by Jason and Jessica WildeIn a hypothetical situation, let’s say I asked a church full of Catholics if they were pro-life. What kinds of answers do you think I would get? I’m betting that an overwhelming majority would enthusiastically answer “Yes!”. Ok, that’s an easy one. Now, what if I asked the same faithful what pro-life means to them? How many do you think would answer “Being anti-abortion.” with a satisfied look of a question fully answered? How would you answer? What does it mean to be pro-life? For most people, this is a single issue statement - one that has become the epitome of all pro-life arguments so much that no one really knows what pro-life really means anymore. To them, it only means fighting for a life that is unborn, and admonishing those who dare to take it. This position is so ingrained in our society that every election guide I see refers to a candidate simply as ‘pro-life’ or ‘pro-choice’, referring to a mother’s ability to choose to have an abortion. Pro-life has become a synonym for ‘anti-abortion’, and while the latter is a condition for the former, it is not the whole story. This definition of pro-life is about as complete as someone who reads Genesis and claims they are Christian. Single-issue ‘pro-lifers’ are pro-choice, because they are choosing which lives are important, while ignoring all of the other teachings about the dignity and sacredness of life, from conception to natural death. Does life end after the baby is born? "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." (Catechism Catholic Church 2258) Jesus calls us to love our neighbor as ourselves. This is a cornerstone of the Catholic Church’s teachings, and it is one of the two most important commandments given to us by God. But who is our neighbor? Is it the baby growing in your womb? Is it your actual neighbor who is applying for their green card? Is it the illegal immigrant? Is it the homeless refugee searching for a community to call home? Or is it the orphan starving for love and nourishment? Those who defend the right to life of the weakest among us must be equally visible in support of the quality of life of the powerless among us: the old and the young, the hungry and the homeless, the undocumented immigrant and the unemployed worker (Cardinal Joseph Bernardin, 1983) What are the other pro-life issues in the Church’s teachings? A good place to start is in Cathechism of the Catholic Church, under The Fifth Commandment (You shall not kill.) Here we have, broken down into 3 major categories, issues against human life, starting with respect for human life and the familiar ‘big life issues’ (murder, abortion, euthanasia, suicide). But most people stop reading after this point, failing to realize that we have completely forgotten about respect for the dignity of persons (scandal, health, scientific research, death penalty, terrorism, torture, respect for the dead) and peace keeping (anger, hatred, unjust war, genocide (this includes any specific group of people or nation), accumulation of arms, over-armament, injustice, envy, distrust, excess pride, excessive inequalities). Have we forgotten about all of these life issues? Aren’t they all related in a culture of life? It turns out that there is a connection between all three categories, and you can’t really have a pro-life culture unless you address all of these topics. We’ll get to this part later. But first, I’d like to address some of the less commonly debated life issues. Help the Immigrant: Both Legal and Illegal Being pro-life means helping the immigrant, both legal and illegal. This is a very polarizing issue, but we must remember that one of the corporal works of mercy is to harbour the harbourless. And if you need further proof that this is indeed a Catholic issue, here is what the US Conference of Catholic Bishops has to say about immigration:
One of the tenements of marriage and family life (also a pro-life issue) is fair wages to support one's family, and public assistance to help the poor live in dignity. This issue is even more important to those who have fled their home in search of safety and a better life. Some families may have lost their work authorization and are faced with deportation if they attempt to protest unfair working conditions. As Catholics, we must help these workers and their families to reset, rebuild, and find a reliable source of income in order to allow them to live in dignity. Catholic Charities is a great examples of this effort, as they help individuals "gain or retain work authorization and the ability to come out of the shadows and live up to their full potential." A Home for the Refugee Similarly, we must remember that being pro-life means sheltering the refugee. The Holy Family were once refugees in Egypt as they fled from King Herod who was slaughtering the innocent. We must protect their lives. Asylum should be afforded to refugees who hold a well-founded fear of persecution in their homelands. Our country should support protection for persons fleeing persecution through safe haven in other countries, including the United States, especially for unaccompanied children, women, victims of human trafficking, and religious minorities. [FCFC, 90] We must also be careful to not let fears stand in the way of us helping the refugee, or we could