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Just when you
think you've heard it all, the story comes along of a man
who walks into the atrium of a Minneapolis hotel, corners a
duck in the lobby's duck pond, tears off its head and
carries its limp body to his fifth-floor room.
When confronted by security guards, the culprit
responded, "Big deal, it's just a . . . duck."
When did human beings become so callous to God's
beautiful creation? How do some of us grow so cold and
heartless that the needless slaughter of animals or, for
that fact, innocent babies in the womb is no "big deal."
Horror of
abortion
October is "Respect Life Month," wherein we renew our
dedication to overcome the scourge of abortion by
overturning the unjust legislation that makes it legally
possible to kill human life in the womb.
More than 47 million babies have been murdered since Roe
vs. Wade was enacted, resulting in more than 4,400 deaths a
day. Yet, the pro-abortion forces are far from satisfied
with the terrible carnage they have brought about and seek
even further expansion of their evil influence.
In July, the Minnesota Department of Health released its
yearly report indicating a 5 percent increase in abortions
in this state from 2005 to 2006 and a 16 percent increase in
the number of abortions performed on minors.
How did this happen? Well, for one, Planned Parenthood
opened two new abortion-feeder "express clinics" in Woodbury
and Apple Valley last year, sending out postcards to
teenagers with the promise, "You'll find caring,
confidential no-exam services for you and your partner:
brand name birth control pills, the patch, the shot, the
ring, condoms, emergency contraception, pregnancy testing,
STI screening and HIV testing."
Their card then adds, "Stop in and check out our funky
jewelry, Mrs. Kelly's teas and cool spa products." One
could call this approach "pandering to the immature and
naïve."
At the same time, our state Legislature has refused to
stop using taxpayers' money to fund abortions or to cease
giving grants to organizations that promote abortion.
The assault on human life has also manifested its
presence in a national movement to require "emergency
contraception" to be prescribed in the case of rape in all
hospitals, whether religiously sponsored or not.
Such legislation has just been passed in Connecticut, and
similar legislation has already been introduced here in
Minnesota. This legislation has been mistakenly labeled "An
Act Concerning Compassionate Care for Victims of Sexual
Assault." Surely it is part of the slippery slope to
increase the frequency of abortion across our society.
Congress keeps trying to overturn President Bush's limits
on taxpayers' funding of embryonic stem-cell research,
despite the clear proof that only adult stem cells are being
used to treat certain kinds of cancer and other specific
diseases.
To date, there have been no cures from embryonic stem
cells. And should the limits be lifted some day, you can bet
that the harvesting of human embryos for scientific purposes
will become a major business.
Then, of course, there is the matter of next November's
national elections. While there are many moral concerns that
candidates need to address, concern for protecting the
unborn needs to be at the top of the list. How indeed can we
speak of other human rights if, as a nation, we are not
prepared to protect the first and most basic human right -
the right to life itself?
Scriptural
wisdom
Ours is not the first nation to suffer such a moral
decline. In Psalm 106, we read:
"They shed
innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters . . .
and the land was desecrated by their blood.
They defiled
themselves by what they did
. . ." (37 - 39)
What happened then? Read on:
"Therefore the Lord was angry with his people and
abhorred his inheritance. He handed them over to the
nations, and their foes ruled over them. Their enemies
oppressed them and subjected them to their power." (40 - 42)
It's hard to imagine that the direction in which we are
headed as a nation will not result in our own
self-destruction. As we sow, so shall we reap!
But it is not too late to act. You and I can make a
difference, if we are ready to stand together for what is
right and just.
As Catholics, we believe in the inherent dignity of all
life, created as we are in God's image and likeness.
That's not just a nice "idea," it is a powerful belief that
has practical consequences in the way we treat one another
in daily life.
So, the next time you enter a hotel lobby and see
something that looks like a duck, walks like a duck and
sounds like a duck, give thanks to God for his loving
creation and let the duck live!
God bless you! |
