Pro-Life and World Hunger

[Priscilla_Ann]

I have a question for those who profess to be pro-life:

Pro-life poeple speak about the evil of abortion; however, you rarely hear them even mention the issue of world hunger. How can this be?

Check out the hunger statistics on this website:

bread.org/learn/hunger-basics/

How can you be pro-life and ignore the needs of millions of children in the world who die of hunger and nutrition-related causes? Doesn’t “pro-life” include children who are already born?

 

[1ke]

Your premise is complete nonsense.

Speaking the truth about abortion is what some are called to do. Working in ministry to those who are hungry is what others are called to do.

All of these ministries are important. Each person has particular charisms and they discern how best to use their talents. The hand is not the foot, and the eye is not the ear. That doesn’t mean that that hand does not recognize the contribution of the foot, nor the ear disparage the eye. Each member works together in the Kingdom.

The voices of those speaking up for the unborn and those speaking up for the hungry are not competing or talking over each other-- they speak in unison for those who have no voice.

 

[ALLGIRLS]

I have a question for those who profess to be pro-life:

Pro-life poeple speak about the evil of abortion; however, you rarely hear them even mention the issue of world hunger. How can this be?

Check out the hunger statistics on this website:

bread.org/learn/hunger-basics/

How can you be pro-life and ignore the needs of millions of children in the world who die of hunger and nutrition-related causes? Doesn’t “pro-life” include children who are already born?

I am SO SICK of this accusation! 99% of pro-lifers are pro ALL life (including condemned criminals!). We DO care about world hunger. How do you know anyone who claims to be pro-life “ignores the needs of millions of children”? Do you work for the IRS and see where our charitable contributions go? Has any pro-lifer ever told you “I don’t care if the kid starves to death, just as long as he’s born?” If not, then you have NO BASIS for this outrageous accusation. No, what’s REALLY sick is believing that’s it’s some how better for a child to be ripped apart inside his mother’s womb because he *might *suffer after birth. Totally ignoring the inconvenient fact that most of the suffering would be alleviated by placing the child for adoption. But “pro-choice” people want to paint a false dichotomy: abortion or misery, and knock down a strawman instead of dealing with REAL pro-life folks. Get back to me when you have a real argument.

 

[ALLGIRLS]

Your premise is complete nonsense.

Speaking the truth about abortion is what some are called to do. Working in ministry to those who are hungry is what others are called to do.

All of these ministries are important. Each person has particular charisms and they discern how best to use their talents. The hand is not the foot, and the eye is not the ear. That doesn’t mean that that hand does not recognize the contribution of the foot, nor the ear disparage the eye. Each member works together in the Kingdom.

The voices of those speaking up for the unborn and those speaking up for the hungry are not competing or talking over each other-- they speak in unison for those who have no voice.

And what 1ke said!

 

[hasikelee]

I have a question for those who profess to be pro-life:

Pro-life poeple speak about the evil of abortion; however, you rarely hear them even mention the issue of world hunger. How can this be?

Check out the hunger statistics on this website:

bread.org/learn/hunger-basics/

How can you be pro-life and ignore the needs of millions of children in the world who die of hunger and nutrition-related causes? Doesn’t “pro-life” include children who are already born?

Who told you those who oppose abortion support worldwide hunger?

Or are you indirectly trying to say that abortion should not be opposed, since world hunger exists?

Or are you indirectly trying to say abortion should be supported to eradicate the children who are hungering?

I’m confused.

As to the whole “doesn’t prolife include children who are already born” you are getting into a bad hole with that ignorant statement. Better to retract and apologize now, lol.

 

[1ke]

As to the whole “doesn’t prolife include children who are already born” you are getting into a bad hole with that ignorant statement. Better to retract and apologize now, lol.

Yes, isn’t it self evident that those who oppose baby killing oppose **all **baby killing-- in fact all *people *killing-- including baby killing by starvation?

 

[Swan]

Yes, isn’t it self evident that those who oppose baby killing oppose **all **baby killing-- in fact all *people *killing-- including baby killing by starvation?

Not to me. I see suffering children all the time. Cuts in social programs add to their suffering. Yet generally the pro-life camp is anti-social programs, even when helpless kids depend on these programs. I can feel a lot more compassion for a child I can see, one I know actually feels the suffering, has the consciousness and awareness to understand what’s happening - which I’m just not sure is true of a 12 week fetus. And, yes, I’ve seen the Silent Scream thing and researched it - uncovering evidence that it is totally misrepresented as a “scream”. I’ve tried to see it your way, but I just can’t.

 

[dmelosi]

Not to me. I see suffering children all the time. Cuts in social programs add to their suffering. Yet generally the pro-life camp is anti-social programs, even when helpless kids depend on these programs. I can feel a lot more compassion for a child I can see, one I know actually feels the suffering, has the consciousness and awareness to understand what’s happening - which I’m just not sure is true of a 12 week fetus. And, yes, I’ve seen the Silent Scream thing and researched it - uncovering evidence that it is totally misrepresented as a “scream”. I’ve tried to see it your way, but I just can’t.

