Pro-Life - 2nd Sunday of OT - January 19th, 2020

This week as we remember the Supreme Court decision on Roe v. Wade, let us pray each day for the end to abortion and the protection of all human life.  Listen to my Pro-Life homily! 


Pro-Life - 2nd Sunday of OT - January 19th, 2020

Readings:  IS 49:3, 5-6; PS 40:2, 4, 7-8, 8-9, 10; 1 COR 1:1-3; JN 1:29-34

March for Life

Photo by T. Rampersad on Unsplash

March for Life

Photo by Maria Oswalt on Unsplash

Excerpts from the Homily:

... Let’s consider what God reveals to us about human life from our first reading.  We heard, “Now the LORD has spoken who formed me as his servant from the womb.”  This passage from our first reading reveals that human life begins within the womb.  However, it is not an isolated passage, there are many more... 

Not only scripture but also the Church’s tradition and official teaching are clear.  From the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC), “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.” (CCC 2270) ... 

[Science reveals that life begins at conception.] 

Dr. Bernard Nathanson is responsible for over 60,000 abortions. ... He studied the development of a fetus in the womb using ultrasound technology and concluded that he made a horrible mistake.  In his book, Aborting America, which was published in 1979, he wrote, and I quote, “Modern technologies have convinced us that beyond question the unborn child is simply another human being, another member of the human community, indistinguishable in every way from any of us.”[i]  He wrote this as an atheist and came to these conclusions simply by the biological facts. ...

Realistically, many women who have abortions are scared and mislead.  They are scared of what will happen if they carry their baby to full term.  They are often lied to by society and the abortion industry.  In their distress they accept the flawed advice that is given to them and see what seems to be an easy out of a difficult situation. ...

However, there is plenty of resources to help a woman not only carry her child to term but also be successful in many other ways as well.  The St. Louis metropolitan area has at least 14 organizations with 32 locations that can offer free pregnancy testing, financial assistance, free supplies, medical care, free ultrasounds, adoption services, housing, and more for anyone who would need it.  Some examples of these places are Birthright St. Louis, Birthright St. Charles, and ThriVe St. Louis.  ... 

Resource Information for Those in Need

Many women are left with a lot of pain, guilt, shame, and despair after having an abortion.  They feel isolated and alone.  Those who are suffering from the effects of abortion are called to seek out God’s mercy and forgiveness.  His mercy is greater than any sin. ... This gift of forgiveness and mercy is available in the Sacrament of Confession, and there is no need for anyone to carry such a burden any longer.  ... Additionally, the Archdiocese of St. Louis provides services to anyone wounded by abortion in what is called Project Rachel for the mothers, and Project Joseph for the fathers. ...

Pray for an end to abortion, for healing of those wounded by abortion, for those considering abortion that they may be touched by the grace of God and choose life for their child, for the protection of all human life from conception until natural death, for our youth group who will participate in the March for Life and for all participants in the march. ... 

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[i] https://naapc.org/why-life-begins-at-conception/  Bernard Nathanson, Aborting America (Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1979).