by Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann
Having worked in the church’s pro-life apostolate for many years of my priesthood, I am not at all surprised that the confirmation process for Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh has turned quite ugly.
As I write this on Monday, it is too early to tell whether there will even be a hearing later this week of the allegations brought forward by Dr. Christine Blassey Ford — much less, what it will reveal.
Whatever the results of the hearing and the fate of the Kavanaugh nomination, the bitter divisions in our nation will continue to rear themselves with each successive nomination to our highest court.
Abortion advocates, who used the court to impose abortion on the nation, fear a court that might return to state Legislatures the authority to determine public policy regarding abortion.
Proponents of abortion are fueled, therefore, by a fear that the Supreme Court might, by overturning Roe, permit state Legislatures to limit or even ban abortion. Of course, there is no “right to abortion” in our Constitution. The Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton 1973 Supreme Court decisions were exercises in judicial activism and creative writing.
Both plaintiffs in these cases, Norma McCorvey and Sandra Cano, regretted very much that they were used by abortion activists to legalize abortion.
According to the diatribes of the pro-abortion advocates, the inability to authorize the killing of one’s child before birth will be taking the United States back into the Dark Ages. Of course, those supporting abortion — and in many cases, profiting from its legalization — posture themselves as protecting women.
Recently, I spoke at the McHenry County (Illinois) Catholic prayer breakfast. The program also featured Yvonne Florczak-Seeman, the founder of “Love From Above, Inc.” Yvonne shared that she had five abortions, the first at the age of 16. In the midst of her fifth abortion at a Planned Parenthood clinic, the doctor stopped in the middle of the procedure to demand an additional $150 because of the gestational age of the unborn child.
Once her boyfriend, the father of the child, paid the $150, the abortion was completed. Three days later, Yvonne wound up in a hospital emergency room because of an infection caused by half of the remains of her baby still in her uterus. The experience of her fifth abortion awakened Yvonne to the tragedy of every abortion.
Fortunately, Yvonne eventually reached out to Project Rachel post-abortion ministry, where she experienced God’s mercy and healing. Yvonne speaks to raise awareness that abortion not only destroys the life of a child, but also profoundly scars and wounds women. Yvonne seeks to connect other post-abortive women with Project Rachel, as well as other post-abortion healing services.
For women experiencing an untimely or difficult pregnancy, there is an amazing network of abortion alternative services that stand ready to support and help you to choose life. For those who have had an abortion and now deeply regret it, Project Rachel ministry is eager to help you find healing.
Being a responsible man is not paying for the abortion of your child. Men are called to be protectors of women and children. Real men do not place the women they love in a position where they might contemplate an abortion.
For Catholics in the United States, October is Respect Life Month. We need to pray especially during this time that our nation will again allow our laws both to protect the lives of innocent unborn children, as well as mothers and fathers, from suffering the physical, emotional and spiritual wounds that inevitably result from abortion.
A culture that sanctions the killing of innocent children is barbaric — not enlightened. During this month of October, pray for our nation, for a renewed respect for the sanctity of each and every human life — no matter the age or stage of development.
Pray also that the Lord will help each of us to recognize how in the unique circumstances of our lives we are called to help build a culture of life.
