by John Vernon
As social conservatives, we are called into action each October to highlight and celebrate Respect Life Month. Thankfully, there were several pro-life activities at the University of Notre Dame and around the country over the past week. This gives me hope that a “culture of life” is still present–even within the sometimes cynical climate of a college campus. The Notre Dame Right to Life group strives to inform and educate those who are sheepishly following the popular position that our right to choose trumps the right of an innocent baby to be born. In our self-serving society, many feel entitled to make choices that advance our agenda regardless of who gets hurt. Tragically, abortion is the new “Scarlett Letter of Shame” in our culture today.
The Notre Dame Right to Life group is actively working to educate and enlighten the university community. This was accomplished by having a number of events including a vigil in the “Cemetery of Innocents” for all the unborn babies, homilies at masses about compassion and healing, collections of supplies for babies and new mothers, and a t-shirt project to raise awareness and collect funds to support the right to life ministry. In addition, information was handed out about the nationwide initiative for 40 Days for Life that began in 2007. According to Carolee McGrath, host of the show “Lifelines” on the Catholic TV Network, more than 4,000 babies have been saved, and abortion clinic staff have refused to perform the procedures since the public prayer service movement began.
We all know that the media is a powerful tool to get the message out. This was evidenced when the gift of life was explored in the movie October Baby, which was also shown on campus. It had a very profound impact because it was a true story about a botched abortion and the woman who survived it. Gianna Jessen spoke to the group about her feelings about her own life and the road to forgiveness that she followed.
The Notre Dame Right to Life group website is a user friendly and informative resource for those who are struggling with a life-changing question. Statistics that are often cited report that 1 out of 3 college women have had an abortion. The pain and long-lasting impact is minimized or dismissed by many who advance the liberal “anything goes” viewpoint as progressive. Real personal freedom is not making bad decisions and then manufacturing ways to rationalize them. Instead, we need to think things through before we act and recognize that we will have to be ready to accept and take responsibility for the potential consequences.
Sometimes, we have to pursue a different path on major social issues that are counter to those that our pop culture supports. The Notre Dame Right to Life group and several other Catholic groups have the courage to do just that and need others to join them. If more people adopted this more conservative attitude and philosophy, I would bet that people would be a lot happier and at peace, and our society would be in better shape.
The Notre Dame Right to Life group is actively working to educate and enlighten the university community. This was accomplished by having a number of events including a vigil in the “Cemetery of Innocents” for all the unborn babies, homilies at masses about compassion and healing, collections of supplies for babies and new mothers, and a t-shirt project to raise awareness and collect funds to support the right to life ministry. In addition, information was handed out about the nationwide initiative for 40 Days for Life that began in 2007. According to Carolee McGrath, host of the show “Lifelines” on the Catholic TV Network, more than 4,000 babies have been saved, and abortion clinic staff have refused to perform the procedures since the public prayer service movement began.
We all know that the media is a powerful tool to get the message out. This was evidenced when the gift of life was explored in the movie October Baby, which was also shown on campus. It had a very profound impact because it was a true story about a botched abortion and the woman who survived it. Gianna Jessen spoke to the group about her feelings about her own life and the road to forgiveness that she followed.
The Notre Dame Right to Life group website is a user friendly and informative resource for those who are struggling with a life-changing question. Statistics that are often cited report that 1 out of 3 college women have had an abortion. The pain and long-lasting impact is minimized or dismissed by many who advance the liberal “anything goes” viewpoint as progressive. Real personal freedom is not making bad decisions and then manufacturing ways to rationalize them. Instead, we need to think things through before we act and recognize that we will have to be ready to accept and take responsibility for the potential consequences.
Sometimes, we have to pursue a different path on major social issues that are counter to those that our pop culture supports. The Notre Dame Right to Life group and several other Catholic groups have the courage to do just that and need others to join them. If more people adopted this more conservative attitude and philosophy, I would bet that people would be a lot happier and at peace, and our society would be in better shape.
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