Category: Pro-Life

I have been struggling for days to write about the selling of body parts from Planned Parenthood.  What can I express that has not already been said by some other pro-life news outlets?  I am not sure I can add anything new, but I want to spend some time breaking it down a little to let it really sink into my innermost being.  Prompted by the reality of the evil of abortion and the subsequent marketing of “fetal tissue”, what will I do going forward to address the sanctity and dignity of life in a more effective manner? 

The horror of what has been revealed in these videos recently released is almost beyond comprehension, and yet, a significant portion of our population doesn’t see a problem.  Some even want the activists to be investigated rather than Planned Parenthood.  Explain the rationale behind that line of thinking.  Our society has become desensitized to right and wrong and we are reaping what we have sown.

How do we lose our way—as individuals and as a society?  How does a doctor use his/her skills to destroy life and not see a problem?  What prompted the individual to become a doctor in the first place?  I am assuming in most cases that the motives to become a doctor were noble.  What went wrong?  Was it money?  Did the study of science eliminate faith?  I don’t know.  Sadly, every profession has those who wander from the path.  Instead of doing “good” for others they choose instead to do “well” for themselves.

The recent shootings in Louisiana and Tennessee bring people out the woodwork to push particular agendas.  Armed civilians now stand guard at military offices.  How ironic is that?  Gun control advocates are adamant that more restrictions on guns are necessary. These shootings, and all of the others like them, are devastating events.  Unfortunately, homicides are prevalent in our major cities on a daily basis.  Let’s face the fact that a portion of our society does not value human life.  Are more laws going to do something to change this?  Don’t we already have laws making it illegal to shoot and kill other people?  What is missing?

As I watch horrible events unfold day after day it becomes quite difficult to not grow cynical. The social ills that afflict our society are immense, and our safety nets seem to be filled with holes.  Highly publicized shootings are only the tip of the iceberg.  The suffering and grief experienced in our major cities from poverty, crime, and hopeless desperation is tragic.  These are all symptoms of a deeper problem.  We need a renewed faith in God.

Since 1973 we have destroyed over 56 million babies in the womb.  In some cases the baby was “accidentally” born alive.  What a problem this causes!  Whether you leave the baby in a nice room to die alone or choose to strangle the newborn infant, the end result is the same.  We as a nation have allowed this practice to continue legally for 42 years, and we have repeatedly elected officials who see to it that it remains legal.  However, this is not just a political or legal problem; it is a moral problem.  If civilized people can stand by and allow this type of practice to continue unabated it really doesn’t matter what our politics are.  Our politics are a reflection of our culture.  Selling the body parts is a logical follow-up step to the horrendous practice.

Think about it.  A teenage girl needs parental consent to get a tattoo but can have an abortion without parental consent.  Does anyone else see that as being a little off-balance?

The secular media has largely ignored the Planned Parenthood story.  Is that because it doesn’t fit an agenda that the progressives want to push?  Is it true that the media protects certain politicians and ideologies?  Is there a media bias?  Is there a conflict of interest because of who people know?

I recently received an e-mail that tried to make that case.  I verified that the information was mostly accurate although some of it is now outdated as people have moved to different positions.  I leave it as originally written to just demonstrate the numerous connections between high ranking “news professionals” and high ranking “government officials.”

ABC News executive producer Ian Cameron is married to Susan Rice, National Security Adviser.  (Outdated)

CBS President David Rhodes is the brother of Ben Rhodes, President Obama’s Deputy National Security Adviser for Strategic Communications.

ABC News correspondent Claire Shipman is married to former Whitehouse Press Secretary Jay Carney.

ABC News and Univision reporter Matthew Jaffe is married to Katie Hogan, President Obama’s Deputy Press Secretary.  (Outdated)

ABC President Ben Sherwood is the brother of President Obama’s Special Adviser Elizabeth Sherwood.

CNN President Virginia Moseley is married to former Hillary Clinton’s Deputy Secretary Tom Nides.  (It should state that Moseley is Vice President of CNN.)

Despite the obstacles and conflicts of interest in front of us, it is vital that people of faith live as faithful witnesses of Jesus Christ.  We cannot cave in to those who seek to silence the Church.  We must grow in wisdom, grace and holiness.  We are called to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world.        The time to flavor and shine is now!

