It is interesting that the first line in this Sunday's reading, which is from the book of Jeremiah, reads, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you." When I read this Bible verse, it makes me think of the question pondered by many of when does life begin. The Catholic teaching, of course, that life begins at conception--that is the moment that body and soul are united. But God knew us even before conception. I find it interesting that this Bible verse is placed in the lectionary at this time of year since there is so many things going on in the Pro-Life world.
Last Friday was the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision and over 100,000 people marched in Washington D.C. at the annual March for Life. There were also tens of thousands of people across the United States.
But it's not just the Roe v. Wade anniversary or the March for Life that is bringing the pro-life issue to people's minds. It is the Super Bowl of all things. The group Focus on the Family has a commercial during this years Super Bowl telling the story of Florida Gator quarterback, Tim Tebow. No details of the commercial have been released officially, but it is believed that the commercial will tell the story of Tim Tebow's birth. Tim's parents were missionaries in the Philippines when his mother was pregnant with him. She contracted dysentery and was encouraged to have an abortion in order to save her life. Obviously, she did not and her son grew up to be a Heisman trophy winner and by all accounts, an amazing young man.
CBS has chosen to air this commercial this year but last year NBC chose not to broadcast a commercial during the Super Bowl paid for the Catholic Vote which showed a sonogram of a baby stating all of the hardships and difficulties is was going to go through. It finished by stating that this baby was going to grow up to be the first African-American president and showed a photograph of President Obama. NBC said it was too controversial.
The Tebow commercial has also sparked controversy from Pro-Choice advocates. What is difficult to understand is why they are pro-choice when it comes to abortion but anti-choice when it comes to having the child. Why is it all about "reproductive rights" when it's for abortion and not, ironically when it comes to reproduction? Heck, even President Obama has said in his attempts to "dialogue" that alternatives to abortion should be sought and attempts to reduce the amount of abortions in this country made--wink, wink, nudge, nudge (how is is doing in that promise so far)
I honestly think there is more to abortion rights than a "woman's right to choose." Who is behind the pro-choice movement? Groups like Planned Parenthood, who--gasp--make money off of performing abortions. Yes, don't fool yourself. It's not about female rights--it's about making money. If it WERE about women's rights to chose then wouldn't they be all about showing the women all of the alternatives?
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I am a Roman Catholic who had always fought valiantly for life.....until I sat on an appeal board where a 9 year old little girl was pregnant by her grandfather, the little girl's body was not matured enough to nuture a baby and we were told that unless she had an abortion she and the baby would die, we were also told she probably would never be able to give birth at any age, well I felt that there was a reason that this child had been conceived and though it was a mystery God knew the reason....the end result I voted against the abortion and the child and the baby died and I have had this on my heart ever since. I am still pro life but I have learned to respect the knowledge that God has given to doctors who know so much more than I.....I resigned from this board knowing I was not objectionable enough nor knowledgeable enough to take responsability on decisions like these. So sad but I have to trust that God had a reason for all of this even though I still do not understand.......:-) Hugs
ReplyDeleteSuch a good point, that many pro-abortion advocates are those who make money off of them. In reading blogs of those (one in particular) whose doctors had to perform an abortion to save the woman's life (and the same doctor said it was the worst day of his medical practice) and trying to reconcile how the argument has gotten so seemingly out of control, remembering that it all boils down to money explains some of it. (Sorry for the very long, run-on sentence).
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