Now that Roe is Gone: What Now?
Now that Roe vs. Wade has been overturned—and justly so—get ready for the battle, folks. Returning the matter to the states and to the people is Constitutionally correct for our system of government. And we truly thank God for this news way overdue. Moreover, it is not a stretch at all to say we thank God for the five justices of SCOTUS that literally risked their lives—given our present culture of death that has created a remarkably immoral and violent “Left” in our country and around the world—by simply interpreting the Constitution correctly and by standing up for defenseless babies in the womb against a violent onslaught against them unheard of in human history. God bless and protect them against the blood-thirsty mob!
But having said the above, the fight is not over by any stretch. In some ways, it has just begun. Now we have to fight for the lives of the most vulnerable among us—babies in the womb—state by state and ultimately, our focus should be on an eventual constitutional amendment that bans the direct and intentional killing of any and all innocent human beings as either a means or an end. More on that below.
But the question now is: are you up for the fight? We have a long way to go, but here’s how I see it playing out.
First, we are going to experience tremendous victories in “red states” as they are called. Let’s face it, there are very few democrats left who are truly pro-life. At least, on the national level. There are some good signs of small amounts of growth among pro-life democrat politicians on the state level. But for the most part, it has become the “red states”—states predominantly controlled by Republicans—that are presently passing or have already passed major pro-life legislation. 26 states are certain to do so and there will be more to come.
This is the good news.
Perhaps even better news is we pro-lifers who have been fighting against the tide for 49 years now find ourselves in the driver’s seat. The leaders of our “culture of death,” as Pope St. John Paul II so aptly coined the phrase, are going to find it harder to avoid the real issues involved in abortion moving forward. For decades now, the forces of death have simply ignored the majority of American people who self-identify as “pro-life,” forcing their murderous agenda down their throats with the coercive power of the courts, especially SCOTUS. There was no need for any real debate—knowing they just get crushed every time they debate anyway—because they did not need it.
And I must say, the leaders of the culture of death have been very good at what they do. Think about it: they have dictated their will in carrying out the murders of over 63 million babies through the oligarchy of the courts, especially SCOTUS. They have the majority of the media, Hollywood, the various professional sports organizations, the universities and so-called “intelligentsia” creating an enormously powerful—and very loud—voice that continuously presents only one side of the story. Any relatively smallish allowance of “the other side” to speak is immediately attacked, caricatured, and then lied about by this enormous machine. It has been truly horrendous to watch over the decades
And yet, America is still majority “pro-life?” How can this be? In the midst of this constant onslaught of propaganda coming from all directions? And by the way, part of that propaganda includes polls telling us that the majority of the American people are pro-death. Yet, in a recent Rasmussen poll carried out after the now-famous “leak” of Justice Alito’s memo on the then-impending overturn of Roe, just last month, 48% of likely voters agreed with the overturning of Roe. Only 45% disapproved. And mind you, this was after the media, etc. put on a full court press of propaganda saying how evil Justice Alito, the other pro-life and pro-Constitution justices, and generally, all of us who stand against the murder of pre-born babies are.
You may say 48-45 is no reason for celebration. But if we were to break these poll numbers down, there may well be reason for hope here. I argue this shows a very strong majority of Americans to be “pro-life.” Think about it: if 48% want Roe overturned, we do not have to wonder whether these 48% of respondents are pro-life or not. They are. However, among the 45% who did not want Roe overturned, a good number of these would call themselves “pro-life” in that they want limitations placed on abortion. They just don’t want Roe overturned entirely. Perhaps the more important number to consider in this respect are the between 20 to at most 30% (30% being most likely too high a number) of people polled who believe abortion should be legal under any circumstances. That’s it! That means the overwhelming majority of Americans, most likely ca. 80%, believe abortion should be limited at least in some circumstances.
What Does This Mean?
As I said at the beginning of this article, get ready. What we know from the data presented is that the overwhelming majority of Americans know there is something wrong with abortion. They want it either eliminated or restricted. But unfortunately, a large number of them have not really thought through the reasons why there is something awry when it comes to abortion. You and I know what that is. It’s called murder. And science, of course, is on our side. As Pope St. John Paul II said in his masterful Encyclical Letter, Evangelium Vitae, 60:
Some people try to justify abortion by claiming that the result of conception, at least up to a certain number of days, cannot yet be considered a personal human life. But in fact, “from the time that the ovum is fertilized, a life is begun which is neither that of the father nor the mother; it is rather the life of a new human being with his own growth. It would never be made human if it were not human already. This has always been clear, and … modern genetic science offers clear confirmation…” (citing: Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Declaration on Procured Abortion, 18 November 1974, Nos. 12-13). the results themselves of scientific research on the human embryo provide “a valuable indication for discerning by the use of reason a personal presence at the moment of the first appearance of a human life: how could a human individual not be a human person” (citing: Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Instruction on Respect for Human Life in its Origin and on the Dignity of Procreation Donum Vitae (22 February 1987), I, No. 1.
