For this blog, the bottom line on abortion is this: if we cannot uphold the right of an unborn, innocent child to life, then we have no foundation on which to defend the right to life of anyone else. If we cannot protect the most vulnerable among us, how can we possibly expect to think we can say with any moral or philosophical certitude that we should defend and help the poor, the widowed, people with special needs, the elderly, the persecuted, and other vulnerable populations? Where is the moral imperative to do those other noble good works, if we at the same time, are allowing innocent children to have their lives ended in the womb?
However, if we have a consistent ethic of life, that affirms the need to protect human life at all its stages, then we absolutely have a solid foundation on which to demand that we do whatever we need to do to feed the poor, clothe the naked, defend the widow, and keep alive all our vulnerable populations; the elderly, special needs children, the persecuted. Getting the abortion issue right is key to having a peaceful, generous society, as a whole. Can anyone truly say that we live in a generous society nowadays?
This consistent ethic of life is expressed in the Catechism in paragraphs (2270-2275) on abortion. It states in paragraph 2270:
Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception. From the first moment of his existence, a human being must be recognized as having the rights of a person - among which is the inviolable right of every innocent being to life.
It then quotes a well-known Scripture verse from Jeremiah 1:5: Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you.
So, abortion is not just an issue between a woman and her doctor, because it has ramifications for the good of society, as well.
Some, however, will contend that this issue is really just a modern issue, and the Bible doesn't speak on this issue,. Therefore, they say, just because one supports abortion rights, it does not mean he or she goes against the teachings of Jesus.
However, we have spoken at length in the blog about how Our Lord founded a Church, and that the Church is the authentic interpreter of Divine Revelation, which includes Sacred Scripture. The Bible was never meant to be a stand alone document. Therefore, the argument is invalid that says that since the Bible doesn't speak the word "abortion", the Church has no right to say abortion is morally wrong.
The Catechism addresses the history of the teaching of the Church against abortion in paragraph 2271: Since the first century the Church has affirmed the moral evil of every procured abortion. This teaching has not changed and remains unchangeable. Direct abortion, that is to say, abortion willed either as an end or a means, is gravely contrary to the moral law. It then quotes from a document called the Didache, which is from the first century, and believed to be the first attempt on the part of the early Church to put together in writing her teachings. You shall not kill the embryo by abortion and shall not cause the newborn to perish.75 So we can see abortion has been taught as wrong by the Church for a long time, contrary to what many say today.
Another objection to the Church's teaching on abortion is that there needs to be exceptions to save the life and health of the mother. Well, the fact is that direct abortion is never medically necessary to protect the life of anyone. Sometimes, an unborn child may die as a side effect of a treatment given to save the life of a pregnant woman who perhaps, for example, has cancer or life-threating seizures. There is never a medical necessity to kill a child in order to save a woman. Again, something done to a woman's body may result in the child's life unintentionally being ended, but that is not what we are speaking of here.
In his encyclical Evangelium Vitae,(On Human Life), Saint John Paul II clarifies exactly what the Church is against when she speaks against abortion. "I declare that direct abortion, that is, abortion willed as an end or as a means, always constitutes a grave moral disorder, since it is the deliberate killing of an innocent human being. " (no.62) Note what he says: "direct" abortion, and abortion "willed as an end or as a means", are wrong. (Astute readers may note in the Catechism paragraph I quoted above, it, too, clarified that it was specifically "procured" abortion that was wrong.)
So, one can say that inadvertent abortion is tragic, but may be morally acceptable in limited circumstances, but direct abortion, used for any reason, up to and including saving the life of the mother, is morally wrong. Noone can be permitted to will an abortion. If one happens as a side effect to something else, that can be morally permissible, but a directed, procured abortion is never acceptable.
The laws today, however, generally allow for abortion anytime, anywhere. They absolutely allow direct, procured abortion. This is not acceptable.
In the opinion of this blog, it is not acceptable for a person to support a political candidate who does not support any change to the current abortion laws. The only case where one could support such a candidate would be if the other candidate was threatening to kill people him or herself. That is the not the case today. Neither candidate is doing such a thing. Therefore, those of us who are using the excuse of supporting a candidate, such as the current Democratic candidate, who support the abortion laws staying as they are, in the name of stopping another candidate (for example, the leading Republican candidate), are not justified in their reasoning. No candidate is threatening to kill people.
In light of all this, it is this blog's stance that voting for the current Democratic candidate is not a morally viable option for any faithful Catholic. I am not saying one therefore has to vote for the current leading Republican candidate. But since the current Republican candidate is not threatening to kill anyone himself, voting for the other pro-abortion candidate to stop him is not a valid reason for doing so. Any Catholic bishop, priest, or media person who says otherwise is wrong.
In closing, let me quote a few paragraphs from a post I did a little over a year ago about Saint Joseph and his role as patron of the unborn. As you read this, you will see that even with this serious sin, there is opportunity for mercy, healing, and forgiveness.
It is moments like this that we can turn to people like Saint Joseph for inspiration. His whole life he protected and defended life. After the angel first appeared to him, he "took his wife into his home" (Matthew 8:24). Mary was pregnant at the time. Therefore, Joseph took an unborn life into his home. We are called to do the same, bring life into our homes. We need to welcome the unborn like Joseph did, even if they are not our biological own. It is fair and just to to be concerned with unborn babies that are not in our own wombs, contrary to what some pro-"choice" advocates may say.
Later on, Joseph took Mary and the child and fled to Egypt, again at the request of an angel (Matthew 2:13-14) . Why? Because Herod was going to destroy him. Joseph here takes the steps necessary to defend the life of a child who is targeted for execution. We must do the same for the unborn babies today who are under the same fate due to legalized abortion.
Another interesting aspect of Joseph's mission was that he was the one who was told by the angel to name the child Jesus (Matthew 1:22) . His example shows us that it is important to give every child a name. His intercession is used sometimes by groups who assist mothers who have had abortions to give their aborted child a name as part of the grieving and healing process post-abortion.
While the title "patron of the unborn" is not in the official Litany to Saint Joseph, it is a title some pro-life groups have given him today. It should be clear from these examples why. A group that has specialized in post-abortion healing came up with the prayer copied below. This prayer can be said for all those babies aborted at Planned Parenthood over the years, ideally by the men and women involved with the abortion as part of their healing process, but if not them, then by us. I will close this post with this prayer.
O St. Joseph, after your most holy spouse, our Blessed Mother, you were the first to take into your arms and heart the baby Jesus. From the first time you gazed upon him and held him, your heart and soul were forever bonded to him. You caressed the Holy Child with fatherly love and affection, and you committed yourself always to love, protect, and care for this Son.
Look now with similar love and affection upon this child of mine, who has gone from this world. I place my child, as well as my grief and guilt, into the eternal embrace of your arms. Hold and caress my child for me with the love of my arms and sweetly kiss my child with all the tender affection of my heart.
As God the Father entrusted the care of His most precious Son into your most loving and confident hands, so too do I entrust into your fatherly care this child of mine. Please present him to the merciful hands of Our Lord, so that one day, when I too leave this world, my child may greet me into eternal life. Amen
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