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Church needs to speak on deaths
Published Thursday, May 1, 2008
Last week the entire nation heard Pope Benedict XVI make a profound and heartfelt apology for the clergy sexual abuse of children which has caused much grief everywhere, and in the Catholic Church in particular. Although these offenses were committed by a relatively small number of priests, each one was a terrible wrong that has been addressed and the Pope’s apology was appropriate and needed.
Meanwhile, there is an immeasurably greater sin prevalent in our country and carried out on a vast scale daily and that is the taking of lives of unborn children. Yet we have heard not one word of apology from those responsible for and condoning this grave evil.
There has been a little over 3,000 credible allegations of clergy abuse since 2004, a four-year period. Compare that figure to the 4,000 deaths by legalized abortion every single day, 48 million since 1973.
While the Holy Father and those in Catholic leadership have taken strong measures to correct the abuse problem, making whatever changes are necessary with the stated intention of protecting the children, some politicians have unapologetically made campaign promises to defend people’s “right” to destroy their children by abortion at any time, even the full term infants.
I’d like to restate the comparison in another, simple way.
Sexual abuse of children is very wrong and its has been acknowledged, addressed and sincerely apologized for.
Killing of innocent children is infinitely worse and it has not only not been apologized for, but supported as a “reproductive right” or “woman’s right to choose.”
The Church, correctly, wants to protect the children. These politicians want to protect people’s “right” to destroy them.
The contrast is striking!
It is also an outrage.
Virginia O’Beirne
Co-Chair, Pro-Life Natchez-Adams County
Comments
Posted by Yeahuhuh (anonymous) on May 1, 2008 at 12:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It may be right to have the church speak out over the abortion issue. But any politician who supports the state's right to mandate all women carry their children to term in all circumstances is representing a tiny fraction of the country.
I don't think we as a nation value life enough to mandate that the poorest women do not have access to abortion -- for that is all any conceivable prohibition will really accomplish. Anyone who has the funds can go where that can get one.
I am not saying abortions for the poor should be subsidized by government, I am saying the government should not mandate matters that put the poor as essentially the only ones who MUST comply.
When the government never kills innocents as part of strategic action -- to kill some for the good of many -- THEN we may be moral enough to mandate that poor women, crackheads, or burdened and unhealthy women MUST bear children because of the sanctity of life. But as long as we allow pollution that kills, products that kill, and drive cars that kill, life is not really totally sacred to us. We must face the truth that we will all allow some killing for our conveniences.
And if the Pope has the unenviable position of prohibiting contraception at the same time he decries abortion, then perhaps most listeners will not think he is very serious about the plight of the unborn, either.
But I do respect the sentiment that abortion is an awful outcome of behavior and should be avoided with profound sincerity. It is not that easy on a mother, either.
Posted by roberth33 (anonymous) on May 1, 2008 at 2:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey Virginia, why don't you try minding your own damn business. Stop butting into what other people decide to do with their own bodies.
If you were a REAL christian you would leave it to god to deal with.
If you don't want abortion, don't have one.
Butt OUT!
Posted by natchez1 (anonymous) on May 1, 2008 at 6:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Roberth - Virginia is a lovely person and a devoted Catholic, while I disagree with her views on banning abortion I think she has the right to express her and the Church's standpoint.
Abortion is a terrible thing, it would be wonderful if they were never needed. I would hope that people would learn to use contraception and or abstinence (sort of unlikely though - sex is fun). I would also like to see the "day after pill" more widely used, in cases where hormones override the brain.
It would be better if Abortion was rare and a last resort. Some people seem to think of them as no worse than a visit to a Dentist for a filling - not pleasant but no big deal. With modern technology babies are being aborted that if not killed could have grown up to have a productive life.
Posted by roberth33 (anonymous) on May 2, 2008 at 8:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
natchez1, the point is, it is NO ONE else's business whether someone sees their doctor for a heart bypass or an abortion. Regardless of the how you view it in a moral sense, it is a PRIVATE medical procedure. In addition, it is between the woman and her god. Period.
People need to remember Ann Landers' regular line--MYOB--Mind Your Own Business.
Posted by natchez1 (anonymous) on May 2, 2008 at 11:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Everyone is entitled to an opinion - freedom of speech is a good thing - discussing difficult subjects helps, what a person choices to do is up to them -
Posted by roberth33 (anonymous) on May 2, 2008 at 2:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Sure we have freedom of speach. No problem.
But that doesn't mean you shouldn't MYOB.
Just tend to your own knitting.
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