Choice in Christ
A
Statement in Response to the
"Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice"
Fr. Frank Pavone
As ministers of the Gospel of Life, Priests for Life are
concerned about misrepresentations of that Gospel by those who profess Christian
faith and at the same time promote a "reproductive choice" of the destruction of
human life by abortion. This "pro-choice" stance is defended by invoking freedom
of religious belief and conscience, individual liberty, and the defense of the
health and wholeness of the mother carrying the child.
What is the Choice?
We certainly support "reproductive freedom" in the sense that
a man and woman must be free from coercion in making, before God, the personal
judgment about the number and spacing of children they will bear.
But there is a big difference between choosing to have
a child and choosing to kill a child. To determine whether one can have
another child, before that child exists is quite legitimate. To eliminate them
once they already exist is not legitimate.
Freedom of Religion and
Conscience
Some appeal to "freedom of religion and conscience" to decide
whether the baby in the womb is in fact a human being with the right to life. We
point out that the humanity of the child is as definitive scientifically as the
humanity of the parents. The point at which a unique life begins is clear from
science.
To leave such a basic right as life, furthermore, to be
determined by another's religion or conscience puts us all in danger. What do
you say to a person who, "in conscience" no longer "believes" that you
are human? Whatever you say is worthless to him, because he can say, "Why should
I listen to a non-human?" If we do not allow the right to one's possessions to
be subject to another person's religion, neither should one's right to life be
so subject.
Individual Liberty
God has given us personal liberty as a tremendous gift which
cannot be despised. The Christian message, proclaimed in Scripture, not only
reveals the existence of such liberty, but shows that its fullness is found
precisely in Christ. Redeemed and transformed by Him, we find ourselves sharing
a life and liberty, which is no longer merely our own, but Christ's. (See
Rom.12:2,Gal.2:20). Far from being separate sources of purely private liberty,
we become one Body (Eph 4:15-16, 1Cor12:12). Our union with Christ does not
squelch or destroy our personal liberty, but enhances and strengthens it.
(Jn.8:31-32;14:12). By this very dynamic, we freely choose the love of Christ
and one another, and this involves precisely the rejection of what is contrary
to love and to the Gospel (Col.3:5-11). It involves the rejection of acts which
destroy others. Abortion is one such act. Christian love ultimately means, "I
sacrifice myself for the good of the other person." Abortion means, "I sacrifice
the other person for the good of myself" (See 1Jn.3:11-12,16).
If a doctrine of liberty includes the destruction of the
child in the womb, even when the child's humanity is acknowledged, why should it
not also include the newborn, or you, or me. Where is the principle that would
prevent the liberty that destroys some of us from destroying all of us?
The Woman's Well-being
Some defend the choice of abortion by appealing to the
preservation of the mother's health or "wholeness."
We assert that one is never whole when one destroys another.
The promise of wholeness through abortion is false and
illusory. Two decades of legalized abortion in America provide abundant evidence
of wounded bodies and souls, and a wounded society.
Religion that is not grounded in reality is a disservice to
humanity. Religions which present abortion as a legitimate choice, but ignore
the fact that abortion harms women, will rightfully deserve the criticism made
by some of our secular counterparts that such religion enslaves people and
hinders authentic human progress.
Even more crucially, Churches that fail to discern the harm
inflicted on women by abortion will be ill-suited to provide them the
compassion, healing, and forgiveness they desperately need. More and more of our
sisters and brothers are feeling and will feel the need for such healing. To
whom will they turn? They will find little comfort from those who have opened
the door to abortion or told them it is wrong only if they believe it is wrong.
Unfortunately, the damage inflicted by abortion does not likewise yield to one's
beliefs about whether it is real.
An international body of former abortion providers has formed
under the title of the Centurions, who cry out, "Surely, these were innocent
lives!" They are reaching the truth about abortion more quickly than some
Christian communities. When our society has come to the dead end to which
abortion leads, may the Church be ready to bring healing and lead the world once
again to affirm and choose the Gospel of Life!
