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The new year and the gift of lifeOf all the symbols for the new year, the newborn baby speaks the most. The child represents life and all the hopes and aspirations that are part of it. A new year is a gift, but not as great a gift as that of life itself. As we begin another year, it is appropriate to reflect upon this wonderful gift of life which comes into existence not at birth, but at conception. On New Year’s Day when we celebrate the solemnity of Mary, the mother of God, St. Luke reminds us of this reality when we are told that the Lord’s name was given to him before he was conceived in Mary’s womb. Unfortunately, this new year brings with it the 36th anniversary of the tragic Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade, which will occur Jan. 22. That decision legalized abortion in our nation, preventing the lives of millions of new babies already conceived in their mothers’ wombs from seeing the light of day. Sadly, abortion is not seen as the taking of a life but as a “right.” The right to life has been extinguished in our nation and we have seen the tragic results during the past 36 years. In his message for the World Day of Peace on Jan. 1 of this year, our Holy Father, Pope Benedict the XVI, writes about a “moral underdevelopment” which sometimes occurs as a negative consequence of “superdevelopment” in advanced wealthy societies. This certainly seems to be the case in our nation in regard to abortion. On Jan. 22, as in the past years since Roe v. Wade, hundreds of thousands of citizens of all faiths will gather in Washington, D. C., to prayerfully march to the Supreme Court in protest of legalized abortion in our nation. This year, the march will have an even greater significance as it will occur just days after many will come to Washington for the inauguration of a new president. Hopefully, the president and his new administration will realize the significance of the march and listen to the people of our nation who defend the right to life of the unborn. One of the grave concerns that faces us as a new Congress takes up business in the new year is the provisions of the so-called “Freedom of Choice Act” or other possible proposed legislation similar to it. The provisions of this act would be the most sweeping and destructive legislation in regard to eliminating any protection of the right to life of the unborn. Such provisions would create a “fundamental right” to abort a fully developed child in the final weeks for undefined health reasons. Such provisions would permit partial-birth abortion. They would require taxpayers to fund abortions and would not respect the legitimate right of a doctor, or other health care providers, not to participate in an abortion. Such provisions would threaten Catholic health care institutions and Catholic Charities. They would deny parents the opportunity to be involved in their minor daughter’s abortion decision by invalidating any law that allows parents the ability to be informed. They would also require states to allow abortions by non-physicians, and remove the regulations regarding the safety of abortion clinics, as well as prohibit counseling against abortion. The “Freedom of Choice Act” and provisions similar to it are evil and would further divide our country. Our voices need to be heard, not only to overturn Roe v. Wade, but also to prevent even more radical abortion legislation that would promote further moral underdevelopment within our nation. The Secretariat for Pro-life Activities of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has authorized a massive postcard campaign to urge the new Congress to retain laws against federal funding and promotion of abortion, and to oppose any bill that includes the provisions contained in the “Freedom of Choice Act.” Our diocese will be actively participating in this campaign which will take place in parishes on the last Sunday of January and the first two Sundays of February. It is critical that all participate in the campaign. We need to make clear to those in Congress and to our legislators that we will not support more horrendous abortion legislation within our nation. For further information on this campaign, please do not hesitate to contact our Respect Life Office at 561-775-9565. We need to be active in this campaign since the new president, as senator, was one of the proponents of the “Freedom of Choice Act” and has also stated that he would be eager to sign it. We also need to keep in mind that the new Congress includes the largest number of pro-abortion members since 1993. Pro-abortion groups have already submitted plans to the new president’s transition team which include the provisions of the “Freedom of Choice Act” as a priority. There are serious threats to pro-life policies and riders in executive orders and in the appropriations process which will play out as soon as Congress convenes. Our voice is essential and we have a grave moral obligation to make it heard. We begin a new year with the symbol of a newborn child ushering it in. Let us do all that we can to protect the life of every child from the moment of conception when life begins. If our society is to be a developed one, the right to life must be a priority. If it is not, it will continue on its way of moral underdevelopment. We already see the effects of this around us. We need to make clear to the president, his administration and to all in the legislative and judicial arena that life is the priority. Let us join in prayer with all those who will be prayerfully marching in Washington on Jan. 22. Let us actively participate in the campaign in making known to our representatives our opposition to any legislation that will further promote abortion. This is the only way to start the new year and respect the baby that leads it in!
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