'SOLDIERS OF CHRIST' STAND UP FOR THE UNBORN
As Knights of Columbus, we should all have the opportunity at least once a
year to reflect on how much we remain committed to our pro-life apostolate
work. Christmas and Easter provide us with the occasion each year to think
about humanity`s effort 2000 years ago to destroy God. Some put Him to death, crucified Him
on His cross. But, on the threshold of the Third Millenium, we still continue to
crucify Him in His persecuted family, in His Church, in His weakest and in
His most vulnerable members, the unborn, the disabled, the chronically ill
and the elderly.
Abortion and euthanasia can only be perceived as diabolical efforts to
destroy God. They are the closest thing to actual deicide, a destruction of
God`s plan on earth. To destroy another human being is a slap in God`s face
and to let that go on, to sit around and worry about other things, not to fight it, is not to be
soldiers of Christ, as Knights we claim to be. Think of it. We often wonder how
people living under the corrupt nazi and communist regime could be silent
and even cooperate with their evil leaders' mass killings of innocent
citizens. Yet we seem to have no great problem reconciling ourselves with a
Canadian government that condones the murder of a pre-born child every five
minutes through abortion.
The realization that the last five Catholic Prime Ministers of Canada have
supported abortion, is a public disgrace for which we Catholics have to bow
our heads in shame.
The abortion battle will only be won when the hearts and minds of people
have been won. Our spiritual leaders are called upon to lead this battle to
win those hearts and minds. Speaking out frankly on the prevailing anti-life
ethics is essential to begin this process.
It is extremely important for churches to educate congregations and
communities about both abortion and the new threat to human life from
"assisted suicide". Churches provide a natural teaching environment on moral
issues. Catholic religious leaders and all believing members of their
churches, particularly Knights, have a moral obligation to
speak out on these two public policy issues. Our pastors need to take a
clear and aggressive leadership role articulating the core arguments
surrounding both these issues. Our churches are key to this ongoing
education process. There is absolutely no doubt that ABORTION WOULD
DISAPPEAR WERE THE CHURCHES TO SPEAK AUTHORITATIVELY ON IT.
There are those who, rightly or wrongly, perceive some elements of the
Church as busy walking little old ladies across the street on social justice
issues while on the sidewalk a child is getting punched and savagely beaten.
If it was two-year-old children getting hacked to death with a knife
everyone in society would be down at the abortion clinic trying to stop it.
The point is that it shouldn`t make a difference to us if the child is two
months old in the womb or two years old in his crib.
Some church leaders look at direct public protest, such as goes on outside
Morgentaler's abortuary in Fredericton, as needless intervention and even
"un-Christlike". At least this is what one of the picketers was told by his
parish priest whom he had turned to for advice.
Compassion and love must not be confused with
timidity and compromise. To remain silent in the midst of evil is to side with that
evil. To do nothing, to say nothing, is to allow the dead to lie unattended
on the roadside. For every reason that a woman gives for having an abortion
someone gives the same reason for not standing up against it. Such as: "I`m
too busy...I can`t afford it...It`s not convenient...It`s not my
calling...It`s my life...What will people think?" The Bible assures us that
everytime someone stands up to talk against evil, something good always results.
Let us ask God to forgive us for allowing the widespread acceptance of
abortion to corrupt our country. Let us ask Him to help us face the abortion
issue and its victims with courage and compassion.
How will it be done.
...First and foremost, by faithful prayer. Then by supporting morally and
financially struggling organizations like the Birthright and Crisis
Pregnancy Centers in the province.
...By encouraging our clergy to transmit the culture of life which our
beloved Pope asks all true Christians to do.
...By speaking out against the serious attacks on the family and the unborn
child which stem from the heavy promotion by every conceivable media of
recreational sex, pre-marital sex, trial marriages, multiple marriages and
same sex marriages.
Our kids won`t survive in the sea of perversity engulfing them and need to
be taught the virtues which will allow them to survive and be happy, such as
faithfulness, chastity and concern for others. Don`t count on professional
educators to do this for you, for
chances are the current teachings of moral relativism will only be
reinforced. The responsibility is yours and it is a grave one. The family,
sad to say, has been pretty well left to its own devices in convincing
people of the three worst evils of our
culture of death: abortion, euthanasia and active homosexuality. We must
recommit ourselves as Knights to help the family and our clergy put an end
to the Canadian abortion holocaust of the 100,000 tiny innocent babies who
end their lives as "medical
waste products."
We have the results of a State Council questionnaire on what we, as New
Brunswick Knights, believe are the factors responsible for the great
scarcity of vocations to the priesthood. Abortion wasn`t mentioned as one
possible reason. But, just ask yourselves: how many vocations to religious
life would be among those 45,000 Catholic children legally put to death each
year in Canada. A good educated guess is about 52. Think of it. Every
week 1 future priest, sister or brother in Canada is discarded as
hospital medical waste or thrown into the abortuaries` garbage cans.
We all need a small bit of that spirit which motivates Fr. Tony Van Hee,
that courageous pro-life priest who has been picketing in front of the
Parliament of Canada since 1988 because of his very strong conviction that
abortion is the greatest evil in history apart from the death of Christ.
We Knights have to pray and fight everyday for a society that will protect
unborn children so that our children, grandchildren, or great grandchildren
can grow up in a society, unlike ours, that does not murder. Brother
Knights, there just isn`t any
other way.
Thaddée Renault