that we are single issue …at the same time abortion’s primary victims are not seen, the cannot March on Washington or the State houses, they cannot protest out side of the abortion mills.

They - the primary victims - only have our voices, hands and feet to do that hard work for them. That is the hard work of changing hearts and minds and laws. Just because it’s hard or it seems like we are not making progress, we need to keep the faith. We have made progress on every one of those fronts - even as we have been dismissed, vilified and ignored.

The sheer number of victims just with the babies, not to mention the mothers and fathers means we have to stay the course …look at how they have counted the Covid 19 victims and the weight those deaths have been assessed …far more babies are lost each and every year …those numbers have been horrendous since 1973 …47 years …not months, not one every 100 years but each and every year …while the trend has been downward …chemical abortion will hide the numbers and make the victims even more difficult to “see”.
 
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