I want to thank Matthew Potter for providing some pictures from the events this past weekend in Cheyenne.

Bishop Paul Etienne was present for the march.  Following him is Dr. Kevin Roberts with his family.  Dr. Roberts is the president of Wyoming Catholic College.

I shared the speaking platform at the state capitol with Representative Harlan Edmonds.

Joe Dobelmann was the winner of the senior high essay contest.  I share his dilemma of speaking when the microphone is too low.

Dr. Taylor Haynes, former candidate for governor, was on hand for the march.

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The Knights of Columbus did a fantastic job as always.  See the flags standing straight out.  Those guys built their muscles carrying the flags in the gusty winds.

For whom does the bell toll?  Since January 22, 1973 it has tolled for an estimated 56 million children  here in the United States of America.  It has been 42 years since that disastrous Supreme Court decision, and our supposedly civil society still allows the slaughter of the innocents unabated. This should be keeping all of us awake at night.

The politicians love to use the line, “I am personally opposed to abortion but I don’t want to inflict my views upon others.”  Hogwash!  There is a moral dimension to everything that is legislated.  If good people check their morals at the door when they walk into the statehouse, who does that leave to set the agenda, the tone, and the tenor of discussions?  We are reaping what we have sown.  God have mercy on us all.

Today is a day of penance.  Unfortunately, the majority of Christian people will not even see this day as a blip on their radar screen.  Where is the awareness?  Where is the sorrow?  Where is the repentance?  How can people of faith stand in complacency with the horror of abortion surrounding them?  I beg you–read the statistics from a pro-life website.  Millions of babies are being killed and a multitude of women are experiencing the detrimental emotional effects of their decisions.  We have over 40 years of empirical evidence which shows the devastating consequences on women who choose to have abortions.  If we are pro-woman, we should want to help prevent such suffering.

On Friday morning I will join Gary Freeman on KGAB Radio (650 AM) at 9:10 A.M. to discuss the upcoming pro-life march here in Cheyenne on Saturday at noon.  I know that will result in new criticisms with people telling me to mind my own business.  I have become accustomed to those comments.  What bothers me is when I get those types of comments from people within the Church.  How is it possible that with all of the medical technology  available to give us a window into the womb, we still don’t see a problem with dismembering a baby and terminating his/her life at will?  How can we call that health care?  When did pregnancy become a disease to be cured rather than a joy to be celebrated?

On Saturday afternoon after the march reaches the state capitol, I will be one of the speakers to address the crowd.  Please offer a prayer for me as I prepare my remarks for that day.  Although the crowd in attendance will be pro-life, the reporters who will take the story to the wider public may not necessarily share the same perspective.  It is important that the speakers convey a message that is clear, concise, and moving.  These opportunities to get the pro-life message out beyond the walls of churches into the secular world is something that needs to be grasped with vigor.

    Let us continue to strive to build a culture of life!

Saturday evening was a true delight in Cody, Wyoming.  Although the 400 mile drive between my house and Cody seemed a bit lengthy, being in attendance at the Respect Life Banquet sponsored by Catholics United For Life was worth the trek.  I had the opportunity to meet and visit with Fr. Denis Wilde, O.S.A., Ph.D. from Priests for Life during dinner.  I then had the privilege of being the opening speaker for the evening prior to the keynote address given from Fr. Denis.

I saw a number of familiar faces in the crowd of over 100 people in attendance.  It was especially wonderful to see several tables full of young people.  Knowing that many of these individuals make the trek from Cody to Cheyenne each January for the Pro-Life March to our state capitol touched my heart immensely.  They make a genuine sacrifice of time, talent, and treasure to be a faithful witness to the dignity and sanctity of human life.

I shared with the people in attendance the good work that is being done across the diocese in regard to cultivating a culture of life.  Teaming up with the Knights of Columbus we have purchased ultra-sound machines for pregnancy care centers in Cody, Jackson, Sheridan, Gillette, Rock Springs, and soon a new and better machine will be purchased in Casper.  The pregnancy care center in Cody is currently doing about 120 to 150 ultra-sounds per year.  Beginning on October 17 their outreach with the ultra-sound machine will extend once a week to the community of Powell as well.

