December 7, 1941 was rightfully called "a day that will live in infamy" by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. He referred, of course, to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, which had resulted in the death of 2,403 Americans. Using the same logic, how much more does January 22, 1973 deserve also to be called a "day of infamy"? On that day, as a result of the Supreme Court of the United States' infamous decision, the path was opened to the destruction of innocent life in the womb of a mother and, eventually, even to life partially outside the womb. The resulting number of aborted children has now reached well over 47 million, and this number, unlike those children who never saw the light of day, is still growing!
Especially during these days, you will hear and read references to the name of the Supreme Court's decision on that occasion: Roe v. Wade. If we took a poll, excluding those in the legal profession, asking to whom Roe refers, I would venture to say that the great majority of people would respond that, as is usual with a legal case, it is the name of the person bringing the case. It is not, and consciously or unconsciously, it is also the beginning of the tragic downward spiral of misinformation that surrounds this question.
The American Heritage Dictionary defines Roe to be: "Used as a name in legal proceedings to designate an unknown (person)." In this Supreme Court case, the fictitious Roe was used to conceal the identity of the person who was the plaintiff in the case. Even without assuming any bad intent here, we unfortunately have at the very beginning of this saga a "facelessness," which can only contribute to the mere intellectualizing of a matter full of import. This is because in the case of each unborn child, we do not have a "faceless" mass of tissue but a living human being.
In the 1980s "Jane Roe" finally revealed her identity as Norma McCorvey. In 1995 she changed her allegiance and became a pro-life Christian and a staunch anti-abortionist activist. In 1998 she entered the Catholic Church and found great peace.
To put the matter of abortion into context, it is useful to refer to two important texts: "From the time that the ovum is fertilized, a new life is begun which is neither that of the father nor of the mother; it is rather the life of a new human being with his own growth. It would never be human if it were not human already" (Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Declaration on Procured Abortion).
"What is at stake is so important that, from the standpoint of moral obligation, the mere probability that a human person is involved would suffice to justify an absolutely clear prohibition of an intervention aimed at killing a human embryo. The human being is to be respected and treated as a person from the moment of conception" (Pope John Paul II, Evangelium Vitae, 60).
The Natural Law
You will, likewise during these days, be confronted with the many polls taken surrounding this issue. No doubt, even opposing groups use these polls to make their respective points. However, regardless of poll results, this issue stands above the past, present or future state of public opinion. This is because it is an issue of what is called the natural law and this concept is one we would do well to review because its demise in the public consciousness and in courts of law is another factor that makes the infamy of abortion possible.
St. Thomas Aquinas reminds us that all creation has an "end" used here in the sense of a "purpose." Inanimate objects and the lower orders of nature have an end which is determined beforehand because they do not possess the power to reason or the power of free will. For instance, if you strike a match, assuming that the match or striker is not wet, the match will light! This is its nature, it has been determined beforehand and, since the match possesses neither reason nor free will, it lights. However, we praise people who are virtuous precisely because they can also live in an un-virtuous manner if they so choose. Their conduct is not determined beforehand.
St. Thomas also tells us that this does not mean that man and woman were created in a state of anarchy. God, our Creator, has placed within us what can be called the law of the heart. This is not mere sentiment but the inner knowledge which a person possesses which allows him or her to know, from the very fact of being a human person, basic concepts of right and wrong. This is because the human person is also directed to an end: eternal life. For example, after World War II trials were held for those accused of being war criminals. These were known as the Nuremberg trials, after the German city where they took place. Many of the defendants claimed that their actions were the result of following orders, which in itself is generally a praiseworthy or at least an expected action in the case of soldiers or civil leaders. In fact, some of their actions could have even been described as legal, according to the laws of their countries. This reasoning was not allowed as a defense because the judges stated that there is a higher law, placed within the individual, which allows him or her to know an evil action instinctively. Because of this knowledge, said the judges, the individuals were responsible for their actions. Here is what the Journal of Natural Law and Modern Philosophy, says concerning this matter: "The notion that there is a higher law to which all human laws and rulers must conform in order to be considered legitimate the essential claim of natural law's adherents provided the justification for the Nuremberg trials of Nazi war criminals" (Vol 8, Number 1, winter 2001).
Not a Political Question
It is always essential that we do not confuse God's natural law, and its constant defense by the Church, as being a political act. There is always a risk that the teaching of the Church will be wrongly interpreted. Throughout our history, the bishops of the United States have always made enormous efforts to avoid giving people indications about how to vote. But the Church has always confirmed and must always confirm the moral principles that all must follow. The Church has always taught that abortion is intrinsically evil.
