Join the march for life
By Leela Ramdeen, Chair of the Catholic Commission for Social Justice
Above all, the common outcry, which is justly made on behalf of human rights - for example, the right to health, to home, to work, to family, to culture - is false and illusory if the right to life, the most basic and fundamental right and the condition for all other personal rights, is not defended with maximum determination. (John Paul II, Christifidelis Laici no. 38)
Emmanuel Community’s forthcoming March for Life on March 29, is to be seen as an important strategy for implementing some of the resolutions under the Archdiocesan’s third pastoral priority – Regenerating the moral and spiritual values of our society – and achieving the goal of this pastoral priority.
As Catholics we believe in the sanctity of human life and in the inherent dignity of the human person. Pope John Paul II said: “the Gospel of life is at the heart of Jesus' message.” Our scriptures, our catechism (e.g. 2270-2271), and the social teaching of our Church place on us an obligation to respect, promote, preserve, protect and defend life at all stages (from conception to natural death) and in all circumstances.
Human life is under attack around the world. We need to develop our awareness of the various ways in which such attack manifests itself. The 1965 Vatican II document: Gaudium et Spes (Constitution on the Church in the Modern World) makes it clear: “whatever is opposed to life itself, such as any type of murder, genocide, abortion, euthanasia or wilful self-destruction, whatever violates the integrity of the human person, such as mutilation, torments inflicted on body or mind, attempts to coerce the will itself; whatever insults human dignity, such as subhuman living conditions, arbitrary imprisonment, deportation, slavery, prostitution, the selling of women and children; as well as disgraceful working conditions, where men are treated as mere tools for profit, rather than as free and responsible persons; all these things and others of their like are infamies indeed...From the moment of conception life must be guarded with the greatest care.”
This assault on human life in our time has become a crisis of culture, a crisis of love, a crisis of civilisation. In this crisis we cannot remain silent. Neutrality is not an option. If we don’t pray and take action then we are building our future on sand. As followers of Christ we must be unashamedly pro-life. We must demonstrate that we respect life.
In his 1995 encyclical, Evangelium Vitae (The Gospel of Life), Pope John Paul II urges us to reject the culture of violence and death that is so prevalent in our world and to build, instead, a culture of life. He specifically mentions abortion as being part of the culture of death.
Abortion is also mentioned in Gaudium et Spes as an “infamy”. A zygote or foetus becomes a living human being from the moment of conception, each with his/her own DNA/ genetic blueprint. Our Catechism tells us that, “Direct abortion, that is to say, abortion willed either as an end or a means, is gravely contrary to the moral law...” (2271).
Children are both a wealth and a hope for the human family. Today millions of babies are being aborted around the world. Every day about 126,000 babies are aborted. Mother Teresa reflected on the magnitude of the challenge that faces us: “Abortion has portrayed the greatest of gifts – a child – as a competitor, an intrusion and an inconvenience.”
In Deuteronomy (30:19) God tells us to “choose life” so that we may live. Therefore, we must show by our prayers and action that we are truly pro-life people. Each of us has a duty to help shape a society more respectful of the life, dignity and rights of the human person.
A pro-life programme must address, inter alia, the issue of abortion if we are to achieve the goal of the third pastoral priority of our Archdiocese which states: “That each Catholic, as a committed disciple of Christ, knows, lives and witnesses to the rich moral teaching of the Church and actively partners with people of good will towards the moral and spiritual renewal of Trinidad and Tobago.”
As we seek to transform our communities/world, it is important that we reach out to those who are working to achieve the same goals. It is for this reason that Emmanuel Community is planning the March for Life with other Christian denominations and other faith communities.
Their keynote speaker will be Dr Alveda King, Pastoral Associate, Priests for Life, founder of King for America and niece of the late Martin Luther King Jr. Such joint collaboration across the waters is essential if we are to build a culture of life.
We need to develop our awareness of the nature and effects of abortion. Research produced e.g. by Dr David Reardon, Elliott Institute, Illinois, USA, about the physical and psychological effects of abortion on women, make it clear that no one can claim that legal abortion is safe.
The same physical and psychological complications that are associated with illegal abortions, are also associated with legal abortions e.g. pelvic inflammatory disease, uterine perforations, ectopic pregnancy, placenta praevia, excessive bleeding, retention of placenta.
Post abortion trauma, an array of psychological and emotional disturbances that occur to a woman following an abortion include: depression, guilt, suicidal urges, anger, nightmares, flashbacks, drug and alcohol abuse, panic attacks etc. Just visit the website: and you will read of the horrific effects of abortion, including legal abortion, on women and their families.
Our pro-life programme must involve a concern not only for the unborn child but for the mother, father and other children in the family. Authentic holiness makes us more aware of and responsive to the real needs of others.
Therefore, as we promote a culture of life we should not be judgemental but should reach out to those who have had abortions; who may be hurting and need our love and prayers. In their hour of need, let us not judge them but seek to meet their needs.
There is an urgent need for all of us in our daily lives and in our parishes to minister to the needs of those women in unplanned pregnancies who may feel isolated and who long for kindness and support.
Our Catholic response should be to minister to their various needs with love, compassion and support and to help them to find options that are more acceptable than abortion. Offer your support to groups such as Emmanuel Community, Families in Action, Living Water Community and other groups that, inter alia, offer assistance to pregnant women in distress.
Our concern should also be to strive to create conditions in our country/world that will offer women and men real alternatives to abortion e.g. addressing poverty and social exclusion, employment, housing, sexual harassment, domestic violence, chastity, abstinence, promoting family life, developing awareness of institutions/organisations that are available to support pregnant girls/women who are experiencing difficulties.
Let us respond to the real needs of people and provide mothers/parents/families with the concrete medical, financial, psychological, and spiritual help they need rather than opening up the floodgates in our country to legalised abortion.
Our Catechism tells us that, “As leaven in the dough, the newness of the kingdom should make the earth 'rise' by the Spirit of Christ. This must be shown by the establishment of JUSTICE in personal and SOCIAL, economic and international relations, without ever forgetting that there are no just structures without people who want to be just.” (2832).
As the 19th Century Jesuit poet, Gerard Manley Hopkins said: “A just man justices”. We must do justice.We must be the leaven in the dough; witnesses and voices for those who have no voice. Let us renew our resolve to defend life in its every phase as a blessing and a gift from God. Join the March for Life on March 29. Further details about the March will be publicised by Emmanuel Community shortly.
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