Dear Friends in Christ,
On March 25th, on the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord, in the year 1995, Saint John Paul II released in his prophetic encyclical, Evangelium Vitae or Gospel of Life. In it, the Holy Father wrote, “The fact that legislation in many countries, perhaps even departing from basic principles of their Constitutions, has determined not to punish these practices against life, and even to make them altogether legal, is both a disturbing symptom and a significant cause of grave moral decline. Choices once unanimously considered criminal and rejected by the common moral sense are gradually becoming socially acceptable. Even certain sectors of the medical profession, which by its calling is directed to the defense and care of human life, are increasingly willing to carry out these acts against the person. In this way the very nature of the medical profession is distorted and contradicted, and the dignity of those who practice it is degraded. In such a cultural and legislative situation, the serious demographic, social and family problems which weigh upon many of the world’s peoples and which require responsible and effective attention from national and international bodies, are left open to false and deceptive solutions, opposed to the truth and the good of persons and nations. The end result of this is tragic: not only is the fact of the destruction of so many human lives still to be born or in their final stage extremely grave and disturbing, but no less grave and disturbing is the fact that conscience itself, darkened as it were by such widespread conditioning, is finding it increasingly difficult to distinguish between good and evil in what concerns the basic value of human life.” (Evangelium Vitae, 4). This lengthy quote from the pope who was known as a great defender of human life speaks ever more what is happening in our current situation. When the Texas law came out banning most abortions after six weeks, the reaction from pro-abortion politicians was swift and very strong. The Speaker of the House wants the House to vote on a bill that would enshrine the right to take the life of a child in the womb at all stages. Even the president, who in the past has claimed to believe that life begins at conception, but that while personally against terminating a pregnancy, he believed that laws should protect the right to this procedure. I mention these two characters as I found it so sad that on this issue, they jump right on to protect this very lucrative sin. Now, I know some will say that I am getting political and that I should never speak on politics. Let me clear, I am not. We are talking about morality, about decency. This is not merely a political issue, but one of human rights that goes against the very fabric of what it means to be Catholic. Saint Teresa of Calcutta wrote, “Any country that accepts abortion is not teaching its people to love, but to use violence to get what they want. That is why the greatest destroyer of love and peace is abortion.” For those who fight for life every day, who donate diapers and other baby items and for those who support places such as Good Counsel Homes, which provides a safe place for a mother and her baby until she can get on her feet in life, we salute you. Please do not see this as merely a political issue or only a private one. We must do all that we can to speak out against all violence: crime, shootings on our streets, terrorism and issues that destroy life. Recently, when I watching Caracol, the Colombian news channel, the reporter showed a baby who had tossed into a trash bag and put in a dumpster. Nearby, a man playing soccer heard the cry of a baby and he found the baby in a dumpster. He said that when he held the baby and looked into the face of this little girl, he said, “Who could do this to you little one?” Let us do all we can to protect and sustain life. Dare we claim to be “faithful Catholics” should we look to tighten laws that destroy life rather than protect it. Jesus, please have mercy on all of us. You, our beloved Savior, came to us as a helpless baby. You are God! As Mother Barbara Micharelli said, “Jesus came to us as a baby in order to be loved, rather than feared.” “Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live.” (Deuteronomy 30:19).
12God bless you,
Father Szolack