Homily for Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of the Unborn

 

Is 49:1-6

Ps 139:1-3, 13-15

Eph 3:14-21

Mt 18:1-5, 10, 12-14

 

Christ the King Catholic Church, Iowa Park, TX

 

Today in the Catholic Church in the United States, we celebrate a Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of the Unborn. This is the 49^th anniversary of the defective Roe v Wade decision in 1973. Since then, 63,459,780 abortions committed against the innocent, per the self-reported statistics of Planned Parenthood and other abortion mills. To understand the scope of this modern-day holocaust: this is ten times the number murdered by Hitler in Nazi Germany and six times the number murdered by Stalin in Communist Soviet Union. The anniversary of this infamous day undoubtedly raises questions in our minds, and well it should.

First, what is the Church teaching regarding abortion and the dignity of life? The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 2274) states “Since it must be treated from conception as a person, the embryo must be defended in its integrity, cared for, and healed, as far as possible, like any other human being.” This is not a new teaching of the Church. This is Church teaching from the very beginning. The Didache 2,2 (The Teachings of the Apostles), the first catechism written in the late first century teaches “You shall not kill the embryo by abortion and shall not cause the newborn to perish.” CCC 2270 further states that all “Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception. From the first moment of his existence, a human being must be recognized as having the rights of a person—among which is the inviolable right of every innocent being to life.” This is not just a spiritual reality or opinion. The Church in her teaching is informed by, supported by, confirmed by modern medical science. I personally know of citations from forty-one different medical texts written across five decades, all teaching human life begins at conception. These are textbooks used in medical schools across the country. The science is settled.  The American College of Pediatricians agrees and affirms that human life begins at conception.

Next, we need to understand the impact of abortion on Church and human society. In our First Reading from Isaiah, the prophet tells us “The Lord called me from birth, from my mother’s womb he gave me my name” and “The Lord has spoken who formed me as his servant from the womb” and “I will make you a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.” Isaiah echoes the famous passage from another prophet, Jeremiah 1:5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you.” You see, before we have even been born, God has selected a vocation for us – a place in His plan to build the Kingdom of God. We all have a role to play. Because of the crime of abortion, so many beautiful lives have been lost. Only God knows how many saints were never born. One can only imagine how the world would have been a better place than it is now if those saints had only been allowed to be born, live the life God had intended for them, and fulfilled their role in the Kingdom. In the US, the ratio of priests to laity is roughly 1:1925. It is also estimated that up to half of all abortions are by Catholics. Based on this we are missing between 20,000 and 33,000 priests to abortion. Why do we have a shortage of priests? Abortion is a major contributing factor. And it’s not just priests. An even greater number of precious nuns and religious sisters are missing from us. Abortion is a satanic attack on human society in general and the Church in particular.

The enemies of life frequently accuse us of being ‘pro-birth’ only and not truly pro-life. This is a ridiculous fallacy concocted to distract from the work the faithful are doing. When I was in seminary, during the twice-annual 40 Days for Life campaigns, groups of us would peacefully pray outside the abortion mill. One day we were informed by the local crisis pregnancy center that a woman had come by that clinic for an abortion while we were there but could not go through with it. She tired again the next day but another group was praying. On the third day there was yet another group praying. This time she walked up to them and demanded “Ok. You say you can help me. What can you do?” She was first given a free sonogram to show her beautiful child to her. Then she was taken to a nearby doctor who arranged for free prenatal care for her and the child. Then she was provided with well-baby checkups for two years free of charge. On top of that, the center gave her diapers and formula when she needed them. If she had chosen to give the baby up for adoption, she would have been assisted at no charge. We are indeed pro-life – both for the baby and the mother in crisis.

What about those who have already had abortions? CCC 2272 teaches “Formal cooperation in an abortion constitutes a grave offense. The Church attaches the canonical penalty of excommunication to this crime against human life… The Church does not thereby intend to restrict the scope of mercy. Rather, she makes clear the gravity of the crime committed, the irreparable harm done to the innocent who is put to death, as well as to the parents and the whole of society.” Therefore, mothers, fathers, and others who cooperate in an abortion separate themselves from the grace of God via excommunication (Code of Canon Law 1398). Even if they present themselves to Holy Communion and receive the Body & Blood of Christ, they receive no grace from it at all. This is a terrible wound they have inflicted upon themselves. Abortion kills the innocent. It also causes trauma to almost every woman who has one – physical, emotional, spiritual. One can read hundreds of testimonies of women who were lied to about their abortion being painless on the ‘Silent No More Awareness’ website. The same is true for men grieving their lost fatherhood, to a different degree. This insidious silent trauma and grief destroys marriages and families. Precisely what Satan wants. So what are do we do? The Gospel reading today teaches us that the heavenly Father desires none of those who have strayed to be lost!  We must humble ourselves like little children – remember that we have all sinned and fallen short. We are Catholic Christians – ‘little Christs.’ Our mission is Christ’s mission: we are to seek out the ‘lost sheep’ to bring them home. We do not condemn – we reach out, we forgive, we heal, we love as Jesus Christ loved. Invite those who are suffering the traumas of abortion to attend Rachel’s Vineyard retreats – lay ministers, counselors, social works, psychologists work to bring healing of mind and spirit. Invite them back to God’s love – into the loving arms of His Church, our Mother. Encourage them to partake of the Sacrament of Confession/Reconciliation to heal their spiritual wounds. All priests in the diocese have been given faculties to lift the excommunication of abortion.

What should we do to end this modern-day holocaust? Pray unceasingly for mothers & fathers to choose life instead of abortion, for society to embrace life as sacred, and for the Church to be more vocal, visible, and outspoken on the issue. Get involved! Support and make referrals to crisis pregnancy centers. Start pro-life committees in your parishes to get the laity involved in culture of life events. Then, show up at those events – half the battle is being present – prayer vigils, march for life, etc. Vote pro-life, especially at local levels where politicians begin their careers. It is up to us to put an end to the culture of death. I ask you pray and fast for the current cases before the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v Wade and return the issue to the individual states, where the right to life for the unborn will be protected in the majority of them. Offer acts of penance in reparation for abortion. Most importantly, preach the Gospel of Life in word and in action. Reach out to women in crisis pregnancies to show them another way. Reach out to the living victims of abortion to show them the mercy, healing, forgiveness, and love of Jesus Christ.

Holy Mary, Patroness of the Unborn, Pray for Us!