Addressing the Pain of Abortion

“Let me now sing of my friend, my friend’s song concerning his vineyard” –  readings today speak of the Lord confiding us the responsibility for his vineyard – and the vineyard is also a care for our society, culture and country – critical moment for our country will all unrest – this Sunday is Respect Life Sunday – providential it’s right before our election – it reminds us that all lives matter – especially those most attacked and most vulnerable – among those most vulnerable are the unborn children – most dangerous place to be right now in our country is in the womb of the mother – US Bishops in 1989 said that abortion is the fundamental human rights issue of our day – this year is the 25^th anniversary of St. John Paul II prolife encyclical “the Gospel of Life” – issue of abortion is a painful issue – how can we be instruments of truth and justice and at the same time of love and compassion – scripture says “Speak the truth in love” – how can we speak the truth on this painful issue in a loving and merciful way – mainly from the website of the Priests for Life – what are the five points, what do we really need to convince people – 1^st point is people need to know that we are on their side – acknowledging the pain most everyone feels about this issue – make it clear to other person that you are not my enemy – 2^nd point is that to be pro-life is to be pro-woman – pro-choice message says you can separate the two (woman and baby), pro-life message says you cannot separate those two – pro-life message is that you can’t love the baby without loving the mother – abortion defendants say they are loving the woman, even as they admit they are killing their children – nor can one not harm the child without harming the mother – message has to be clear that to be pro-life you have to be pro-woman – challenge is in why can’t we love them both – one reason people choose it is because they think they have to make a choice between defending the rights of the baby or those of the mother – or that they have to consider the baby to be more important than the mother – authentic pro-life message is one of equality – 3^rd point is that people need to know that to oppose abortion does not mean to oppose those who have had them – they are often victims themselves of the lies told of the pressure and manipulation of the society that traps them into abortion – we are called to be instruments of the healing and forgiveness the Church and pro-life movement offer to those who have been involved in abortion – the last thing they need to hear is what you did is no big deal – someone needs to tell her she does not need to feel silly about feeling sad, that there is indeed reason for the grieving in her heart – what her heart is telling her is true, her child was killed – a great disservice was done to both her and her child, when someone convinced her that the abortion would be no big deal – accepting that line is a major act of denial – healing now begins when she breaks out of denial and calls the evil what it is – clear teaching of the Church helps her to do that – another lie is to tell the woman – you are rejected, there is no hope – as she realizes the healing , she will be tempted to say this to herself – message of divine mercy is important for our time – whether it’s for the mother, father, grandparents or even the abortion provider – trust in God’s infinite mercy – 4^th point is that abortion is our business – abortion defenders say if you are against them, don’t have one, but leave the rest of us alone to exercise our own belief and make our own choices – many people who oppose abortion will lament it and feel out of place trying to stop it – they see it as a wrong but as a private wrong, with which it is none of their business – but we would never say ,“I would never abuse my child, but if other people want to abuse their child that is their choice” – that’s the same argument that was used about slavery – you don’t have to own slaves, but you shouldn’t oppose your morality on those who choose to – someone’s choice to destroy or end someone else’s life, that’s everyone’s business – so abortion is our business – the 5^th point is that people need to know there is something they can do to stop abortion – there is very much that is legal, peaceful and effective – as lay workers there’s much we can do – a life chain is one example – project Rachael – how can these elements be expressed these points – three elements – 1) there are alternatives to abortion – those who procure abortions do so because they feel they have no freedom and no choice – the Church and pro-life movement are providing better choices than abortion – wide range of help is available – financial assistance, medical services, legal advice, counseling and support, a place to live, jobs, education, and assistance to keep the child or to place the child for adoption – 2) Church offers forgiveness for healing after abortion – message of forgiveness – this is critical for many feel they can’t be forgiven – but the gospel of life is the gospel of mercy – being pro life means embracing with the love and mercy of Jesus, all who have been involved in abortion – Priests of Live mention there is a national office for post abortion reconciliation and healing – hotline is 1-800-5WECARE – Project Rachael works with post abortion healing – 3) after speaking of healing, is to help people to see through the slogan which makes tolerance of abortion seem so reasonable – safe and legal abortion is a slogan, that leads people to think if it is legal, it must be safe – and to keep it safe we have to keep it legal – the abortion industry is the most unregulated surgical industry in medicine, and regularly destroys the lives of the woman who procures in legal facilities – there is an abortion every 20 seconds in America – it is legal and happens throughout all nine months of pregnancy – less than 1% of abortions in our country occur because of rape or incest – many more resources at the Priest for Life website – they also address the issue of when someone is angry – suggest don’t lecture or respond with anger, but listen and then gently invite them to speak of the cause of their anger and to reflect upon it – This Sunday in which the Lord is inviting us to care for His vineyard, to care for each person beloved by God, to help create a true culture of life – one practical way is simply to learn more and see what more can be done – Our Lady of Guadalupe, the patroness of the unborn – ask our Lady of Victory, with the power of the rosary to lead us to the victory of life and love in our country – final point, as we celebrate this Mass is to remember how deeply the pro life message is rooted in the Mass – Christ is on the cross, and gives Himself away on the cross and in the Eucharist – there we find the meaning of love – I sacrifice myself for the good of the other person – this is the reversal of abortion, which says I sacrifice the other person for the good of myself – the same words our Lord uses to proclaim His love is used by the defenders abortion “This is my body” – the unborn child could say “this is my body” – some say they control their bodies so other must die, Christ says He gives His body away so that other may live – “This is My body, given up for you” – the power of the words the culture of death will be transformed into the culture of life – remember all the mothers who have given of their body to give life to their children – Respect life Sunday, remember Jesus’ words.