As part of our pulpit announcements, a letter from our Bishop was read regarding the upcoming elections. Encouraging everyone to exercise their right to vote. And of course, one of the topics he encouraged us to consider in choosing our candidates is the issue of abortion.
Being Catholic, the issue has never been easy. From the moment I was given a book at age 10 by an anti-abortion group, in church no less, this has been an ongoing issue in my heart and in my head.
One thought, as I sat in my pew staring at the Tabernacle, was that in order to stop abortion is to make sure the other needs of every human being is met from the dining room to the board room.
It suddenly became so clear to me. To end abortion, we must end poverty. Greed must end. The hungry must be fed. The naked must be clothed. It was all there in the readings today, especially the first reading of Exodus.
How can we think of life, when the life of so many is so bleak?
I know there are many within and outside the Catholic Church think that above all else, abortion must and foremost be ended. Would it be so far fetched to think the other way around?
What is constant at the back of my mind is the teenage girl who has hidden a pregnancy from her parents and the world, has her baby in a bathroom during her prom, leaves her newly born baby in the trash bin, then goes back out and dances the night away. What in God's creation could cause such an act?
Untold stories such as these have happened everywhere, and way too often. Some will ask, why didn't she just get an abortion? More importantly, in my mind, is what sort of family situation could cause such a choice?
To concentrate on one issue denies the ability for other social concerns to be neglected. To seperate one issue from the others defeats the purpose of improving the human condition.
For me, abortion prevention lies in wondering how to preventing even the consideration.
Being Catholic, the issue has never been easy. From the moment I was given a book at age 10 by an anti-abortion group, in church no less, this has been an ongoing issue in my heart and in my head.
One thought, as I sat in my pew staring at the Tabernacle, was that in order to stop abortion is to make sure the other needs of every human being is met from the dining room to the board room.
It suddenly became so clear to me. To end abortion, we must end poverty. Greed must end. The hungry must be fed. The naked must be clothed. It was all there in the readings today, especially the first reading of Exodus.
How can we think of life, when the life of so many is so bleak?
I know there are many within and outside the Catholic Church think that above all else, abortion must and foremost be ended. Would it be so far fetched to think the other way around?
What is constant at the back of my mind is the teenage girl who has hidden a pregnancy from her parents and the world, has her baby in a bathroom during her prom, leaves her newly born baby in the trash bin, then goes back out and dances the night away. What in God's creation could cause such an act?
Untold stories such as these have happened everywhere, and way too often. Some will ask, why didn't she just get an abortion? More importantly, in my mind, is what sort of family situation could cause such a choice?
To concentrate on one issue denies the ability for other social concerns to be neglected. To seperate one issue from the others defeats the purpose of improving the human condition.
For me, abortion prevention lies in wondering how to preventing even the consideration.
