Volume > Issue > The Consistent Pro-life Ethic

The Consistent Pro-life Ethic

INTEGRAL TO PRO-LIFE SUCCESS

By Bernard F. Law | January-February 1985
Bernard F. Law is the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Boston.

Your task is a noble one. In fact, at this mo­ment in American history, I can think of none more noble.

As citizens of this free society, your task con­sists of a solemn commitment to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” promised us in the Decla­ration of Independence.

The specific purpose for which the Massachu­setts Citizens for Life exists is to redress an egre­gious decision of the Supreme Court that snatch­ed away the legal protection of the unborn and re­duced them to a disposable “thing.” If the moral character of a nation can be measured by anything, that “litmus test” is the value it places on human beings — especially its poorest and most defense­less. No one is more frail, defenseless, and in need of care than our unborn.

Obviously I am not here to win converts. From me you need no further evidence, no more moral persuasion, no deeper dialogue, to be con­vinced that each fertilized ovum, from the instant of conception is someone’s future son, daughter, grandchild, niece, or nephew. We here are all con­vinced that the fetus is human — alive — a male or female individual distinct from, though neverthe­less dependent on, its mother. In its most vulnera­ble period of existence, it needs only time and lov­ing care to become a fully developed human per­son.

That you are its defenders, I applaud; that you are a part of a great national — yes, even inter­national — movement I also applaud.

Elie Wiesel, who survived Auschwitz, has said, “Apathy toward evil is man’s greatest sin.”

Enjoyed reading this?

READ MORE! REGISTER TODAY

SUBSCRIBE

You May Also Enjoy

The Seamless Garment

How can good-hearted people, whose hearts bleed for peace and for poor people, not feel the excruciating pain of the child who is de­stroyed in the womb?

The Return of Socrates

One’s heart can be too hardened to participate in dialogue; today’s Hero­dian slaughter of the innocents involves something more than intellectual blindness.

The Looming Civil War Over Abortion

Either Christianity will rebaptize the heart of the nation or secularism will drive out Christianity, but one or the other will be victorious.