Those of you who know me, know that I am anti-abortion, and I don't care what the language police say. That's what I am and that's what I say.
So, yesterday I was sitting there in church minding my own business. Yes, I do have moments when I am able to control myself, somewhat, for a little while. The Scripture readings yesterday were challenging, of course, but they became more so as the priest developed his line of thought. He injected a reflection about the "pro-life" conviction that so many people say that they have. He was very frank when he said, "if you are pro-life, then you have to be pro-life all the way. You aren't pro-life if you are pro-death penalty. You aren't pro-life if you don't mind sending young people to war to kill and/or be killed." After that is when he stepped off into God's territory. He told the story of the sixteen year-old boy and his family who were denied access to their first class seats on an American Airlines flight because the boy has Down Syndrome. The priest placed that side by side with the story from scripture that describes a host taking care of the well dressed dude like a prince while he mistreats the poorly dressed indigent. (James 2; 1 - 4)
This preacher then took pro-life out for a ride over deep, deep waters. Here, I paraphrase. If you are pro-life, then you owe it to yourself and to others not only to prevent abortion, but to love, respect and enhance the lives of the humans around you. This priest deserves some kind of a medal. How many of us have ever thought about pro-life that way? How many of you say that you are pro-life and actually believe in the truth contained in the priest's line of thought? Even if you are pro-life and you are not Catholic, the words spoken from the altar yesterday, by this one, deep thinking priest are for everyone, even a Catholic anti-abortionist like me.
Right on Paul. I have long helf that thought that war and the death penalty is not pro life either. I even convinced my husband about the death penalty. His views on wars are not mine though. But we are a work in progress. thanks
ReplyDeleteLucia