How unhappy I am today, learning as I came to work this morning that someone murdered Dr. George Tiller down in Kansas. As you probably know, Dr. Tiller was a late-term abortionist. He was killed by someone in the lobby of the church he attended.
You cannot be pro-life and advocate violence. No way, no how.
This is even more disturbing to me this morning because I had a very stimulating conversation late last night with a friend whose car stalled yesterday, and he and his wife spent the night at our house. He and I got into this very issue last night — the pro-life movement and the advocacy of violence/war in national and international relations. My friend is a pacifist, and he practices what he preaches. He has radically altered his life to live as a pacifist. It has cost him dearly in many ways. Our conversation was spirited and delightful. How can one say, “I am against abortion!” and support capital punishment or war as it is fought in today’s world? How can one say, “I am against all war and violence to others!” and advocate for the “right” to choose abortion? Either position is inherently inconsistent and the arguments made by both camps collapse if looked at with any moral or intellectual honesty.
As I have said to many over the years: 1. I have no real political home. 2. I am about two inches from being a pacifist myself. 3. I am totally against abortion. 4. Abortion needs to be outlawed because a well-legislated law would protect our freedom and ability to orient ourselves toward life and to choose it. 5. Legislating against abortion is only part of the task. (We must get this right.) We also must develop just social, political, economic and legal structures that support life, especially for vulnerable women and the poor.
One cannot be consistently pro-life and advocate for the right to choose abortion. One cannot be pro-life and fail to work toward a more just social and political and economic reality that will support life.
One cannot be pro-life and then murder someone.
Life is sacred.
It is good to listen to what others have to say about abortion, war and peace. Lisenting with respect to others is a gift and essential if we are to truly make progress in faith, in peace, in everyday life. Do we accept others as they are and truly listen to what they are saying before we judge them or judge what they have to say? I remember listening to a young person a few years back preparing for Confirmation and they made the comment that they weren’t sure about Christianity? There are other religions in the world was the comment they made. Perhaps what they were saying is, prove to me that Christianity is the correct way or perhaps they were saying there are many ways to approach our God, not just one religion or one sect. Listen, respect all creatures of God both aniamate and inanimate as St. Francis of Assissi says and I will add that it is important to be a peace maker, for real peace is not easy and can only come about when we are willing to die for it if need be and be it not with weapons but with a fortitude of non-violence which is much more difficult than the violent approach. pax bonum
What I have found is that the young are hungry for faith, and clarity of belief. They know a lot about listening to others (at least this has been drilled into them by many) but what they don’t know a lot about is their faith, nor have they had many clear witnesses to their faith.
So I agree Mike, that listening and respect are fundamental toward lasting peace and change. But I also think that one must be very clear and firm in expressing what we believe,and adhere to our beliefs. This inexorably draws the young to the faith. This is another reason why I saw Notre Dame’s decision to have President Obama speak as such a disaster and so damaging — in doing so, they left the impression that dialogue and listening are more important than clearly witnessing to what we believe to be sacred in our faith. Notre Dame left many with a blurred understanding of what the Church believes, cherishes and is willing to sacrifice for. When that happens often enough, we get the kind of confusion and questions you mentioned the confirmation student asked you.
Jesus was not reticent to boldly remonstrate those who lead others astray. Remember, he called Peter “Satan” when Peter tried to dissuade him from the truth.
God knows every angle, every sin, every good deed. The President of the United States knows that this issue deeply divides the Church, he also has to analize the right and wrong of issues. He will be converted one day I believe and I think that giving the commencment address may be a turning point for him, perhaps he doesn’t realize it now, pray that it comes sooner than later.