Pro-Life

The idea of being pro-life should be a concept synonymous with being Catholic, but what does it mean to truly be pro-life? One reasonable assertion could be that a person is anti-abortion, which would in turn be partly correct; however, truly being pro-life means to be a protector of life in all its forms; from its creation to its natural end.

In case there were any doubts, abortion is in deed a sin and it violates the 5th commandment. Its very act incurs automatic excommunication. If you don't believe me, you can look at Canon 1398, and is discussed in the Catechism of the Catholic Church 2270 - 2275. However, there are many more acts to be included on this list. Other Acts that are inherently anti-life include: euthanasia, suicide, embryonic stem cell research, and even the death penalty.

As I am sure, the death penalty remark has probably struck a note with some people so allow me to elaborate.

56. This is the context in which to place the problem of the death penalty. On this matter there is a growing tendency, both in the Church and in civil society, to demand that it be applied in a very limited way or even that it be abolished completely. The problem must be viewed in the context of a system of penal justice ever more in line with human dignity and thus, in the end, with God's plan for man and society. The primary purpose of the punishment which society inflicts is "to redress the disorder caused by the offence". Public authority must redress the violation of personal and social rights by imposing on the offender an adequate punishment for the crime, as a condition for the offender to regain the exercise of his or her freedom. In this way authority also fulfils the purpose of defending public order and ensuring people's safety, while at the same time offering the offender an incentive and help to change his or her behaviour and be rehabilitated.
It is clear that, for these purposes to be achieved, the nature and extent of the punishment must be carefully evaluated and decided upon, and ought not go to the extreme of executing the offender except in cases of absolute necessity: in other words, when it would not be possible otherwise to defend society. Today however, as a result of steady improvements in the organization of the penal system, such cases are very rare, if not practically non-existent.
In any event, the principle set forth in the new Catechism of the Catholic Church remains valid: "If bloodless means are sufficient to defend human lives against an aggressor and to protect public order and the safety of persons, public authority must limit itself to such means, because they better correspond to the concrete conditions of the common good and are more in conformity to the dignity of the human person". (Evangelium Vitae)

In society, we have developed to the point where there are means that are sufficient to punish perpetrators that could easily be administered other than death. I do not wish to argue the different models of penal punishment and deterrence theories behind them, rather I wish to present the point that as Catholics we cannot in good conscience support the penalty of death. We must be pro-life and support life in its various forms. We are able to cause death, as a last resort, in self defense and in the preservation of life if the danger is immediately present, but aside from these rare circumstances we should strive to uphold the dignity of the human person.

I believe, as Catholics, we must always assess our standing on issues and make our voice known on those things which we oppose. To openly embrace ideas contrary to Christ and His Church leaves us greatly compromised, and partisan in the sin of society. We must strive to seek the word of truth and speak it to the world. We must be pro-life all the time, not some of the time. We must protect life in all its forms from conception to end.

God proclaims that he is absolute Lord of the life of man, who is formed in his image and likeness (cf. Gen 1:26-28). Human life is thus given a sacred and inviolable character, which reflects the inviolability of the Creator himself. Precisely for this reason God will severely judge every violation of the commandment "You shall not kill", the commandment which is at the basis of all life together in society. He is the "goel", the defender of the innocent (cf. Gen 4:9-15; Is 41:14; Jer 50:34; Ps 19:14). God thus shows that he does not delight in the death of the living (cf. Wis 1:13). Only Satan can delight therein: for through his envy death entered the world (cf. Wis 2:24). He who is "a murderer from the beginning", is also "a liar and the father of lies" (Jn 8:44). By deceiving man he leads him to projects of sin and death, making them appear as goals and fruits of life. (Evangelium Vitae, 53)

I think by now it should be abundantly clear that suicide, euthanasia, murder, the death penalty, embryonic stem cell research, and abortion are all means to destroy human life. As Catholics, it should be understood that human life is indeed a gift from God and should not be destroyed, tampered with or hastened in any manner. We must be wise to the devil and his ever deceptive smoke. May we pray for our brothers and sisters who have been decieved by erroneous opinions and participate in the "Culture of Death".

Dominus Vobiscum.