We’ve heard a lot about “follow the science” in recent times with the advent of Covid-19. Well, the science is unmistakable when it comes to the facts concerning a pre-born baby in the womb. From the instant of its conception, the “fertilized ovum” is a new, living (if its growing, it’s alive!), and distinct organism that is not “part” of its mother or father. As such, it is a unique human being never to be duplicated. It is either male or female and has his or her full DNA program detailing all the general physical characteristics this little pre-born baby will ever manifest throughout his life. He just needs time and nutrition until he will fully participate in the society he is already a member of.
These facts are indisputable.
And, by the way, given the above facts, there is simply no wiggle-room for even the possibility of rationally denying what the CDF document, Dignitas Personae, on June 20, 2008, declared. And that is that every human being, from the moment of its existence in the womb, “possesses the dignity of a person” (n. 37).
The problem is there are millions of people of good will who have never really considered these facts. And for many of them, this is why they can hold to the untenable position that abortions are okay “in certain cases.” Either they just don’t know the facts involved, or again, they just have not really thought them through to the logical conclusion that follows from these facts, i.e., abortion can have no “exceptions.”
But if you want to know the full truth, many of the leaders of the culture of death themselves know these facts to be true as well. May God help those in that camp. I would not want to be one of them on Judgment Day. May God have mercy on them and bring them out of darkness and into the light of the Gospel. But we have to know that it has become mostly these who will do almost anything in their power to keep these facts I have stated above from the 80% I also mentioned above. A good portion of these 80% have been kept in the dark by design by our popular culture that has become darkened with a spirit of violence and death.
The good news is that if we but bring to bear the facts concerning abortion and the dignity of the human being, the numbers of full conversions to the truth will send abortion to the history books where, I believe, future historians will debate just how something this evil could have ever actually existed in our country or our world.
Evangelism and catechesis are the clarion calls for all of us today as Catholic Christians.
The Catholic Church and the Orthodox Churches Stand Virtually Alone
The Catholic Church is the most pro-life institution or organization in the entire world. That too is a matter of fact. Even the Orthodox, while staunch when it comes to abortion, leave more than just wiggle-room when it comes to Contraception. And that is tragic. But the moral decline of Protestantism represents the tragedy of tragedies among Christians. The truth is, folks, there is not a single Protestant denomination (or non-denomination that I could find of any significant number) that is truly and totally pro-life. I could list many more of these denominations, but just consider these few examples briefly:
Presbyterian Church (USA)
This is the largest Presbyterian body in the United States. They condemned abortion outright in 1965. In 1970, a study report concluded that abortion could well be a “help” in cases of unwanted pregnancies. By 1983, the Presbyterian Church USA General Assembly adopted an official policy in favor of abortion calling it a “stewardship responsibility.” Today, they are official members of the “Religious Coalition for Abortion Rights.” In 1992, the General Assembly stated “there is a basis in our tradition not only for a woman’s difficult choice for abortion, but also for the preservation of the lives of the unborn…” They now perform elective abortions in their hospitals.
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)
The largest Lutheran body in the United States. In 1990, the ELCA adopted a statement that declared abortion to be acceptable in cases of danger to mother’s life, extreme fetal deformity incompatible with life, and in cases of rape and incest. They also declared that they neither support nor oppose abortion-restricting legislation. In 1997, they voted down a proposal to restrict abortion funding to cases of rape, incest, life of the mother. As a result, ELCA now funds elective abortions in their health care coverage and offers elective abortion in some Lutheran-affiliated hospitals. Today, on their website, the ELCA declares, in a 1991 statement of faith declared by a Church-wide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in American:
A developing life in the womb does not have an absolute right to be born, nor does a pregnant woman have an absolute right to terminate a pregnancy.
The statement goes on to give multiple reasons why abortion would be morally licit, such as “a clear threat to the physical life of the woman,” “rape and incest,” “where women are so dominated and oppressed that they have no choice regarding sexual intercourse and little access to contraceptives,” or “extreme fetal abnormality.” Sadly, they even allow for late-term abortions where “there are lethal fetal abnormalities indicating that the prospective newborn will die very soon.”
The United Methodist Church
The largest Methodist body in the United States. They helped organize and are members of the “Religious Coalition for Abortion Rights.” Along with the United Church of Christ (popularly knows as “Obama’s church”), the UMC joined NARAL in supporting President Clinton’s veto of the Partial Abortion Ban in 1996 and 1997. Their 2004 “Book of Discipline” remains pro-abortion.
The Southern Baptist Convention
The SBC is the most pro-life Protestant denomination I could find, but even they tragically allow for the murder of innocent pre-born babies when the life of the mother is in danger.
And I could go on and on with denomination after denomination that has given in to the spirit of the age—the culture of death—when it comes to the blight of abortion.
The Catholic Church stands virtually alone—along with the Orthodox churches—in declaring abortion to be a grave moral evil regardless of circumstances. An abortion, which by definition wills or directly causes the death of an innocent pre-born child can never be licitly permitted. CCC 2271 declares:
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…
Watch Out for Surprise Attacks
I recently did a retreat up in the mountains of Southern California where I was asked by one of the youths in attendance how to respond to those who claim the Catholic Church “is not really as pro-life as they claim” because the Church “allows for abortions in cases like ectopic pregnancies or cases where a woman has advanced-staged, terminal cancer of the uterus.” And then, just two days ago, a friend sent me a text with a quote from a very popular website where the author claimed:
The Catholic Church will not baptize a full term still born child that a mother gave birth to. Not only they won’t baptize the baby they WILL NOT allow the baby to have a funeral mass. Reasons is the baby never took a breath. Tell me how the CC believes life begins at conception?
