October 7, 2007

    For centuries Catholics believed that it was their duty to defend human life regardless of the age of the person.  Over the past ten or fifteen years, this topic has become a hot political issue and consequently the notion of human life has fallen into categories.  Today, if you consider yourself a political liberal, you feel more freedom to see such topics as abortion as a right of the woman rather than a right to life on the part of the unborn child.  If you consider yourself as a political conservative you feel obliged to fight for the pro-life agenda.  If you push this political agenda even further, the idea of pro-life is seen as a Republican issue while the pro-choice agenda is seen as a issue for Democrats.  As Catholics we find ourselves stuck between a rock and a hard place.  Issues, as we well know, are not so black and white, thus not so Democrat or Republican.

    As Catholic Christians we must take a more serious look as the issue of Life.  We cannot allow ourselves to be controlled by one political party or other.  There is more to the issue than being liberal or conservative or perhaps the ever popular moderate.  What is the basis for our belief on Life and why should we take it seriously? 

    The answer is found in Scripture.  We base our belief on life from two sources.  One source is the moral law that we inherit from Moses and the Ten Commandments.  The fifth Commandment clearly states: You shall not kill. Killing is not limited to shooting or stabbing or otherwise injuring someone.  It includes taking the means to protect one’s life and the life of others. 

    The second source we base ourselves on is the teaching of Creation.  The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches us that,  “Human life is sacred because from its beginning it involves the creative action of God and it remains for ever in a special relationship with the Creator, who is its sole end.  God alone is the Lord of life from its beginning until its end; no one can under any circumstance claim for himself the right directly to destroy an innocent human being.” p. 544 #2258

    If we truly believe that God alone is the Lord of life, then, we have no choice but to protect and defend all life.  If we choose to do otherwise we are making the decision to ignore the intent of God’s creation.  This is a very bold step on our part. 

    Just for the record, Catholic do not stand alone on this issue.  All major world religions agree that God is the author of life.  All Christian denominations support the issue of pro-life.  In actuality, we stand with the majority on this issue.  Perhaps we can spend some time reflecting on these quotes form the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament), this week.

    Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you. Jer 1:5
    My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately wrought in the depths of the earth. Psalm 139:15

                            Lorette P. Nault