A culture based on lies weakens its structures and cannot
endure
Bishop Michael W. Warfel
Diocese of Juneau, AK
The Inside Passage
Diocesan Newspaper for the Diocese of Juneau
January 28, 2005
Given that January 22nd marks the anniversary of the Roe vs. Wade decision,
it ought not to be too surprising that I have developed a habit of addressing
the issue of abortion in January. This past Friday, January 21, I joined a group
of individuals on the steps in front of the Capitol Building in Juneau to do
this once again. While standing out in the wind and cold is uncomfortable, I
believe it important to address an immoral social experiment that has allowed
the practice
of abortion to continue in the U.S. for 33 years. It is my hope and prayer
that one day hearts would be converted, that they might see just how evil
abortion is and how damaging it is. Obviously, those most directly affected are
the infants in the womb who will never see the light of day. But there are other
victims too: the mother of the aborted child and the child’s father; the
brothers and sisters of the child as well as the would-be grandparents; society
as a whole.
Conversion begins by recognizing that a problem exists. Many today, including
those in government and in the various institutions and organizations that help
to shape our cultural beliefs and behavior, do not recognize that abortion is a
problem. In fact, many deny that it is a problem. The toleration and promotion
of abortion, socially and legally, has clouded individual consciences and made
it difficult for many to distinguish between good and evil, even when what is at
stake is the fundamental right to life. People in our society need to be
reminded that direct abortion is always gravely immoral and that violating this
principle has far-reaching consequences. We can ignore the truth about human
life, and our obligation to protect, nurture and sustain it, but not without
cost. The culture in which we live is essentially an ecology. If we pump waste
or chemicals into the water we drink, people eventually will become ill and die.
If we reject the value and dignity of human life, our culture becomes more and
more based on a lie and its structures cannot long endure.
But how do we help others to understand this? By transforming our culture
into one that respects and defends human life! In addition to encouraging laws
that protect innocent human life, it is necessary to speak of the deeper truth
behind such laws: that all human life is sacred; that God is its author; that we
do not own life. While it is important to act with concern for the immediate
need before us—to protect life from conception to natural death, it is also
important to work toward the transformation of a culture that would allow death
to be a solution.
To transform society, we must embody and celebrate the Gospel of Life in our
daily living. We must be people whose lives are marked by self-giving love for
others, especially the most innocent and needy. We must be people who are
concerned with confronting the root causes of why women would even consider
abortion in the first place. We must be people who are marked by their
compassion toward those who have suffered as a result of being victimized in
someway by abortion.
Pope John Paul II said it so well, "May the people of life constantly grow in
number and may a new culture of love and solidarity develop for the true good of
the whole human society."
