January 19th, 2020

The anniversary of Roe vs. Wade is observed in the latter part of January with demonstrations, programs, and print and video presentations. The persevering efforts of anti-abortion groups as well as the more recent findings of medical science have greatly reduced the number of abortions in the US in recent years. Such effort and research have also led to some legislative limitations to abortion-on-demand in many states (though not Illinois, which has some pretty radical legislation supporting abortion rights). Certainly, the Catholic Church will continue to teach the immorality of abortion because of its firm belief that life begins at conception. Of course, this is a BELIEF and not a FACT. As such, many do not adhere to this belief. However, as mentioned, the medical sciences have made great advances since Roe vs. Wade in affirming how early a fetus can survive outside the womb. Such findings have helped affirm that the fetus is not just a glob of cells but rather a living human Being. Being pro-life means being FOR the life of the fetus. And this undoubtedly has been the biggest focus of our Church’s pro-life position. But to say we are pro-life really means that we are also “for a GOOD life” for all…not perfect, but good… one that holds opportunity for happiness. This means our moral position demands that we express our concern in action not just for unborn children, but also for children AFTER they are born. And, so, unlike certain civic or political groups, the Church’s pro-life stance calls its members to show an active respect and concern for ALL life… for a good life for orphaned children, the poor, the homeless, the immigrant, the prisoner. For the same reason, the Church promotes justice for all minorities who are discriminated against due to things like race, ethnicity, religion, sex, or sexual orientation. This expansive position of being pro-life by the Catholic Church is sometimes referred to as “the seamless garment” of life issues. In his encyclical “Laudato Si,” Pope Francis even links being pro-life with being proenvironment: "Since everything is interrelated, concern for the protection of nature is also incompatible with the justification of abortion," the encyclical says. "How can we genuinely teach the importance of concern for other vulnerable beings, however troublesome or inconvenient they may be, if we fail to protect a human embryo, even when its presence is uncomfortable and creates difficulties?" Being pro-life is a good thing. But we should not limit our efforts to that. We need to be stretched to be ProGOOD Life” for all.