Although there is not a 40 Days for Life campaign in Wyoming, we have people participating in Billings, Montana, Salt Lake City, Utah, and Fort Collins, Colorado.  Our presence is making a difference.

Life Chain takes place this Sunday.  We have had a 50% increase in the number of communities in Wyoming taking part in Life Chain in the last two years.  We added Kemmerer last year.  This year we added Rock Springs and Evanston.  Go to the website www.lifechain.net to find the location nearest you.  Get involved!

I was asked to open the evening with the prayer that I used last January at the banquet in Cheyenne when Abby Johnson was the keynote speaker.  I kept most of it the same but tweaked it just a little bit for this specific gathering.  I have included the text below.

Fr. Denis provided a very informative and inspirational presentation.  This was topped at the end when he sat down at the piano and showed a magnificent talent.  All I can say is WOW!  I was given two of his CDs as a gift and I am looking forward to enjoying the music he makes.  God has blessed Fr. Denis in multiple ways.  Thank you Fr. Denis for sharing those gifts and talents with us.

Creator Of Life–Thank You

“Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you”
That is an assurance of God’s love solid and true
We are the beloved and precious in His sight
How did our society get to this current plight

Children are viewed as a burden to be discarded
Planned Parenthood is abundantly rewarded
The liberal media calls it “women’s health care”
The reality is a truth too heart-wrenching to bear

“Pro-choice” sounds liberating, sensible, and kind
The deception it promotes is the tie that will bind
“Pro-abortion” is not appealing to the one who hears
Accurate terminology could instill worry and fears

Language matters, and progressives know the drill
Don’t let anyone know that abortion really does kill
“A woman’s right to choose” is now firmly entrenched
Pro-lifers are seen as the radicals who should be benched

The landscape seems to always be somewhat weird and strange
Pro-choicers now want the current language to shift and change
Planned Parenthood consent forms call abortion a “difficult decision”
Yikes!  That is currently being looked upon with disdain and derision

Abortion is a difficult decision–exactly what does that imply
Could it be an ethical debate on a moral issue deserving a reply
The “hard choice” indicates a debate on whether or not a fetus should live
Endowing the clump of cells with the status of being–what does that give

They claim “pro-choice” no longer resonates with voters as it once did
Backing away from the posture of a “difficult decision” is the new bid
They now emphasize–don’t give any inclination that it really is a child
Because if you do it, provides fodder for the anti-choicers really go wild

Let’s face it–
“Follow the money” has been an accurate trail in the past
Cut off tax dollars and watch Planned Parenthood move fast
Litigation or legislation–it’s all about abortion on demand 
Roe versus Wade and Doe versus Bolton–the law of the land

There have been over 41 years of tragedy since that fateful time
Millions have died–and a civilized society doesn’t see a crime
Is it apathy and complacency–or is it something much deeper
What has caused us to fail in being our brother and sister’s keeper

To the many women (and men) who are experiencing pain
It is not necessary to be isolated  and suffering alone in vain
All of the wounds and painful memories you can freely bring
There is healing and forgiveness from Jesus Christ our King

All of us gathered here in this room tonight
Are challenged to keep fighting the good fight
May each of us work with faithfulness and love
And be open to the abundance of grace from above

And so we pray:
Heavenly Father, it is with a contrite heart that we humbly seek you
May the love of Jesus strengthen and guide us in what we say and do
Let your Holy Spirit empower us to be faithful witnesses to the sanctity of life
May we never waver in proclaiming the Truth regardless of the difficulty or strife

Oh God, we lift up to you all those who need our prayers now
Your abundant grace and compassionate mercy please endow
For the woman considering an abortion–please give her hope
Give her the strength and courage she needs to effectively cope

For the family and friends surrounding their loved one in need
Give them gentleness and patience to not break a bruised reed
Bring conversion of heart to any father not wanting his child
Let his temperament grow in peace and not be unjustly riled

Guide all of us to grow in appreciation for life–and to not be cynics
We pray especially for all those who are employed at abortion clinics
The directors, doctors, nurses, support staff, and the volunteers too
We plead for their repentance and conversion; we lift them up to you

