The Bishops Listen, Start New Direction on Abortion

[katherine2]

For years, many faithful Catholics have quietly been promoting a different and more pastoral and convincing approach to the issue of abortion than the direction and rhetoric of some national pro-life political groups.

They have asked that people who are conflicted or undecided on abortion not be villified or called murderers. They have suggested that the bishops approach members of the public in a respectful way and try raise the issue of life in a more convincing and reasonable matter and one that can accept that some reasonable people are not yet fully pro-life.

Responding to this call and the inaction of other pro-life organizations, the Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has launched a major advertising campaign in the Washington Metropolitan area and in national news media outlets. The campaign, called the “Second Look Project,” presents basic facts about legal abortion that much of the public does not understand and encourages people to take a “second look” at their views on abortion.

“Three decades after Roe v. Wade, many people still do not understand basic facts about legal abortion – like the fact that abortion is legal through all nine months of pregnancy,” said Cathy Cleaver Ruse, Esq., Director of Planning and Information for the Secretariat.

“Recent polls showing support for Roe v. Wade describe Roe as the decision which legalized abortion in the first 3 months of pregnancy, a flagrant distortion of the truth,” said Ruse. “Roe created an unlimited right to abortion and most people think an unlimited right to abortion is wrong.”

“The Second Look Project is innovative because it provides basic facts about legal abortion, and lets the facts speak for themselves,” said Ruse.

Over 500 transit advertisements will appear on Metro trains and buses in the Washington area beginning in January and running through February. Advertisements have also begun appearing in the following news outlets: The Washington Post, the Washington Times, the National Catholic Register, America, Commonweal, the New Republic, and the National Review. The ads direct viewers to a website with additional and supporting information: www.secondlookproject.org.

 

[jlw]

I can only applaud!!! :clapping:

Meeting people where they are at is the best way to show them the Truth, the Life, and the Way.

The case against abortion can be argued on factual and reasonable grounds.

To often, pro-lifers speak religiously about this subject to non-religious, and therefore the communication lines fall flat.

A great (and :crying: :banghead: :clapping: ) thread on convincing a relativist and unbeliever that abortion is wrong can be looked at in the Moral Theology forum:

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=35266

worth a look at the great arguements, and not-so-effective arguments of our dear (and smart) fellow CA posters!!

 

[Lisa_N]

This is going to be very helpful in changing minds and hearts. People do not KNOW about abortion. If they did, they would be far less likely to say they are ‘for choice.’

I was explaining PBA to the young women in my office. They had never HEARD of the procedure and thought that abortion was pretty much limited to first trimester unless there were extenuating circumstances. The average person has swallowed the PP and NARAL rhetoric that only desperate young, poor women are getting abortions as a last resort. Not true.

Well I guess I"m preachin’ to the choir here. But this tactic IMO will be more effective than threats,accusations or demeaning comments about women who have been brainwashed into abortions.

Lisa N

 

[vern_humphrey]

If Catholic Bishops will not get up on their hind legs and condemn abortion for what it is – brutal, grisly, pre-mediated mass murder – how can the expect other people to think it’s REALLY wrong?

 

[rlg94086]

vern humphrey:

If Catholic Bishops will not get up on their hind legs and condemn abortion for what it is – brutal, grisly, pre-mediated mass murder – how can the expect other people to think it’s REALLY wrong?

Hi Vern,

I understand your viewpoint, and I agree intellectually that abortion is murder (it’s the taking of an innocent life, so really there is no argument here). However, it’s a matter of effectiveness. When strong terms like “mass murder” are used, a wall immediately goes up and conversation stops. The Bishops are still as opposed to abortion as you and I are, but they want to soften the language in order to dialogue.

The same thing is done with effective apologetics. If you tell a Protestant (or a Protestant tells a Catholic) they are going to hell, it’s difficult to have a civil conversation about our differences.

God Bless,

Robert.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

It’s taken the bishops 30 years to discover that they should tell people what’s wrong with abortion? Aren’t they a little slow in their thinking?

 

[Fitz]

Joe Kelley:

It’s taken the bishops 30 years to discover that they should tell people what’s wrong with abortion? Aren’t they a little slow in their thinking?

So, shall we say, better late than never!

 

[katherine2]

I am so grateful for the bishops for finally listening to the many of us who have long advocated a more temperate and pastoral approach to this issue. The harshness and nastiness used by some pro-life advocates has been a failure. This new initiative by the bishops has the potential to do some real good. I know that not everyone will agree with an approach that assumes everyone who is not pro-life is not a willful advocate of murder, but maybe simply a misinformed person.

I pray for the success of this intiative.,

 

[rlg94086]

katherine2:

I am so grateful for the bishops for finally listening to the many of us who have long advocated a more temperate and pastoral approach to this issue. The harshness and nastiness used by some pro-life advocates has been a failure. This new initiative by the bishops has the potential to do some real good. I know that not everyone will agree with an approach that assumes everyone who is not pro-life is not a willful advocate of murder, but maybe simply a misinformed person.