find ourselves discriminating against those whom we don't like, while accepting refugees whom we feel are safe. For example, I have noticed a strong willingness for Catholics to support Christian refugees, but continue to ignore the needs of Muslim families who are also fleeing their homes in fear of terrorist groups. Nowhere in the Bible does it say 'Love thy neighbor...if they believe as you do'. Rather, the church reminds us that our neighbors include "those who think or act differently from us". [CCC 1933] There are numerous excuses for why we shouldn't accept refugees into our country - we are afraid, they are already being cared for in camps, we should send money to move them to a new place, or it's not our problem. But, for every excuse, there are thousands of families who are living in tents, having their lives threatened by the same terrorists that they are running from, and dying while we sit back and wait for someone else to help. Our lack of help kills God's people. It is a life issue. Promoting World Peace Without a leader who is actively striving for world peace, violence and death will happen. World peace is not building a wall to block out a potential problem or having a racially profiling immigration process to keep out certain people. World peace is helping to find the root of the problem! The United States should provide political and financial support for beneficial United Nations programs and reforms, for other international bodies, and for international law, so that together these institutions may become more responsible and responsive agents for addressing global problems. We should not be isolationist but instead actively strive to make the world a safer happier place. World peace is not possible if racism, bigotry, xenophobia, strong pride (we are better than everyone else), and discrimination exist in a society. These traits only mask the source of world discourse, and therefore we cannot have world peace without first removing the sources of such social inequalities. We can also promote world peace at a personal level. This means being mindful of how you speak, how you act, and what you share on Facebook. There are way too many angry memes out there which do nothing else but spawn more hatred, fear, and ultimately, ill-treatment of real human lives. Anger on our roadways is also a common occurrence these days as our roads become more congested and we try to stuff our calendars full of daily appointments. Don't be in such a rush, and treat other drivers with respect - you are in control of a vehicle which can easily cause death, and so road rage is certainly a life issue. Listen to calming music or even pray while you drive instead of trying to juggle text messages and burritos while driving. We can make real progress in promoting peace by being peaceful ourselves. Against Capital Punishment, for Rehabilitation Being pro-life means being against capital punishment. Pope Francis says that the “God-given right to life also belongs to the criminal.” He addresses the need to abolish the death penalty and the need for prison reform and rehabilitation. "Punishment for its own sake, without room for hope, is a form of torture, not of punishment." Therefore, being pro-life means reaching out to the imprisoned with God’s love and rehabilitation. In fact, I would argue that the reason we have prisoners who qualify for the death penalty is the “throwaway culture” that is prevalent in our country. This is the culture that doesn’t care about life, and so people are free to end it at will. It is our duty as Christians to solve these problems at their root - caring for the poor, avoiding hatred, exclusion, racism, and bigotry, and protection of the family, just to name a few. Notice that these are also all pro-life issues - they are all linked in a lifestyle of life. It does not render justice to victims, but instead fosters vengeance. The commandment 'Thou shalt not kill' has absolute value and applies both to the innocent and to the guilty. (Pope Francis) Protesting the death penalty also helps us to practice merciful forgiveness (a spiritual work of mercy) and fight against our fears. The temptation to respond to violence with violence is strong. Even St. Peter himself lashed out upon the arrest of our beloved Savior. Jesus' response was clear. "Put your sword back into its sheath, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword" (MT 26:52). As followers of Christ, let us always embrace love and ask ourselves how we can best invite all people of good will to live with us in peace. (USCCB) Also remember than many saints were at one time imprisoned, and some were guilty of crimes that were punishable by death. But without these lives, we would have missed something important that these saints gave us. In this way, capital punishment has much in common with abortion. Health Care for All If every life is important, than health care should be accessible and affordable to all - not just the employed. As a pro-lifer who is fighting to save a baby's life, shouldn’t we also be helping to ensure that it gets all the health care it needs after birth. Affordable and accessible health care is an essential safeguard of human life and a fundamental human right. Despite an increase in the number of people insured, millions