Cardinal Justin Rigali: Faithful Citizenship — Respect for Life
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At this moment in our country’s history, defense of innocent human life is a moral responsibility for all of us. The same God who thundered from Mount Sinai: “Thou shalt not kill,” thunders still. When life in the womb is destroyed, God thunders: “This is a child!” When by the most barbaric means, unworthy of any civilized people, the brain of a child is sucked out of his or her head by a vacuum, God thunders: “This is a child!” When a baby is left to die of exposure on a shelf because of a failed abortion, and this is considered a “right” by any leader, God, the Source of all law and authority, thunders: “This is a child!” When we are faced with every modern means of education and communication, in addition to the law placed in our hearts at creation, no one, and most especially, no Catholic, can ever say: “I did not know.”
The human dignity that we proclaim works two ways: it affords us a great privilege but it also demands a responsibility. The feeble defense “I did not know” cannot be used by any responsible person in our time when confronted with the reality of abortion. We do know. We know because we can reason and think and see. Along with this position, which is confirmed by modern science, comes a command: “Thou shalt not kill.” It is not a question of politics but a question of the gravest of intrinsic evils; and just as the reality of what it is cannot be explained away, neither can our responsibility.
Throughout our history, Catholics have earned their right to call themselves patriotic Americans. Faithful citizenship not only includes dying for one’s country or working towards its prosperity, it also includes being faithful to a law which is higher than the expediency of the moment with the same generosity of body and heart, and the same courage that is given on the battlefield and in the workplace. We remind ourselves of this as we continue to be called to faithful citizenship and respect for life in the “earthly city” without forgetting that we are ultimately called to live as citizens of heaven forever.
Read the Cardinal’s entire letter here.
When God Asks Us:
“Why did you kill my babies?”
How will you answer Him?
“It was the woman’s right to choose.”
“It was the law.”
“It wasn’t my problem.”
“It wasn’t my responsibility.”
“It wasn’t a real baby.”
“It was going to ruin her life.”
“It wouldn’t have been a person until it was born.”
“It was a mistake.”
“It was inconvenient.”
“It was best for the family.”
“It wasn’t the right time.”
“It was politically correct.”
“It wasn’t my business, it was hers.”
“It wasn’t a baby, it was a blob.”
“She couldn’t take care of it.”
“She had no one to help her.”
“She was in school.”
“She’s was too young.”
“She’s was too old.”
“The father ran away.”
“The fetus wasn’t perfect.”
“The father refused to pay for it.”
“The family didn’t want it.”
“The mother’s life was in danger”
“There was no money.”
“There was no other choice.”
“I didn’t kill your babies, they did.”
“I wouldn’t have done it, but …”
“I’m only one person, what could I have done?”
Or will you be among those who can answer:
“I tried my very best to stop it.”
