Guest Opinion: Once the child is conceived, it is about the baby
On 5/2/22 I was listening to NPR radio as they interviewed a young woman concerning the leaked report from the U.S. Supreme Court that it might be overturning the Roe v. Wade decision given in 1973. As most of you know, this decision made access to abortion the law of the land. The young woman was standing in front of the U.S. Supreme Court building in Washington D.C. Quoting her freely, she said, “I was a triplet at birth and the doctor suggested to my parents that, for convenience sake, one of the three should be aborted. My parents did not follow the doctor’s advice. All three of us were born. That is why I am here protesting against abortion, and glad Roe vs. Wade might be overturned.”
I stand with that young woman. I hope that Roe v. Wade is overturned and that each state can decide for itself. Whether we are for legal abortion or against it, we should be able to make our voices heard by voting.
An unplanned pregnancy
Having an unplanned pregnancy can be a life-changing event. As a celibate priest I probably don’t have a clue. However, once the child is conceived, it is about the baby. Our long-standing Catholic tradition is that life is inviolate from the moment of conception. This means that we can do nothing to intentionally hinder the birth of the child.
People ask about what if a woman becomes pregnant through rape or incest. Becoming pregnant by means of these horrendous circumstances is terrible. But, even then, it is about the child. The pre-born child has a right to life that supersedes all other rights. Yes, this principle is hard to accept after almost 50 years of legal abortion on demand in our country. (To the best of my knowledge, rape or incest accounts for less than 1% of all pregnancies, but once again, it is about the baby.)
What science tells us
In the past I personally have refrained from calling abortion murder. But the more science tells us the more I see it as a direct taking of a human life. For example,
— 18 days from conception the heart begins to beat with the baby’s own blood.
— After 28 days, a baby has eyes, ears and a tongue.
— After 42 days, the skeleton is formed. The brain coordinates movement of muscles and organs. Fingers and toes are developing. (prolifeacrossamerica.org)
So to me, a direct abortion is murder.
Recently I heard about a college-aged woman who was raped and became pregnant and is due in a few months. She has to make a decision whether or not to raise the baby herself, with her family’s support, or to give the child up for adoption. This mom has to decide what is best for her child.
The great challenge of the pro-life movement
Each year St. Ephrem Church and the surrounding parishes financially support a variety of local organizations that help care for the mother and child up to three years after the child is born. This kind of long-term support, whether it is private or through tax dollars, is going to be needed even more, if, in fact, Roe v. Wade is overturned. Supporting every child’s birth is not going to be easy or cheap. It will mean an intensified willingness to support the poor and unwanted child with good health care, a quality education, etc. etc. To me, this is the great challenge of the pro-life movement — the follow up.
Finally, if you tell people you are in favor of letting Roe v. Wade being overturned, and allowing each state to decide for itself, as am I, you may be criticized. People may accuse you of being a misogynist, a racist, a homophobe or against the poor, etc., etc. The pushback against you may be withering even by family, friends, and coworkers. Stand strong. It’s about the baby.
The Rev. Stephen Katziner is a parochial vicar at St. Ephrem Catholic Church in Bensalem. His submission is the homily he preached at Masses he celebrated on May 7 and May 8, 2022.
This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Guest Opinion: Once the child is conceived, it is about the baby