It hit me when I read this: we really do have to be on guard. The devil knows that the Catholic Church is the ultimate foe of his genocidal wishes. Jesus said, “The thief (the Devil and his demons) comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10). The devil always throws everything he can muster against the Bride of Christ on earth, the Catholic Church. But you can bet your bottom dollar that he is going to really ramp things up now that his precious Roe vs. Wade has been overturned. He is seething at what will be a sizable diminishment of the slaughter of the holy innocents. And he is going to stir up as much chaos and confusion as he can in order to dilute the purity of the moral teachings of the Catholic Church which represent the key to not only the cessation of his plans for murder, but for his plans contrary to God’s will in total.
Now, when I say these attacks against the Church are “attacks of the devil,” I am speaking on a spiritual level because as Catholics, we understand as CCC 2851 and 2854 say in the context of Church teaching on the final petition of the Our Father—“deliver us from evil:”
In this petition, evil is not an abstraction, but refers to a person, Satan, the Evil One, the angel who opposes God. The devil (dia-bolos) is the one who “throws himself across” God’s plan and his work of salvation accomplished in Christ…
When we ask to be delivered from the Evil One, we pray as well to be freed from all evils, present, past, and future, of which he is the author or instigator.
This is not to say that everyone who questions Catholic teaching is somehow evil or something like that. Not at all. In fact, many among the multitudes are good people who have been duped by the culture of death and the devil. They ask questions because they want answers. These are ripe for conversion. This is not to cast aspersions on the people asking questions. But it is to recognize the importance of what we are talking about and to understand that in proclaiming the truth we can be instruments in the liberation of those who are “held captive” by the lies of the enemy of souls. St. Paul describes this well in Col. 2:8:
See to it that no one makes a prey of you by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the universe, and not according to Christ.
The word translated above as “makes a prey of you” is sulagogon, which means “to be led away as a captive,” or a slave. That is what we are talking about here. Our battle is not only intellectual, but it is very much a spiritual battle. Remember this as you respond to the above attacks against the Church. Millions are right now truly “held captive” by the devil and mired in the darkness of grave error. And so for those, here are some responses. First, let’s deal with “ectopic pregnancies” and “cancerous uteruses:
- As I quoted above, the Church condemns any and all abortions, which by definition means, “… 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.” In the cases of ectopic pregnancy, where a fertilized egg is trapped in a defective filopian tube that will result in the death of the newly conceived pre-born baby and possibly the mother as well, the Church teaches it to be licit to remove the defective filopian tube in order to heal the woman, even if there is a “double effect” of the baby dying. That is why the underlying moral principle here is called “the principle of double effect.” Employing this principle, one is not willing or directly causing the death of the baby as either an end or means. One is willing the healing of the mother by means of removing the defective philopian tube. That is not the “direct abortion” that is condemned by the Church. And we can say similarly of the cancerous uterus as well. A doctor is permitted, in a grave situation like this, to remove the cancerous uterus in order to save the mother even though there is the “double effect” of the death of the baby.
- In the case of baptizing a stillborn baby, the person writing the article is misinformed. While it is true that baptism is a sacrament for the living, so the normal course is not to baptize any “dead” person. In the case of a stillborn, a pastor of souls is permitted to baptize conditionally if the apparent “death” has occurred relatively recently. And this applies to recent death in general. At times, medical science declares a person “dead” when in fact he is not. And so the church chooses to err on the side of mercy and baptize the person conditionally, “If (name of child) is alive, I baptize you…”
And with regard to having a Catholic burial for a stillborn unbaptized baby, the Church allows for the burial if the desire of the parents was to baptize and to have a Catholic burial.
And just for the record, the child “never having taken a breath” has absolutely nothing to do with whether or not to baptize. The question is entirely centered on whether the child may be alive or not.
Now granted, these questions concerning the Catholic Church’s “pro-life” stance are relatively easy to answer. There are others that are tougher. But the point is: we have to be prepared as Catholics, perhaps now more than ever. The attacks are coming and they are here. But the responses we give are crucial. We have to be able to show the world that the Catholic position is really the only coherent position to take. Because of the truth that from the moment of the fertilization of the ovum we have a human being created in the image and likeness of God, it makes no sense to say we could then licitly directly kill that child because of a malady the child’s mother has. “Rape” and “incest” are two other popular excuses used by even Christians for abortion, but the same principle applies. You cannot kill a child because of the sin of his father. That makes no sense.
When it comes to “the Faith of our Fathers,” there is no room for incoherency. And it certainly doesn’t aid in the process of attempting an amendment to the Constitution that would ban “direct procured abortion willed either as an end or a means,” either. Any exceptions whatsoever—whether consider the Faith or the law in the United States of American—leaves the outcome of faulty reasoning fatally flawed, in more ways than one!
