March For Life

Today is the 41st anniversary of the Roe v Wade judgement in the US Supreme Court which legalised abortion in the US.  It was a tragic day, and since then over 52 million children have been murdered in hospitals and abortion clinics in America.  This number is growing every year and I believe that so far more than 42,000 children have been killed this year.  These figures make abortion the greatest crime against humanity in human history and sadly it is a crime protected and promoted by most governments in the world and by the media.  On 1st January this year the Republic of Ireland joined those countries which enshrine this intentional killing of the unborn in their legislation.

Abortion is not a tragedy, it is a crime: a crime that destroys two lives.  It physically destroys the life of a vulnerable baby, and psychologically destroys the life of a woman.  The child is gone, it will never leave its mark in the world - in most cases its very existence is denied: we can only commend this unique human being to the mercy of God.  The woman can find healing, forgiveness and a new life, yet this can be difficult when these women live in a society which tells them they did the right thing.  For many post-abortive women such reassurances ring hollow and when they seek help the very doors that opened wide to assist in the abortion, now close firmly in their face. 

The pro-life movement is committed to ending abortion and seeking to help women who have had abortions find peace, reconciliation and healing.   Today in Washington DC one of the world's biggest pro-life events takes place, the March for Life.  It gathers hundreds of thousands of people of all faiths and none, of all races, who want to stand in solidarity with the unborn child, with post-abortive women (and men) who are now traumatised, and with women facing crisis pregnancies.  This event is largely ignored by the media, but thanks to networks like EWTN and pro-life groups around the world the message gets out. 

It is bitterly cold in Washington today - there is a snow storm.  So say a prayer for all those who are defying the weather and taking part in the March.  Little by little they are winning; a number of States in the US are beginning to curb their abortion laws and businesses like Planned Parenthood, who make a fortune each year by killing children, are beginning to be squeezed out: but they are fighting back with an infernal rage.  Though they say abortion is about a woman's right to choose, it seems to many, myself included, that it is really all about money.  There are many who have been greatly enriched by the abortion industry and they are fighting hard to keep this lucrative source of income coming in.  So the war rages on, and now another front has opened up in Ireland.

So greetings to all in Washington DC, and to all who are marching for life today.  Let us pray for victory!  It will come in the US, in the UK, in Ireland, in the world.  We must keep praying and working.

Why Do You Want To Live?

Imagine being asked that question by a doctor - "Why do you want to live?"  Well an Irishman had to answer that question as his doctor, it seems, was trying to persuade him to give up the ghost, literally.  Not always a fan of the Irish Times, I must say kudos must go to "Madam" and her paper for covering the story of Simon Fitzmaurice who suffers from Motor Neurone Disease.  Read the article here.  I love the answer Simon gave to the doctor:

"They ask me why I want to live and the answer is the same as given by “mostly-dead” Westley in The Princess Bride, when replying to the question posed by Miracle Max, “What’s so important? What you got here that’s worth living for?” “Truue loove” is his response. That’s how I feel. Love for my wife. Love for my children. My friends, my family. Love for life in general. My love is undimmed, unbowed, unbroken. I want to live. Is that wrong? What gives a life meaning? What constitutes a meaningful life? What gives one life more value than another? Surely only the individual can hope to grasp the meaning of his or her life. If not asked if they want to live, it negates that meaning."

Every life is precious: that is a message the advocates of euthanasia and abortion need to learn.  They need to read what this man has to say in the article and rethink their "compassion".

I think this article is timely as Ireland seems to be running to bring in abortion and euthanasia, I also think it is great because instead of people on both sides of argument debating,we are listening to the person's whose life was in question.

For more coverage of this story see LifeSiteNews. 

The Young Rally For Life

Each year in Washington DC, USA, one of the world's biggest annual civil rights rallies takes place on the 22nd January and is ignored by most of the media and political figures in the US and beyond.  It is of course the March for Life which takes place on the anniversary of the Roe v Wade judgement which legalised abortion on demand. 

I am edified reading the reports, usually from Catholic and pro-life sources, and I see the numbers are growing, not only in number, but also in age - the protestors are getting younger each year.  As statistics show us, the young are ardently pro-life in the USA, and are prepared to take to the streets in defence of the unborn.  Someone once said that this wonderful development emerges from a realisation on the part of Americans born post Roe v Wade, that they are the survivors of a pro-abortion regime. 

Another wonderful dimension of the March is the role the Catholic Church plays.  In the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception a Mass is offered the evening before the March, the huge basilica is packed to capacity as a large number of bishops and priests offer a Mass for Life.  The basilica is left open all night and those marchers who could not get accommodation for the night sleep in the church - marvellous!  How fitting: the Mother of God provides hospitality for her children who have come to bear witness to the Gospel of Life.  

As we in Ireland totter towards the introduction of abortion, probably on demand practically speaking, we should look Stateside to see how the pro-life movement has managed to win the hearts of the young and may finally see the beginning of the end of the greatest evil known to humanity.   The Church in Ireland should also take note and prepare to take its place on the side of the pro-life movement. 

We may have our own anniversary in a few years time and it should be marked with sorrow, reparation, determination and prayer.