Pope Benedict XVI stated this very clearly last year: "As far as the Catholic Church is concerned, the principal focus of her interventions in the public arena is the protection and promotion of the dignity of the person, and she is thereby consciously drawing particular attention to principles which are not negotiable. Among these the following emerge clearly today: protection of life in all its stages, from the first moment of conception until natural death the protection of the right of parents to educate their children. These principles are not truths of faith, even though they receive further light and confirmation from faith; they are inscribed in human nature itself and therefore they are common to all humanity" (Address to members of European People's Party, March 30, 2006).
Jesus Is Always Rich in Mercy
One of the most damaging effects of some of the public discourse concerning abortion is that, in some way, Christ's Church is perceived as harsh and /or unrealistic about the tragedies of human life. This could not be further from the truth. From the beginning of Jesus' teaching on this earth, it was those very tragedies that He commanded be addressed, and addressed with mercy, as He did Himself. This is why His followers have been the ministers of His charity, especially toward the weakest and those in most need, for two thousand years. Do we not find in the Gospels the beautiful examples of the Prodigal Son, the forgiveness of the woman caught in adultery, the assurance given to the Good Thief from the Cross? Do we not know that anyone who sincerely makes use of the Sacrament of Confession is forgiven through the mercy of Jesus? Is this not part of the basic Christian message taught to the child as soon as he or she can be instructed in Christian doctrine? Jesus wants us to be sorry so that He can forgive us. He does not want us to be wracked with shame or guilt.
Because I would not want even one person reading this article to misunderstand the teaching of Christ's Church, and thereby be deprived of mercy, I would like to quote here a passage from our late beloved Pope John Paul II's Encyclical on human life. He wrote: "I would like to say a special word to women who have had an abortion. The Church is aware of the many factors which may have influenced your decision, and she does not doubt that in many cases it was a painful and even shattering decision. The wound in your heart may not have healed. Certainly what has happened was and remains terribly wrong. But do not give in to discouragement and do not lose hope. Try rather to understand what happened and face it honestly. If you have not already done so, give yourselves over with humility and trust to repentance. The Father of mercies is ready to give you his forgiveness and his peace in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. You will come to understand that nothing is definitively lost and you will also be able to ask forgiveness from your child, who is now living in the Lord" (Evangelium Vitae, 99).
Jesus, the Way, the Truth and the Life
In St. Paul's third account of his conversion (Acts 26:12-18), he uses a phrase, quoting our Lord, which he did not use in the previous two accounts: "It is hard for you to kick against the goad." This was a Greek phrase, adopted by the Jewish people as well, to indicate useless resistance. Although God's revealed word is inspired, He does make use of human authors. Perhaps St. Paul quotes this phrase only later on in life because he became more and more aware of the conflict within the human person between the law of the heart, given us as part of our human nature, and our human weakness, which naturally seems to kick against it.
God's revealed truth is not something to be resented nor is it something we use as a weapon against others. It is the great compliment of a loving God made to those created in His image. If we resent it, we will wind up being consumed with anger and bitterness. If we use it as a weapon, we can wind up killing with hate those we claim to love.
Many were surprised when the former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI, spoke so clearly about the challenge of truth in his homily at the Mass for the Election of the Pope. Many are still surprised at the large, responsive crowds the Holy Father draws. This too is linked to truth. Truth has an appeal all its own. As we confront the great American tragedy of legalized abortion, we do so not with vengeance or recrimination or a lack of merciful love, but with truth. Let us conclude here by quoting our Holy Father on this theme.
"An ‘adult' faith is not a faith that follows the trends of fashion and the latest novelty; a mature adult faith is deeply rooted in friendship with Christ. It is this friendship that opens us up to all that is good and gives us a criterion by which to distinguish the true from the false, and deceit from truth. To the extent that we draw near to Christ, in our own lives too, truth and love are blended. Love without truth would be blind; truth without love would be like ‘a clanging cymbal' (1 Cor 13:1)" (Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, April 18, 2005).
I hope that many of you will be able to join me in Washington, D.C., on Monday, January 22. If not, I know that you will be with me with your prayers that all God's sons and daughters, made in His image, may always recognize the truth, which alone will set us free (cf. John 8: 32), and that this freedom will be extended also to those yet to be born.
