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Guest
By Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap., Archbishop of Denver
Archbishop Chaput delivered the following address in Ireland on February 8, 2009 to the Irish chapter of Human Life International, an Irish pro-life movement.
So let me share with you, from their (American pro life) experience, a few “dos” and “don’ts” for prolife action that we can talk about more deeply in our discussion session. I’ll begin with six “don’ts.”
First, don’t let yourselves be tricked into an inferiority complex.
Critics like to say that religion is divisive, or intellectually backward, or that it has no proper place in the public square.
Here’s the second don’t. Don’t let divisions take root
Unity is a sign of the Holy Spirit. Division is the sign of someone very different.
Here’s the third don’t. Don’t get trapped by politics – especially partisan politics
But the fast pace of party politics, and the illusion that politics rules the “commanding heights” of our society and can fulfill our Christian social obligations, makes political life very addictive. And this illusion gets dangerous when defending the unborn child is too closely identified with any particular politician or, even worse, one specific party.
Here’s the fourth don’t. Don’t create or accept false oppositions.
Dialectical thinking, and by that I mean the idea that most of our options involve “either/or” choices, is usually un-Christian.
Here’s the fifth don’t. Don’t hate the adversary.
Our adversary is an opponent, but never our “enemy.” Our enemy is the Evil One.
Here’s the sixth and final don’t. Don’t let your adversaries set the agenda.
In his first week in office, President Barack Obama reversed the Mexico City policy, which had blocked U.S. federal money from being used to promote abortion in developing countries. His reason for signing the executive order was that it was time to put this “divisive issue behind us,” once and for all.
Now in my remaining time, I’d like to turn to the positive part of my talk - the dos.
Here’s the first and most important do. It’s very simple: Do become martyrs.
I said it was simple. I didn’t say it was easy. Be ready to pay the ultimate price.
Here’s the second do. Keep hope alive
Cultivating a spirit of Christian joy is not an act of self-deception.
Here’s the third do. Be strategic.
Being sheep in the midst of wolves doesn’t mean we can also be dumb as rocks.
Here’s the fourth do. Use the best means for your message, especially the new technologies
Today’s new technologies are a mixed social blessing.
Here’s the fifth and final do. Remember that renewing the culture, not gaining power, is our ultimate goal.
Culture is everything. Culture is our “human ecology.” It’s the environment where we human beings breathe not only air, but ideas, beliefs and values.
We need to work to change the culture. And that demands a lifelong commitment to education, Christian formation and, ultimately, conversion. Only saints really change the world. And there lies our ultimate victory: If we change one heart at a time, while we save one unborn life at a time, the day will come when we won’t need to worry about saving babies, because they’ll be surrounded by a loving, welcoming culture.
Will I see that day with my own eyes? I can’t hold my breath that long. But then I never expected to see a Polish Pope or the fall of the Iron Curtain either. We may not see that day in our own lifetimes, but the children of your grandchildren will. The future depends on our choices and actions right here, right now, today – together.
No matter how tired you get, no matter how hard the work becomes, no matter who praises you or who condemns you, the only thing that finally matters is this: Jesus Christ is Lord, and he came to give us life, and life abundantly. Because of the mystery of the Cross and Resurrection, the future is ours. And the best is yet to come.
God bless you!
For the full text go to archden.org/index.cfm/ID/1406
Archbishop Chaput delivered the following address in Ireland on February 8, 2009 to the Irish chapter of Human Life International, an Irish pro-life movement.
So let me share with you, from their (American pro life) experience, a few “dos” and “don’ts” for prolife action that we can talk about more deeply in our discussion session. I’ll begin with six “don’ts.”
First, don’t let yourselves be tricked into an inferiority complex.
Critics like to say that religion is divisive, or intellectually backward, or that it has no proper place in the public square.
Here’s the second don’t. Don’t let divisions take root
Unity is a sign of the Holy Spirit. Division is the sign of someone very different.
Here’s the third don’t. Don’t get trapped by politics – especially partisan politics
But the fast pace of party politics, and the illusion that politics rules the “commanding heights” of our society and can fulfill our Christian social obligations, makes political life very addictive. And this illusion gets dangerous when defending the unborn child is too closely identified with any particular politician or, even worse, one specific party.
Here’s the fourth don’t. Don’t create or accept false oppositions.
Dialectical thinking, and by that I mean the idea that most of our options involve “either/or” choices, is usually un-Christian.
Here’s the fifth don’t. Don’t hate the adversary.
Our adversary is an opponent, but never our “enemy.” Our enemy is the Evil One.
Here’s the sixth and final don’t. Don’t let your adversaries set the agenda.
In his first week in office, President Barack Obama reversed the Mexico City policy, which had blocked U.S. federal money from being used to promote abortion in developing countries. His reason for signing the executive order was that it was time to put this “divisive issue behind us,” once and for all.
Now in my remaining time, I’d like to turn to the positive part of my talk - the dos.
Here’s the first and most important do. It’s very simple: Do become martyrs.
I said it was simple. I didn’t say it was easy. Be ready to pay the ultimate price.
Here’s the second do. Keep hope alive
Cultivating a spirit of Christian joy is not an act of self-deception.
Here’s the third do. Be strategic.
Being sheep in the midst of wolves doesn’t mean we can also be dumb as rocks.
Here’s the fourth do. Use the best means for your message, especially the new technologies
Today’s new technologies are a mixed social blessing.
Here’s the fifth and final do. Remember that renewing the culture, not gaining power, is our ultimate goal.
Culture is everything. Culture is our “human ecology.” It’s the environment where we human beings breathe not only air, but ideas, beliefs and values.
We need to work to change the culture. And that demands a lifelong commitment to education, Christian formation and, ultimately, conversion. Only saints really change the world. And there lies our ultimate victory: If we change one heart at a time, while we save one unborn life at a time, the day will come when we won’t need to worry about saving babies, because they’ll be surrounded by a loving, welcoming culture.
Will I see that day with my own eyes? I can’t hold my breath that long. But then I never expected to see a Polish Pope or the fall of the Iron Curtain either. We may not see that day in our own lifetimes, but the children of your grandchildren will. The future depends on our choices and actions right here, right now, today – together.
No matter how tired you get, no matter how hard the work becomes, no matter who praises you or who condemns you, the only thing that finally matters is this: Jesus Christ is Lord, and he came to give us life, and life abundantly. Because of the mystery of the Cross and Resurrection, the future is ours. And the best is yet to come.
God bless you!
For the full text go to archden.org/index.cfm/ID/1406