If you have ever prayed in front of an abortion clinic, you know the cold, tense, evil that permeates the air. It's almost as if you are waiting for the building to start bleeding or something. Birds sing, the sun shines, people hurry by – oblivious to the weight that hangs heavy here. The dissonance is jarring. Here, living babies are being murdered in their own mothers' wombs, yet outside the building, daily life continues with an indifference that's difficult to grasp. How can the birds sing at a time like this? How can people pass by without so much as a care or glance? Don't they know that babies are murdered here!? What about those entering and leaving the building? Are they here to end their own children's lives? Or perhaps they work here, contributing to this daily slaughter. Look at the windows – seashells and spring decorations! Do they have pictures of their own smiling babies on their desks? Every flicker of light, every silhouette that appears in a window draws my scrutiny. Clutching my rosary, I try to fathom the hearts of those on the other side. Do they have families? Surely, they must have a loving grandma, a nephew they adore. They must feel emotions, experience heartbreak, enjoy the sunshine after a long cold winter.
As I think about the people working inside the abortion clinic, I look around at the small number of souls accompanying me in prayer. Why are there not more of us out here? There are nearly a hundred parishes in this Diocese. Imagine the impact of hundreds of Catholics praying the Rosary together, a united front against this barbarity. Today a lone warrior, an elderly lady, peacefully recites her rosary as she paces back and forth in front of the entrance of the clinic. She has been here for hours. I've been here barely thirty minutes, and I'm freezing. Shame washes over me, Why don't I come here to pray more often?
Once I return home, the routine of daily life sort of lulls me back into my usual complacency. I get it. Life is crazy. I can't blame anyone for something that I myself have been doing. But it is so important that Catholics do recognize the gravity of abortion. We just began the month of March, and the humans of Earth have already killed 7 million[1] unborn babies this year! It's unthinkable. It's even worse when you see an actual photo of an aborted baby, because you can't imagine even one baby going through that, never mind 7 million. How can anyone prioritize environmental concerns over the slaughter of the most innocent? How can we allow ourselves to become complacent on this issue? Naturally we cannot be expected to dwell on this atrocity constantly. We should, however, take steps to include the unborn in our prayer life at least.
While attending a prayer vigil outside a clinic may not be feasible for everyone, many can participate in Eucharistic Adoration at least once a month or so. We can all add a prayer for the protection of the unborn to our daily routines at least. We can include the unborn in our rosary intentions and Holy Communions. We can pay for masses for them, we can ask our prayer groups to pray for the end of abortion, we can ask our pastor to have a special event or hour of Adoration. There are drop cards we can buy that we can leave here and there to remind others of the gravity of abortion. There are hardworking, amazing anti-abortion groups out there that are on the front lines that we could support. Groups like, Choice42, Operation Rescue, Red Rose Rescue, and Sound Choice Pharmaceutical Institute are courageous warriors in the fight. They are unafraid to put the protection of the unborn first, and not waver when it comes to popular opinions on so-called "Women's Rights"[2] and the despicable "Consistent Life Ethic."[3]
Ultimately, victory over this scourge rests with God, not us. Abortion is the festering wound of a society consumed by selfishness, prioritizing fleeting desires over responsibility. Only through a return to God can this generation hope to end the slaughter of its own innocent children.
Finally, so many Catholics treat the Divine with indifference, even abuse – Christ, humbly present even in the smallest particles of the Eucharist is ignored. How can we then care about the tiny human lives snuffed out before they even draw their first breath? If we, as Catholics, can treat the Divine with such contempt, what hope is there for the tiniest creations, made in His Image?
Perhaps the path to change begins within ourselves. We must learn to respect Christ in the Eucharist (I recommend starting with Bishop Athanasius Schneider's short book, "Dominus Est It Is the Lord!") We must try to find ways to dedicate more time in His presence; at Mass or adoration, or even just a little visit to Church. This, in turn, will guide us to find ways to remember the most vulnerable, both in prayer and action. Ultimately, victory over this scourge rests with God, not us. Abortion is the festering wound of a society consumed by selfishness, prioritizing fleeting desires over responsibility. Only through a return to God can this generation hope to end the slaughter of its own innocent children.
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[1] www.numberofabortions.com
[2] Example: "Catholic, pro-life leaders say women shouldn't be punished for abortions" Katie Yoder, Catholic News Agency, May 12, 2022
[3] "The Seamless Garment: Death for the Pro-Life Movement" American Life League, published on EWTN.com.
