Be Our Guest / Dr. Stephen O’Neil

Our faith requires us to take a stronger stand for life, reader says

The lives of the most vulnerable in our country are under attack.

On the heels of the annual March for Life, New York state passed the most aggressive pro-abortion law in our country’s history and the Virginia legislature considered—and their governor supported—a bill that would have made infanticide legal. A baby could be aborted at the time of delivery, and one born alive would have been legally allowed to die by neglect if the mother and her doctor so chose.

Six states and the District of Columbia have legalized physician‑assisted suicide. Under the guise of compassion, certain individuals’ lives are deemed “qualified” to be ended with the help of a physician.

Human life itself is being devalued. We are placing different value on human lives based on the age, level of dependency, usefulness, ability and health of the individual.

Some are deemed more worthy of life than others. Society is deciding who should live and who should die. Once we place ourselves as the arbiter of life decisions, we are putting ourselves in the place of God. When that happens, terrible consequences follow.

We are sliding down a very slippery slope. Little by little, the sanctity of life is being disregarded as the culture of death expands.

“Safe, legal and rare,” the mantra of the pro-abortion faithful in the 1990s, has now morphed into “shout your abortion” as some claim it affirms women’s rights and wear it as a badge of honor.

Ethicists and legislators are actually making arguments for infanticide. Physician-assisted suicide inevitably evolves from the “right to die” into the “duty to die.” Euthanasia soon follows. What was unthinkable just a few years ago is now reality.

The Catholic Church needs to take a stronger stand for life, even if it is unpopular with some of its leaders and members. Catholic government officials need to be held accountable for anti-life actions. We can’t be afraid to offend or be uncomfortable to stand up for what is right, or else those who don’t hold life as sacred will continue their march forward with unfathomable results. We owe it to those who can’t defend themselves.

“Let it not be said that I was silent when they needed me.”—William Wilberforce
 

(Dr. Stephen O’Neil is a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Indianapolis.) †