For each baby who did not have the opportunity to see the light of day
We simply trust in your love and mercy and know you will guide the way
For the women who still grieve and mourn after years and years
Grant them healing and comfort through their sorrowful tears

Thank you father, for all those involved with Catholics United for Life—
 they are a treasure indeed
Dedication, faithfulness, and compassion–they are truly sowing the seed
A bountiful harvest is being reaped due to the tender, loving care of the soil
Abortion clinics closing, workers leaving, babies living–it is definitely worth the toil

For all who keep faithfully shining the light
We simply pray in thanksgiving tonight
Let each of us witness to the Truth all across the land
Oh God, firmly hold us in the palm of Your loving hand

Our prayer this night is offered with a contrite heart
From your ways O Lord, may we never part
Yesterday, today and forever–always the same
We make our humble prayer in Jesus’ name.

Amen!

What is your world view?  As you look at the basic beliefs that form your world view, where do you land in regard to the contemporary Culture War?  The culture war is simply a clash of beliefs in regard to what is true.  There is no doubt that these ideas as they pertain to moral values have certainly shifted in recent decades.

The categories or topics which fall into the realm of the culture wars are many.  We can start from the beginning and pit the Theory of Evolution against Biblical Creationism.  Furthermore, did we start with a Big Bang or is the creation narrative told in the Book of Genesis the accurate account?  If we move into the topic of sex we can take many side roads to explore.  Alfred Kinsey certainly played an instrumental role in lowering inhibitions.  The resulting consequences are rampant premarital sex, marital infidelity, divorce, contraception, abortion, and the mainstreaming of homosexuality.  How acceptable has this behavior become in our society?

Gallup conducted research from May 8—11, 2014 about morality by asking the question, “Do you believe that, in general, the following are morally acceptable?”  Here are some of the results Gallup released:

Birth Control                                                                         90%

Divorce                                                                                   69%

Sex between an unmarried man and woman               66%

Having a baby outside of marriage                                58%

Gay or lesbian relations                                                     58%

Doctor-assisted suicide                                                      52%

Abortion                                                                                   42%

Pornography                                                                           33%

Sex between teenagers                                                       30%

Married men and women having an affair                       7%

The statement I hear more and more frequently from Christians is that we have lost the culture war.  Traditional beliefs are no longer the majority opinion in society and the subsequent consequence is a loss of the freedom of religion.  If you don’t believe that freedom of religion is being taken away in the process of the persistent sexual indoctrination, ask the bakers who refused to bake a wedding cake for a same sex couple wedding.  Ask the businesses being forced to comply with the HHS mandate to provide contraceptives to their employees even though it contradicts their religious beliefs.  The culture wars have exacted an immense toll on our country and the ripple effect is only beginning to be seen.

Someone asked me last week, “Where is the Church?”  That is an interesting question.  Obviously, there have been times when Church leadership has probably failed to teach effectively the fullness of the Truth.  There may have been times when the Gospel message was watered down to make it more palatable to the hearers.  Human failures in being faithful to the proclamation of Jesus Christ can be traced back all the way to the apostles.  This is nothing new.  It is also nothing new for members of the Church to ignore the teaching of the Gospel and to reject the moral guidance of the Church.  It is called “free will.”

There is plenty of blame to go around for those of us who believe that American society is in steep moral decline.  Pointing fingers and accusing others of being the problem will not help us reach a solution as to how we are going to turn the tide.  Let’s face the facts.  American society has accepted the culture of death as the mainstream of life.  It sounds like a contradiction in terms.  However, if we look seriously at the Gallup results there is no denying that the statistics point predominantly toward death.  Let’s take a look at some of the topics listed above and ask the question, “Is it life giving?”

Birth control may be looked upon as an avenue of freedom to enjoy sexual relations without the “consequences” of a resulting pregnancy.  Is it life-giving?  Certainly not!  It is strategically designed to prevent life from emanating through the conjugal act.  This is not freedom.  It has simply given license to use people as objects for the purpose of self-gratification.  The shocking component of this is that 90% of people apparently agree that this is okay.  The resulting promiscuous behavior (made possible by the pill) repeatedly brings heartache and devastation into the lives of many people.  The sadness and brokenness is frequently palpable.