I pray for the success of this intiative.,

You are exactly right katherine2. I think (hope) the number of pro-lifers who use the “murderer” approach is small anyway. The whole problem is that most pro-choice people don’t think it is the ending of a human life, so yelling “murderer!” just repels them.

I’ve always found a loving approach much more effective. The logical argument of the difference between the “human” status of a child in the womb only minutes before birth versus out of the womb after birth is generally compelling. With the incredible success our hospitals have had with extremely premature babies, how can someone argue that a 24-wk old “fetus” doesn’t count as a human? Also, the DNA is human from conception, so there is no question from a biological standard that this living being is human.

God Bless,

Robert.

 

[John_Higgins]

Hooray!

The hardline approach makes opponents more hard line.

John

 

[atsheeran]

This seems like a good approach for now. The bishops will not forget the ultimate goal to eliminate abortion entirely, not just to make it more rare. I believe this is just a different way of reaching that ultimate goal.

 

[_pro-life_teen]

katherine2, thanks for the heads up! I’m prinitng out some of their beautiful posters at this very moment so I can hang them up at school tommorrow. I recommend checking out the site to those who haven’t done so.

 

[Brad]

katherine2:

I am so grateful for the bishops for finally listening to the many of us who have long advocated a more temperate and pastoral approach to this issue. The harshness and nastiness used by some pro-life advocates has been a failure. This new initiative by the bishops has the potential to do some real good. I know that not everyone will agree with an approach that assumes everyone who is not pro-life is not a willful advocate of murder, but maybe simply a misinformed person.

I pray for the success of this intiative.,

Katherine -

As much as I applaud any project that will inform and help change the minds and hearts of people on this issue, I take great offense at your criticism of pro-life groups to the point that you call them a failure.

If it hadn’t been for pro-life groups, countless lives would not have been saved. These people have given large parts of their lives to give the unborn a voice when most of the rest of the world was too cowardly or lazy to care.

The reason that most people do not know what abortion or Roe V. Wade is - is largely due to the lack of courage or conviction of pastors Catholic and otherwise. We rarely ever hear from our pulpits regarding this topic - not even on pro-life Sunday.

Pro-life groups have done the educating, have stood in the streets in the bad weather, have gotten arressted, spit-on, beat-up, and been verbally abused in horrible ways.

They have done this largely with zero support from anyone and with Bishops that allow pro-abortion speakers to speak on college campuses.

You talk about a better, more pastoral approach. Let’s see some. And, in the meantime, please stop criticizing fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.

 

[katherine2]

Brad:

Katherine -

As much as I applaud any project that will inform and help change the minds and hearts of people on this issue, I take great offense at your criticism of pro-life groups to the point that you call them a failure.

Well, Brad, I’m sorry, but on this matter, I must disagree with you. There are a great diversity of pro-life organizations out there and a great diversity of approach and tactics that are and can be taken.

Certainly silence from the Catholic Church on this important issue is something contrary to my experience. In my world, if I were to randomly pull people off the street corner, I would find more are aware that of the Church’s position on abortion than on the Holy Trinity!!

While I have great respect for the pro-life activities of all, I don’t think anyone is above commentary on the effectiveness of their actions. Some one has done some effective education because when you talk to people about the morality of abortion, the American people are with us.

I remember in the 1980’s their was a line that people love the environement, they just can’t stand environmentalists (they hate war, but can’t stand anti-war activist; etc., etc. ) . I feel we are now in the place where the political moderates are against abortion but just can’t stand pro-lifers!!! (this is meant as a light hearted social observation, don’t over react). Certainly the media has wrongly demonized the pro-life movement. But we have known that for years. if we care about life, we have a responsibility to present our cause in a way that is appealing.

On another thread, some one said that gay pro-lifers have no place in the movement. I’ve known a person who said women who work outside the home don’t either.

And, while if we are to have a further discussion on this I would like it on another thread, the issue of banning Mrs. Clinton speaking on a topic other than abortion at Canisus College is an example of the extremism that I feel is harmful rather than helpful.

 

[katherine2]

*pro-life_teen*:

katherine2, thanks for the heads up! I’m prinitng out some of their beautiful posters at this very moment so I can hang them up at school tommorrow. I recommend checking out the site to those who haven’t done so.

thank you. please make good use of the posters. God bless you.

 

[reggie]

In defense of the militant tact taken by many pro-life groups, I have to say that it is easy to villify them and say that they offend people instead of drawing them to the cause of life. For thirty years, abortion rights and groups have pretty much been unchallenged in the media. Whenever there was a pro-life march, it was eclipsed by the attention given to the pro-abortion activists. These groups, just as the early unions of the 20th century, have paved the way for more pastoral and scientific approaches to be taken. The media could not ignore the thousands who marched for life this year. They have the attention of the American public and now is the time to use that attention to be more pastoral etc…
But, let us never forget that this is a fight and one that we must never run from nor can we compromise. Just as in the church there are missionaries, contemplatives and theologians, there is a need for all kinds of pro-life groups. Do not denigrate those that have fought so hard and so long for the gains made in the last decade or so. I praise them and thank God for their courage and perseverence.

