In 1973 the United States Supreme Court issued its landmark Roe v. Wade decision that ensured a woman’s right to abortion. This was based on somehow seeing abortion as part of a woman’s right to privacy. From this, they said there was a constitutional right to abortion.

Since then, hundreds of thousands of people have marched each year on Washington DC to stand for life each January. In the fifty years since the Roe v. Wade decision, there have been various court battles regarding abortion but there was no major changes that I am aware of until the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization case in 2022. This decision was a major shift in thinking. It did not determine whether abortion was morally right or wrong. It also did not comment on when life begins. What it did say was that there is not a right to abortion in the U.S. Constitution. Therefore, it returned the power back to the states to be able to regulate abortion.

In conservative states with a strong pro-life majority new laws have been passed or old laws still on the books restricting abortions have been enforced. Those who think a woman does have a right to abortion have sought to challenge these laws in court wherever possible. Some states have kept the laws in force where the court cases are processed while other states have placed the laws on pause until the courts decide what to do.

Liberal states where abortion is seen only as women’s reproductive health care have worked to ensure abortion in their laws and, in some cases, their state constitutions. Unfortunately, I live in a liberal state (New York State) where our governor has sought to make our state an abortion safe haven for women coming from states that have outlawed or restricted abortion. They are using tax dollars to do so. I guess my choice on life issues means nothing to them as they use my tax dollars to provide abortions to both NYS residents and people who come for other states to have an abortion.

There will continue to be court battles over abortion. It is important in those cases that we make sure that our pro-life truth is heard. However, I believe that the most important way to stand for life is not in changing laws. They could always be changed again. Yes, we need to fight for laws that respect all life and recognize that life begins at conception.

I believe the most important way to engage in pro-life efforts is to work to change people’s hearts.

If we can help people understand that life begins at conception and that the child in the womb has its own right to life, then we help to see that abortion is not a valid option. When we are successful in doing so, it won’t matter if abortion is legal because no one will want to have an abortion. (Until then, we must work to stand for the right of life for the baby in the womb.)

At this point in this article, I am tempted to write everything there is to know about Catholic pro-life teaching (along with secular arguments for why life begins at conception). This would be well beyond the scope of this present blog article. Fortunately, on my website I have the recordings of a series of four presentations, Treating Life with Dignity and Love, I did in 2021. Part I in this series presents our general arguments for the dignity of all life. Part II continues the discussion on abortion before turning to the death penalty.

Here are three slides from this series to think about.

Those who support abortion say that we do not believe in a woman’s right to choose. In actuality, what we want to do is to help women make a good choice. We want to help them see the goodness of the life in their womb.

In just under two weeks, we will celebrate the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision. Some people may think we no longer need to recognize the anniversary because the 2022 Dobbs decision undid Roe v. Wade. Dobbs changed the present legal status in many states but the battle for life in the womb (and at other stages of life) is not over. There is much work to be done.

I’ve already talked about our need to show our pro-life teaching. However, I know not everyone is called to take a proactive role in doing so. That doesn’t that there is no role for them to play.

As the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision, January 22nd continues to be a “Day of Prayers for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children” (see https://www.respectlife.org/january-22#:~:text=the%20Diocesan%20Bishop.-,In%20all%20the%20Dioceses%20of%20the%20United%20States%20of%20America,human%20person%20committed%20through%20acts) in the Catholic Church. At daily Mass on January 22nd, there are prayers written specifically for this occasion. Will you go to daily Mass that day?

Our United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) also invites us to pray a novena for life beginning on January 16th and continuing until January 24th. In our parish, during these nine days, we invite our parishioners to stay for a few minutes after daily Mass to pray the novena together. We also make print copies available for people to take home. You can find the novena prayers online at http://www.9daysforlife.com/

I will be leading a Holy Hour for Life at St. Mary’s of the Lake on Wednesday, January 24th at 7:00 pm (bring your rosary) as we conclude the 9 Days for life.

At this time of year, we offer a special focus in our prayers for life. However, I encourage you to pray for life every day.

There is more that can be done to stand for life than prayer alone. You can write your legislators to share your prolife position.

The March for Life has changed since the Dobbs decision but it does continue. Are you called to march? Since the Dobbs decision, some prolife groups are now holding prolife marches in their state capital. If there is a march in your state are you called to participate?

In Part II of my series, Treating Life with Dignity and Love, I offer a list of reasons why a woman might choose to have an abortion and ideas on what we can to help them. This includes supporting them with help during and after their pregnancy. During the pregnancy, we can provide donations to pregnancy resource centers that help the mother and baby receive proper medical care. We can contribute to groups that help the mother have proper food to eat while she’s pregnant. Our efforts must not end when the child is born. The family will still need help. They will need diapers and baby clothes (During January, St. Mary’s of the Lake and St. Benedict’s where I serve collects donations of items to help (see our parish bulletin for a list of items).

God has given us the gift of life. We must help others enjoy the gift of their lives.

Peace,

Fr. Jeff