Comments on: A New Wave in the Pro-Life Movement

By: artie

artie — Thu, 28 May 2009 01:27:26 +0000

One of the reasons I am no longer active in the pro-life movement is that the people I associated with were filled with anger and, dare I say, hate. Directed against doctors, women, politicians, anyone who even tried to find common ground.
There are many ways to be pro-life. Love and compassion always trump anger and hatred.

By: Manuel

Manuel — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 01:45:30 +0000

I can tell you love and respect my independent way of thinking, Gideon. Thank you.

By: Gideon

Gideon — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 01:22:25 +0000

Yes Manuel, because independent thinking is the LAST thing Catholics want!

By: Manuel Rivera

Manuel Rivera — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 00:51:04 +0000

“Young independent catholic thinkers”? Excuse me. THERE CAN BE NO DIVERSITY OF OPINION AMONG CATHOLICS REGARDING ABORTION. THE INTENTIONAL KILLING OF AN INNOCENT, INDEFENSIBLE HUMAN BEING CAN NEVER BE JUSTIFIED NOT EVEN BY INVOKING RESPECT FOR THE FREEDOM OF OTHERS. It is so easy to manipulate young minds. Isn’t it!

By: Dan

Dan — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 13:42:26 +0000

Sorry kids I realize you mean well but the fact is Obama entered office with the worst pro-life record, said he would sign FOCA as soon as it hit his desk, he signed an executive order ending The Mexico City policy, and is considering another EO that could force Catholic hospitals to perform abortions or close. There is hope but it will only come through true repentance rather than rhetoric.

By: P

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 00:25:01 +0000

While it is important to reduce the number of abortions, the ultimate goal should still be to make it illegal. See here:

http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=15019

By: democratforlife

democratforlife — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 21:13:12 +0000

Jessica, as a (relatively) young pro-life, progressive, Catholic woman, I can say that I’ve been consistently disappointed by the March for Life. This year in particular, the vitriol I saw directed toward President Obama at the March was pretty depressing; the partisan aspect of the March is almost entirely unchanged, and it was refreshing to see delegations like the one described in the article fighting for a voice.

Moreover, the pro-life community loves to point out how many young people attend these events; but it was easy to see why the movement is largely dismissed by the pro-choice lobby when the founder and director of the March jokes about how she can’t use a computer and doesn’t know what a text message is. It’s probably a small matter, but it fed into the sense I have always had that the March for Life is less about creating actual solutions and saving actual lives than it is a chance for pro-life people to get together and celebrate their own righteousness. It’s an impression only reinforced when I read the comments of people who object to the participation of Feminists for Life on the basis that they don’t focus enough on the “baby killing” aspect of abortion and choose instead to address the harm it does to women; because, of course, ending abortion in this country requires that we refuse to address any other issues that might reveal the truth to others.

Efforts like the one described here are extraordinary; but I hope to see the day when the Church makes a conscious effort to make abortion an issue of social justice. I have become more and more convinced over the years that this is the way to convert the hearts of those who would insist that free and unfettered access to abortion is a women’s rights issue; but I have found that many on the pro-life side of the argument consider this kind of contextualization to be unacceptable equivocation. And so we continue, boats beating at the shore.

By: Jessica

Jessica — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 23:30:33 +0000

Great to hear that students are encouraged to think beyond the typical polarities of this debate–and thanks to BustedHalo for giving it coverage. I was struck, however, by the fact that this article focuses on young male Catholics only. I wonder if/how young Catholic women are exploring these ideas in different ways.