You have the label Christian in your profile. Are you trying to say that abortion is ok? Where in the bible do you gather that abortion is anything but the taking of a life?

 

[1ke]

Not to me. I see suffering children all the time. Cuts in social programs add to their suffering. Yet generally the pro-life camp is anti-social programs, even when helpless kids depend on these programs. I can feel a lot more compassion for a child I can see, one I know actually feels the suffering, has the consciousness and awareness to understand what’s happening - which I’m just not sure is true of a 12 week fetus. And, yes, I’ve seen the Silent Scream thing and researched it - uncovering evidence that it is totally misrepresented as a “scream”. I’ve tried to see it your way, but I just can’t.

Well, I’d say the pro-green environmentalists like Al Gore are MORE directly taking food away from helpless kids who depend on it.

Those who favor bio-fuels are actively diverting corn into their gas tank and lowering food production at the same time it is increasing food prices.

---

Is there a silver bullet? No.

However, making blanket statements such as yours regarding pro-life people (and, of course, my statement about environmentalists which I was purposely using as irony… lest people miss that point) is rhetoric, not fact.

Certainly some people who oppose abortion also oppose higher taxes and broader government sponsored social programs. It does not follow that they oppose helping the helpless. Many social conservatives do not believe it is the *government’s * place to do this, they believe it is the individual’s through religious and other independent charitable organizations that come together to support people in need at the local level.

Regardless of philosophy on HOW helping the poor is carried out, those who live out the Gospel values support ALL the corporal works of mercy, not just some of them.

 

[Priscilla_Ann]

Your premise is complete nonsense.

Speaking the truth about abortion is what some are called to do. Working in ministry to those who are hungry is what others are called to do.

All of these ministries are important. Each person has particular charisms and they discern how best to use their talents. The hand is not the foot, and the eye is not the ear. That doesn’t mean that that hand does not recognize the contribution of the foot, nor the ear disparage the eye. Each member works together in the Kingdom.

The voices of those speaking up for the unborn and those speaking up for the hungry are not competing or talking over each other-- they speak in unison for those who have no voice.

Go ahead and search these forums for “abortion”. Then do another search for “poverty” or “hunger”. How many threads do you find on poverty or hunger? How many do you find on abortion? The results of such a search speak for themselves.

I am not arguing about the morality of abortion. I am simply saying that poverty and hunger are just as important. I suppose it’s easier to be against abortion…it doesn’t cost you any $$ to speak against abortion. Addressing the problems of poverty and hunger might actually require that we all make a real sacrifice…the rich might even have to give up their tax cut (gasp!).

 

[CapIV]

lol at trying to deflect the issue at hand (abortion) by accusing those opposed to abortion as not caring about hunger. This is absurd.

No one wants to see people starve. But that doesn’t justify killing anybody.

This is a ridiculous thread.

By the way, killing someone is worse than letting someone live in poverty (which is also wrong).

 

[hasikelee]

Not to me. I see suffering children all the time. Cuts in social programs add to their suffering. Yet generally the pro-life camp is anti-social programs, even when helpless kids depend on these programs. I can feel a lot more compassion for a child I can see, one I know actually feels the suffering, has the consciousness and awareness to understand what’s happening - which I’m just not sure is true of a 12 week fetus. And, yes, I’ve seen the Silent Scream thing and researched it - uncovering evidence that it is totally misrepresented as a “scream”. I’ve tried to see it your way, but I just can’t.

Why not volunteer at a pro-life center to help those kids you can “see”?

 

[hasikelee]

Go ahead and search these forums for “abortion”. Then do another search for “poverty” or “hunger”. How many threads do you find on poverty or hunger? How many do you find on abortion? The results of such a search speak for themselves.

I am not arguing about the morality of abortion. I am simply saying that poverty and hunger are just as important. I suppose it’s easier to be against abortion…it doesn’t cost you any $$ to speak against abortion. Addressing the problems of poverty and hunger might actually require that we all make a real sacrifice…the rich might even have to give up their tax cut (gasp!).

And this is another uninformed statement. I know plenty of people who get off their comfortable fannies to spend tons of time and money assisting others.

I encourage you to volunteer at a local pregnancy crisis center such as Birthright.

 

[dmelosi]

Go ahead and search these forums for “abortion”. Then do another search for “poverty” or “hunger”. How many threads do you find on poverty or hunger? How many do you find on abortion? The results of such a search speak for themselves.

I am not arguing about the morality of abortion. I am simply saying that poverty and hunger are just as important. I suppose it’s easier to be against abortion…it doesn’t cost you any $$ to speak against abortion. Addressing the problems of poverty and hunger might actually require that we all make a real sacrifice…the rich might even have to give up their tax cut (gasp!).

