60 million.
Since 1972, the United States has lost over 60 million citizens through legalized abortion. It’s a huge number, almost unfathomable when you really think about it. That’s more than the current population in the state of California. Imagine the great minds and souls we have lost. Great inventors, scientists, leaders, and most importantly saints who could have transformed the world through their lives.
As Catholic voters, one of the non-negotiable issues we must consider is abortion. Below are just a few important excerpts from the Church’s teaching on this issue:
"Human life is sacred because from its beginning it involves the creative action of God and it remains forever in a special relationship with the Creator, who is its sole end. God alone is the Lord of life from its beginning until its end: no one can under any circumstance claim for himself the right directly to destroy an innocent human being." Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2258
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. Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2270
The inalienable right to life of every innocent human individual is a constitutive element of a civil society and its legislation:
"The inalienable rights of the person must be recognized and respected by civil society and the political authority. These human rights depend neither on single individuals nor on parents; nor do they represent a concession made by society and the state; they belong to human nature and are inherent in the person by virtue of the creative act from which the person took his origin. Among such fundamental rights one should mention in this regard every human being's right to life and physical integrity from the moment of conception until death."
"The moment a positive law deprives a category of human beings of the protection which civil legislation ought to accord them, the state is denying the equality of all before the law. When the state does not place its power at the service of the rights of each citizen, and in particular of the more vulnerable, the very foundations of a state based on law are undermined. . . . As a consequence of the respect and protection which must be ensured for the unborn child from the moment of conception, the law must provide appropriate penal sanctions for every deliberate violation of the child's rights." Catechism of the Catholic Church 2273
Among all the crimes which can be committed against life, procured abortion has characteristics making it particularly serious and deplorable. The Second Vatican Council defines abortion, together with infanticide, as an ‘unspeakable crime’. -Evangelium Vitae 58
Christians, like all people of good will, are called upon under grave obligation of conscience not to cooperate formally in practices which, even if permitted by civil legislation, are contrary to God's law. - Evangelium Vitae 74
When we consider the more than 60 million unborn children and the countless women and men whose lives have been forever changed by their decision, we can feel overwhelmed and discouraged. But there is much hope. Many of our youth are carrying the pro-life baton. The annual March for Life event is brimming with life and the majority of the marchers are young people. They are firmly committed to our shared belief in the sanctity of all human life.
There is more reason for hope. In the face of another time of overwhelming odds and grave human sacrifice, Our Lady came to the aid of her people. She appeared to Juan Diego in 1531 and left her miraculous image on his tilma. At the time Our Lady of Guadalupe’s apparition, there were an estimated 250,000 live human sacrifices taking place per year in Mexico. After her appearance, more than 9 million Aztecs left these diabolical practices behind to become Christian.
Let us turn to Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mother of the Unborn with our spiritual weapon in hand, the Rosary, and let us beg her to intercede to end the evil of abortion in our land.
This week, we invite you to watch and share the following resources:
The Viable and the Vulnerable: Protecting Life At Its Smallest with Dr. Robin Pierucci
Abortion's Cultural Advance: Planned Parenthood and You with Jim Sedlak
The Untold Stories of the Abortion Wars: One Woman's Story with Monica Migliornino Miller
Forever Changed: The Residual Effects of Abortion with Michaelene Fredenberg
Together, we pick up our weapon, the Rosary, and forge ahead in our battle of prayer. We look forward to praying with you this Wednesday at 4PM ET.
Click the image below to join us for our Women of Grace Warrior's Rosary Crusade every Wednesday at 4PM ET. If you've already registered, you should receive a reminder link directly from Zoom. Please be sure to share the information below with your friends and family!