 

[katherine2]

reggie:

In defense of the militant tact taken by many pro-life groups, I have to say that it is easy to villify them and say that they offend people instead of drawing them to the cause of life. …Do not denigrate those that have fought so hard and so long for the gains made in the last decade or so. I praise them and thank God for their courage and perseverence.

Yes. Let’s not denigrate the people. But we should always take a critical look at tactics and methods. Let’s not make it easy to villify pro-lifers but difficult.

Pray for those on the margins of life – the unborn, the disabled, the elderly, the prisioner, the victims of war.

 

[Brad]

katherine2:

Well, Brad, I’m sorry, but on this matter, I must disagree with you. There are a great diversity of pro-life organizations out there and a great diversity of approach and tactics that are and can be taken.

Certainly silence from the Catholic Church on this important issue is something contrary to my experience. In my world, if I were to randomly pull people off the street corner, I would find more are aware that of the Church’s position on abortion than on the Holy Trinity!!

While I have great respect for the pro-life activities of all, I don’t think anyone is above commentary on the effectiveness of their actions. Some one has done some effective education because when you talk to people about the morality of abortion, the American people are with us.

I remember in the 1980’s their was a line that people love the environement, they just can’t stand environmentalists (they hate war, but can’t stand anti-war activist; etc., etc. ) . I feel we are now in the place where the political moderates are against abortion but just can’t stand pro-lifers!!! (this is meant as a light hearted social observation, don’t over react). Certainly the media has wrongly demonized the pro-life movement. But we have known that for years. if we care about life, we have a responsibility to present our cause in a way that is appealing.

On another thread, some one said that gay pro-lifers have no place in the movement. I’ve known a person who said women who work outside the home don’t either.

And, while if we are to have a further discussion on this I would like it on another thread, the issue of banning Mrs. Clinton speaking on a topic other than abortion at Canisus College is an example of the extremism that I feel is harmful rather than helpful.

1. Pro-life groups speak of abortion as murder because that is what it is. If people are offended by that, perhaps they should look in the mirror. The reason such “extreme” terms must be used (amazing that reality is now extreme) is because the law needs to be changed. If we prance around what it actually happening, the law will never be changed. It is much easier to provide the love and support for pregnant women when they are open to receive it. As long as they have the legal option of discarding their problem quickly and easily and all their contacts are telling them it’s ok, it’s just a blob of tissue, they will not seek out the help that is readily available from numerous pro-llife crisis pregnancy centers, mom’s houses etc. Having the law changed and ministering to unknowledgeble young people are 2 different issues that often need different approaches. It seems that you are painting the sidewalk counselors and life-chain people as crazy and uncontrollable freeks screaming “murderer”. That is the opposite of the truth. That is the media’s painting of what happens, using a couple extreme individuals to paint the whole movement. We cannot allow the deceivers to modify our course of action when we are rapidly gaining ground.
2. Hillary Clinton speaking at a Catholic college that I am very familiar with is deplorable. It is extreme to have her speak at the college. It is not extreme for Catholics to be upset because she is speaking there. Clinton is vehemently pro-abortion. Giving her a platform, which is contrary to the USCCB guidelines on this matter, gives credibility to her as a political advocate in general, leading impressionable young Catholics to surmise it is ok to cast a vote for her or support her with campaign dollars, time etc.
   All the while, she works diligently to support such terrible organizations as Planned Parenthood, that operate on deceit as they prey on young girls - not just to have them kill their babies - but give them instruction on how to engage in promiscuous sex, including how to achieve maximum enjoyment out of such. It literally makes me ill to my stomach.
3. You would be surprised how easily Catholics and others can dull their consciences when they never hear about abortion from the pulpits. If the Bishops really wanted to invest wisely, they would join with Dr. Dobson’s program to put high-tech sonigram machines in every crisis pregnancy center so that the women can actually see their child.

 

[Brad]

If you saw the recent march in San Francisco, it was clear which group was rationale, peaceful, kind, and loving, and which group was vile, accusatory, and ready to rumble.

 

[rlg94086]

Brad,

I have to back up katherine2 on this one. I know she has made some pretty uncharitable posts in the past, but on this one she’s been pretty fair. All she is saying is that some of the pro-lifers, those who are extreme, are using poor tactics.

I understand abortion is murder, and sometimes it does work to shock someone with the truth with strong words. IMHO most of the time, it drives them away. How does this help? The pro-life Catholics that pray the rosary outside of clinics and counsel people with love are better witnesses.

I do agree with you, and I hope katherine2 would as well, that it would be nice if all priests and bishops had the courage to speak the truth about sins from the pulpit. I’ve known of too many who are worried about upsetting the assembly. If it’s a liberal parish, they avoid conservative hot buttons and vice versa.

Now on the Hillary matter…more power to the college. They should be able to ban/welcome whomever they want. It is still a free country! I just wish so many colleges take the opposite viewpoints and ban conservatives from speaking. This happens more often.

God Bless,

Robert.