BRIEF HISTORICAL OVERVIEW

As concerned citizens, our leadership responsibilities are clearly set before us. Both corporately and as individuals we are called to be salt and light in our culture. St. Paul identifies the Church as the "pillar and ground of the truth." (I Timothy 3:15) Alongside this ideal, we see our society self-destructing around us. Immorality is exalted, families are disintegrating and traditional values are regarded with contempt. As of this writing, the death of over forty million preborn babies is being rationalized by the spirit of our age, moral relativism. Into this social climate, we are called to speak the truth compassionately, however unfashionable truth may be. Fundamentally, what is being assailed in our day is the doctrine of the Imago Dei, the image of God. When the basic nature of man is seen apart from his fundamental and ultimate relationship with his Creator, there ceases to be a standard by which truth and morality may be measured. If we assume that man is no more than a chance accumulated aggregation of biologically active molecules then not only is abortion justifiable, but so also are euthanasia, infanticide, and even genocide. However, because in His word God continually affirms man's dignity and worth, ultimately demonstrated by Jesus' death on the cross, man has inherent value. This value of man is therefore a crucial element of the Gospel and necessarily extends to all of mankind, preborn or aged, strong or handicapped. Whenever or wherever a society or government violates the worth of one group in that society, we who are entrusted with the Gospel are compelled to defend those violated. When we consider both horrific violation and our Lord's injunction to minister to the least of these, we can but conclude that we must defend the unborn. In His strength, may we not flinch in their defense.

Those of us who condemn abortion must, with the same conviction and determination, support its alternatives. On whatever ground the enemy chooses for warfare, there will be found casualties and refugees, and it is to them that this Blog 'Deacon For Life' is dedicated. Women and families struggling to resist social pressures to kill their unborn need refuge. Concerning those who have already been victimized we should remember Blessed Mother Theresa's observation that "Abortion is a crime that kills not only the child, but the consciences of all involved." No other earthly agency is better qualified or has surer mandate to minister to these needs than the Catholic Church of Jesus Christ. It is our prayer that God will empower each of us to answer this call, uphold the truth, and compassionately minister to the needs of our day.
[Adapted from 'A Resource Manual', page 12]