Perhaps you dont find as many threads because the discussion for poverty and hunger would be short and sweet. Everyone would agree that they are against it.

And for you to say that poverty and hunger are just as important shows that you are arguing about the morality of abortion.

Most people that argue such as you are so tied to a political party that they refuse to call abortion what it is and continue to help the seculars win their battle.

 

[1ke]

Go ahead and search these forums for “abortion”. Then do another search for “poverty” or “hunger”. How many threads do you find on poverty or hunger? How many do you find on abortion? The results of such a search speak for themselves.

Come on, get real. You don’t find large quantities of threads on poverty and world hunger because there are no organizations such as the “National Organization of Women In Favor Of Poverty” of “Catholic For A Free Poverty Choice”.

Fortunately, people have not yet convinced themselves that hungry people are not human and undeserving of legal protection. People don’t start lobbying campaigns in Congress to anihilate hungry people.

When the US Supreme Court issues a ruling that allows the legal killing of hungry and poor people, I’m sure you’ll see an uptick in the number of posts about the situation.

I am not arguing about the morality of abortion. I am simply saying that poverty and hunger are just as important.

Of course they are. No one has said otherwise. In fact, I’ve said so in all of my posts.

I suppose it’s easier to be against abortion…it doesn’t cost you any $$ to speak against abortion.

Another ridiculous statement. It doesn’t cost money to speak against poverty either.

It does take money to fund organizations who work to eradicate both of these injustices.

Addressing the problems of poverty and hunger might actually require that we all make a real sacrifice…the rich might even have to give up their tax cut (gasp!).

I find it odd that you presume that people aren’t addressing poverty and hunger. There are numerous organizations that do so. You are heavy on rhetoric and light on facts and evidence.

 

[Priscilla_Ann]

Who told you those who oppose abortion support worldwide hunger?

Or are you indirectly trying to say that abortion should not be opposed, since world hunger exists?

Or are you indirectly trying to say abortion should be supported to eradicate the children who are hungering?

I’m confused.

As to the whole “doesn’t prolife include children who are already born” you are getting into a bad hole with that ignorant statement. Better to retract and apologize now, lol.

It appears I have struck a nerve with some folks here. Why so sensitive?

My point is this: So many here are absolutely outraged by abortion. I rarely see that kind of emotion when issues of poverty and hunger are discussed. It seems that feeding the hungry and caring for the poor were issues that were important to Jesus. They should be a top priority for us too.

 

[Priscilla_Ann]

Not to me. I see suffering children all the time. Cuts in social programs add to their suffering. Yet generally the pro-life camp is anti-social programs, even when helpless kids depend on these programs. I can feel a lot more compassion for a child I can see, one I know actually feels the suffering, has the consciousness and awareness to understand what’s happening - which I’m just not sure is true of a 12 week fetus. And, yes, I’ve seen the Silent Scream thing and researched it - uncovering evidence that it is totally misrepresented as a “scream”. I’ve tried to see it your way, but I just can’t.

I agree completely!

 

[BrendanD]

Go ahead and search these forums for “abortion”. Then do another search for “poverty” or “hunger”. How many threads do you find on poverty or hunger? How many do you find on abortion? The results of such a search speak for themselves.

The number of search results reflects the frequency of discussion about a topic. It doesn’t quantify how much people care about the topic or contribute to it in real life.

I’m pretty sure that everyone here already knows of and opposes the existence of poverty and starvation. There is little need to have thousands of internet debates about whether or not poverty is bad, whether or not we should fight it, whether or not it kills people, whether or not politicians should be for or against world hunger, etc.

You’ll also notice that there are very, very few posts condemning shoplifting. This is not because people don’t care about shoplifting-- it’s because there’s no interest in discussing/debating it.

 

[1ke]

It appears I have struck a nerve with some folks here. Why so sensitive?

Seems Haskilee has struck a nerve too-- or else you would not be evasive and would answer her questions.

My point is this: So many here are absolutely outraged by abortion. I rarely see that kind of emotion when issues of poverty and hunger are discussed.

Our point is this: all injustices are outrageous and grieve God. The Church’s teaching is very clear on these issues, and the Church-- and individual Catholics-- respond unambiguously and generously to these issues.

It seems that feeding the hungry and caring for the poor were issues that were important to Jesus. They should be a top priority for us too.

And, you have yet to provide any evidence that they are not important to Catholics in general, or any specific Catholic in particular.

 

[Priscilla_Ann]

And this is another uninformed statement. I know plenty of people who get off their comfortable fannies to spend tons of time and money assisting others.

I encourage you to volunteer at a local pregnancy crisis center such as Birthright.

Actually, I prefer to sponsor a child and help with that child’s ongoing needs. I have been doing this for a number of years. I also contribute to causes that work to address world hunger. That is what God has called me to do.

Perhaps you are called to do something else.