What are your thoughts on this article?

[Jen95]

Waste of time? Moral instruction is a waste of time? Not for all the young people who might listen. (Which may not be very many, I admit).

 

[Crocus]

From the posted article:

“we can advocate for policies to ensure necessary solutions. If we won’t do that, we aren’t effectively speaking up for the unborn babies whose very lives depend on having these supports in place.”

There is a Chinese proverb, “If you save a life , you are responsible for that life .”

We don’t always see the results of our pro-life efforts, however we do save lives of many unborn babies. We are responsible for them, to make sure they have what they need to thrive.

 

[PennyinCanada]

I don’t disagree, but it’s a waste of time saying these things when people are actually pregnant and are considering abortion.

However, saying it right now on a Catholic answer forum may cause someone reading this to make a different choice tomorrow before they do get pregnant.

 

[VanitasVanitatum]

When it comes to stopping abortion it isn’t enough.

 

[Lea101]

Moral instruction is a waste of time?

Telling someone who’s already pregnant and is considering abortion that they should not have sex is a waste of time. They can’t turn back the clock and they need support now onwards.

However, saying it right now on a Catholic answer forum may cause someone reading this to make a different choice tomorrow before they do get pregnant.

Perhaps. Although I think we’re preaching to the choir. Most people reading this thread now that sex before marriage isn’t a smart idea. All of us know the consequences of sex, including non religious folk. Only difference is that people who get pregnant/get someone else pregnant use birth control and failed, or that they were lazy/clumsy and didn’t use it.

When we say ‘don’t have sex’, they think ‘be more careful with contraception’.

 

[HumbleIOughtToBe]

I firmly stand by the church teaching that abortion is wrong regardless of the economic safety of the mother.

I would now say that a child is economic suicide for a large part of America. Again, it does not justify abortion.

The forum is quick to blame premarital sex, divorce, absent fathers, while ignoring the central premise that economics of the poor matters.

I reject the notion that God will provide for the woman as Prosperity Gospel -esque excuses to avoid the need to make a social safety net.

 

[melonhead]

Most cities have Catholic organizations that help pregnant women. In my city, we have an apartment house where they can stay, help with obtaining jobs or schooling, and the help continues after the baby is born, frequently for a number of years.

Good to hear that the help continues after birth. This seems like a huge thing in encouraging women to not abort; knowing that someone can help, especially after they’ve left the hospital with baby.

 

[melonhead]

No offense was intended, it was intended as pure tongue in cheek sarcasm. I can’t help but notice that people constantly point out how it takes two to make a baby, two to raise a baby, but the father has no say: if he wants the baby, the mom can abort. If he doesn’t want the baby but wants to give it up for adoption, the mom can take him for child support for years. jmho

Regarding the two situations you mentioned; those are truly horrible. On the one hand, they reinforce my belief that perhaps folks should wait, know more about each other, and enter into a committed marriage before engaging in the horizontal mambo. On the other hand, it most certainly tells me that we’re all human and quite fallible, and people who make a slip up need our support and help.

 

[RCIAGraduate]

Isn’t that getting into the field of conspiracy, what about the fact that many Catholics come from first generation and immigrant backgrounds and constitute a base of the Church if not the lifeline for many parishes? Besides, look at it this way, would you side with a Church that tells you what to do but never stands by you when you really need her like I remember a comment saying how the Polish Church is due for decline (all here reading this, please pray otherwise) because while the previous generation saw the Church as a fighter against communism while the current generations sees the Church as an institution telling them, what they can’t do, but are they being supported like I read how some people like young people struggle because of lack of community, maybe some are struggling in their family (not having someone to talk or a place to go like a second home) but the parish isn’t fulfilling that need?

I want to hear your answers but can’t you see why it’s critical for the Church to be on a certain side and stand by their people even if we disagree?

 

[blackforest]

Exactly. A crisis situation isn’t the time for woulda-coulda-shoulda.

 

[Babaganoush]

I think that it would be good to help young single mothers so that having the child isn’t as hard of a decision economically.

 

[TheLittleLady]

There is only one, small program in my state. They can house 5 women.

 

[blackforest]

Similar to this? We need more places like it! https://www.maggiesplace.org/

 

[RCIAGraduate]

Note, Ms. @TheLittleLady is a long time pro life activitst with personal experience, she’s speaking from her experiences (as do you, as a social worker, maybe you two can very much relate with each other). Sorry about your not so great experiences, hope you take carre, keep up the good work.

Both of you.

 

[blackforest]

Sorry about your not so great experiences, hope you take carre, keep up the good work.

Not so sure whom you are addressing here (??) I’ve done a lot on the activist side of pro-life work but burned out on it. I’d love to do a lot more on the social work side! Maggie’s Place seems to have a really good model for pro-lifers to follow.

 

[TheLittleLady]

There needs to be places to support thousands of women and children. Pray that we can turn some of the effort to this great task!

 

[Anicette]

Every practicing Catholic I know who is over teen age years know that sex outside of marriage is a sin. They may choose to ignore it, or think they are special and the rules don’t apply, but, they know the Church’s stance. Most of the general public knows that the Church teaches sex is only for marriage.

Do you encounter many practicing Catholics who do not already know this?

I am absolutely sure that many ignore the stance of the Church on sexual morality if they had not done search by themselves.
And many think it is only Vatican’s thinking, and it does not apply to them or the average Catholic because it is never discuss or support at their local level.

 

[TheLittleLady]

On the other hand, those who have raised children will tell you, all of their kids know the rules of the family. A few kids never break a rule. Most kids follow the rules most of the time, a few chose to ignore all of the rules regardless of the consequences.

A defiant child does not mean the parents are poor at parenting.

Choosing to ignore a rule, to think “the rules don’t apply to me” is part of the human condition.

 

[Anicette]

Yes, I agree that on one hand, choosing to ignore a rule is a part of human condition. On the other hand, it is difficult for teengers to have a clear understanding of human sexuality if they had never been instructed to any rules- different from thoses who rule the secular society.

I don’t know if you speak of rules explained by the parents at the litteral meaning or of you speak of the Church as a metaphoric meaning.

For mysef, I wasn’t explained something by my parents. I was just overprotected by my father against “bad guys”. And for to follow the rules of the family, mine was at this time enough in crisis for no rules able to emerge. Every member had to try live by making their own choices.

At the Church level, I was (with others teenagers) on the contrary instructed to NOT wait until marriage. Yes, as clear as I said it. By all fairness, not by a priests, but by youngs catholic adults in “charge” of minister high schoolers. For abortion topic, the views were more shared, and we see that the Church does not favor it a lot, but also a lot of more dissent expressed views by the adults in charge.

To conclude the Church is not an entity that is decided for Her members, so we have all the “liberty” to break the rules.

 

[TheLittleLady]

It is very sad that you did not encounter good catechesis. As parents our first job is to teach our kids the Faith. And as for the parish, in our Diocese and every Diocese I have worked with, a RE teacher or Youth Minister would be removed from their position if they were not teaching in accordance with the Church.

I’d encourage you to talk to your Diocese offices of Catechesis and Respect Life to tell them of your experiences and to learn what is in place now.