of Americans still lack health care coverage. Health care coverage remains an urgent national priority. [USCCB, 80] Helping the Poor: Welfare and Food Stamps The Church supports these programs! The baby who was just saved from abortion needs food. We should not expect a single mother to hold down a full time job or multiple jobs in order to make ends meet. Why are there abortions? There are many reasons a Mom chooses to abort her baby. But one reason is cost and lack of support. I imagine these Moms feel helpless and hopeless when limited finances and lack of community support drive them to the nearest clinic. As pro-lifers, we need to help these mothers get on their feet so they can financially afford food, housing, and health care for their precious babies. If we help the moms, they will be empowered to make a better choice for the precious baby growing in their womb. Yes, there are many people who abuse the system. But is it the baby’s fault? Should the baby suffer for the sins of their parent? I often think back to the famous pro-life argument that “it wasn’t the baby's fault that the mom was raped.” Well, the parent’s employment status or lifestyle choice is also not the baby’s fault. We are called to care for the dignity of all life, even those who abuse the system. All people need food, water, fair wages and a safe home regardless of any other choices they have made. Caring for the poor also goes beyond our own borders. As one of the world’s richest countries, we are most able to help global poverty through actions, policies, and financial aid. The United States should take a leading role in helping to alleviate global poverty through substantially increased development aid for the poorest countries, more equitable trade policies, and continuing efforts to relieve the crushing burdens of debt and disease. [USCCB, 90] Pope Francis talks about the "inestimable value of all human life.. even the weakest and most vulnerable, the sick, the old, the unborn and the poor are masterpieces of God's creation, made in his own image, destined to live forever, and deserving of the utmost reverence and respect." “Different”-ism (Racism, Bigotry, Isolationism, Discrimination, Pride) “Different”-ism is an undefined term that I thought best described many human thoughts, feelings, and actions toward those who are different in some way. These evils are called out by the bishops in FCFC since they impact the dignity of life. But it goes beyond this. One could say that these human actions and sentiments are the reason, or a prerequisite, for fulfilling all other evils listed above. In fact, under ‘Avoiding war’ in Catechism of the Catholic Church, we read (emphasis mine) Injustice, excessive economic or social inequalities, envy, distrust, and pride raging among men and nations constantly threaten peace and cause wars. Everything done to overcome these disorders contributes to building up peace and avoiding war. [CCC 2317] If a society cannot eradicate social inequalities such as racism, bigotry, discrimination and pride, then the Church warns us that war will always exist, and thus we will fail to fulfill our goal of promoting world peace, a pro-life issue. It is not a huge leap to show that efforts to help immigrants, refugees, the poor, and prisoners are all in some way hampered by an egocentric fear of those who are different. Every form of social or cultural discrimination in fundamental personal rights on the grounds of sex, race, color, social conditions, language, or religion must be curbed and eradicated as incompatible with God's design. [CCC 1935] Furthermore, mere tolerance or acceptance is not enough. We are asked to “look upon his neighbor (without any exception) as 'another self,' above all bearing in mind his life and the means necessary for living it with dignity.”, and then warns that “no legislation could by itself do away with the fears, prejudices, and attitudes of pride and selfishness which obstruct the establishment of truly fraternal societies. Such behavior will cease only through the charity that finds in every man a "neighbor," a brother.” [CCC 1931] If it is not clear who our neighbors are (because ‘without any exception’ isn’t clear enough), we can again read that this includes “those who think or act differently from us” and “all enemies” [CCC 1933], just to name a few. We, as Christians, must be the living example of love for ALL of our neighbors around the world, fighting against “different”-isms, and protecting the victims. And, we must do so in lieu of any laws that may require us to treat every person with absolute love and dignity, because government cannot change people’s true feelings. If we do not, the alternatives are human oppression, legislative force (since “authority can rely only on force or violence to obtain obedience from its subjects” [CCC 1930]), or unrest, violence, and war. Regardless of the reason or scenario in which any “different”-ism exists, it is an intrinsically evil act and we must defend all victims. Otherwise, we cannot expect to solve other pro-life issues because these evils will manifest into injustice, inequality, and ultimately violence and death. Caring for our Common Home How does caring for our planet and environment become a life issue? Quite simply, as Pope Francis eloquently states, Some forms of pollution are part of people’s daily experience. Exposure to atmospheric pollutants produces a broad spectrum of health hazards, especially for the poor, and causes millions of premature deaths […] These problems are closely linked to a throwaway culture which affects the excluded just as it quickly reduces things to rubbish.” [Laudato si; 20, 22]. In his encyclical, Pope Francis says that you can’t in good faith take care of life if you can’t take care of the environment that all life requires to live. He calls this lack of care part of the “throwaway culture” that is dominant in developed countries. Furthermore, he calls attention to the fact that the poor of the world are most affected by environmental degradation and pollution, and that such effects actually cause poverty. Poverty such as this has in fact caused a rise in migrants, and as these people seek new homes or new lands in which to work, most countries refuse to acknowledge them as refugees. (See how this all comes together?) Caring for the environment has become such as concern for Pope Francis that he is now considering making it a new work of mercy. Pro-Life as a Lifestyle (Bartholomew) asks us to replace consumption with sacrifice, greed with generosity, wastefulness with a spirit of sharing, an asceticism which “entails learning to give, and not simply to give up. It is a way of loving, of moving gradually away from what I want to what God’s world needs. It is liberation from fear, greed and compulsion”. [Laudato si, 9] Being pro-life is a lifestyle, not a checkbox on a ballot. It means not scoffing at the poor man on the corner, but instead giving him a bottle of water. It means slowing down and getting off your cell phone so you don’t kill someone else while driving. It means being courteous to those around you and not complaining in anger when the lady in front of you at the checkout is struggling, causing you to be late, but instead help her. It also means being conscious of your impact on the environment. It means shutting off you car and rolling down your windows while waiting at the school pick up. Do you really need that new cell phone or latest ipad? All of these have a real impact on someone's life in this world. And maybe the money you save could be used to make someone else’s life better. Being pro-life means being un-selfish. It means putting others first, and your personal fears in the hands of God. It DOES NOT mean making sure your family is always happy and safe and has the most tax deductions. “Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.” Matthew 22:21 When being pro-life becomes a single issue Notice that all of the concerns listed above are related. You cannot be anti-abortion without supporting health care and welfare. You cannot be against capital punishment unless you care for the poor and address hatred, anger, racism, and violence. You can’t care for the poor unless you care for the environment. You can’t help immigrants and refugees unless you support world peace. And, you can’t have world peace unless you treat every one of your neighbors with dignity and respect - including those who are farthest and most different from yourself. When pro-life becomes a single issue, you decide which lives are worthy of being saved and which aren't. You start cutting out yellow stars for those whom you deem unworthy. By Daniel Ullrich, Threedots - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=611756 We cut stars when we judge the pregnant mother. “I would never get pregnant out of wedlock so this is not my problem. I am pro-life. I raised my kids right. They would never do that.” You vote “pro-life”, donate a bag of diapers, and you feel good about yourself.
We cut stars when we shame the family on welfare and call them “an unemployed drain on society.” We cut stars with our arrogance when we pass by the homeless man on the street and refuse to feed him. “That worthless bum!” We cut stars when we ignore our own immigration story and refuse immigration to others based on our fears of outsiders and our obvious superiority (insert sarcasm here!). We cut stars when we choose to ignore the world’s problems that don’t affect our country or our home - poverty, war, and environmental decay. Borders are a construct of man, not of God. When you find yourself cutting stars, you have taken the role of God by choosing the lives that are worth saving and the lives which are expendable. And historically, whenever a person attempts to become God, the result is horrendous evil (Auschwitz, Hiroshima, the Berlin Wall, Ancient Rome…). Who are we to judge? So my question to you... Are you really pro-life? Or are you actually pro-choice? I bet if you are honest with yourself, you'll be surprised by your answer. As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord. (Joshua 24:15) #WWJD #prolife #WholeLife
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On a MissionTwo passionate parents and their four children are excited to bring His Word to everyone in need while living a life of Gospel poverty as missionaries. They invite you to join them on a journey to encounter our global neighbors that Jesus commands us to love through works of charity and service. Archives
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