Divorce has taken a huge toll on our society.  If you have experienced a divorce yourself, or walked the journey of healing with someone else who has divorced, you understand the consequences of this action.  There is enough pain and suffering in the process of a divorce to last a lifetime.  This does not just impact the husband and wife who are parting ways, but the traumatic and emotional impact on the children is nothing short of heart-wrenching.  The bitterness and anger that frequently accompanies the divorce process has a ripple effect on the extended family as well?  Is this life-giving?  Certainly not!  Yet, 69% of people think this is a morally acceptable thing to do.  

I was grateful to see lower numbers (though still too high) in regard to the acceptance of pornography (33%) and sex between teenagers (30%).  Sexual promiscuity is apparently okay as an adult if you are not viewing pornography.  Sex between an unmarried man and unmarried woman is acceptable by 66% of those surveyed.  Unfortunately, the lack of commitment and stability that is evident in the “hook-up” culture has some long-term effects for the stability of society.  Pregnancy outside of wedlock (58% think it is acceptable), higher likelihood of poverty, and other social concerns are intertwined to the noncommittal nature of these types of relationships.  Is it life-giving to have a high percentage of adults engaging in sexual relations outside the bond of marriage?  Some would argue that it is.  Birth control has obviously encouraged that point of view.  Looking at the procreative and unitive component of the Sacrament of Marriage in the context of Christianity would express a very different point of view.

Abortion has been viewed as a major aspect of the culture war since 1973.  According to Gallup 42% of respondents think abortion is acceptable.  This is something I will never understand.  As ultrasound technology continues to improve and we get a clearer and clearer picture into the womb, it is beyond my comprehension as to how society has become okay with snuffing out the innocent life of a child.  An ultra-sound guided abortion is what prompted abortion clinic (Planned Parenthood) director Abby Johnson to become pro-life.  In her testimony she reveals the horror she experienced as she watched (via ultra-sound images) the baby struggling to escape the suction machine designed to terminate the pregnancy.  These images reveal clearly more than a “blob of tissue” or a “fetus”.  The jargon or terminology concocted will never conceal the fact that it is a baby present in the womb of the mother.  We have allowed the discussion about abortion to be hijacked by those with a very specific agenda.  Pregnancy became a disease to be cured rather than a miracle of life to be celebrated.  Is abortion life-giving?  That seems like a pretty easy question to answer, and yet, 42% are morally okay with this horrendous procedure.  How many lives have been lost through abortion?  How much heartache and grief has been experienced by the parents after the fact?

It has become politically correct to be in favor of gay and lesbian relations.  If a person dares to disagree with this lifestyle, he/she will be immediately taken to task.  We not only have to be tolerant of this lifestyle, we have to condone and even celebrate it.  If we choose to speak against it as morally unacceptable, we are labeled as engaging in hate speech.  The owners of the bakery in Colorado were hauled into court for not compromising their values and refusing to provide a “wedding cake” for a same-sex couple.  Business executives and owners have suffered severe repercussions for not embracing and celebrating the gay and lesbian lifestyle.  If we look at gay and lesbian relations from the point of view of natural law, it is difficult to even phrase the question, “Is the relationship life-giving?”  Some would obviously argue that it is, but if we look honestly at the nature of the relationship and the biological make-up of a man and a woman, it would be very difficult to prove the physical life-giving component of the relationship.  However, 58% are okay with that.

What does this mean for today’s Christian?  It means that we have allowed our church congregations to blend into society to such a degree that we have faded out of moral relevance.  The secular culture is now dictating the moral values of society rather than the Church.  Will the Church rebound from this dilemma and once again become a prominent player in the shaping of contemporary culture?  I don’t know.  One thing is for sure—the road ahead is not a smooth one.

Christians are going to experience a profound shift in what it means to be a follower of Christ.  Blending into culture and fading out as a real influence from the Christian moral perspective is no longer an option.  It is time for Christians to be a relevant and faithful witness to Jesus Christ.  A comfortable Christianity does not exist in modern times.  There will be a price to pay for following Christ, and we have already begun to see the beginnings of persecution.  If the signs of the times are any indication, we are only in the early stages of a dramatic shift in our lifestyle.

Do you need other examples outside the sexual realm to believe this is happening?  What will be the role of marijuana in society as it becomes legal on a more widespread basis?  How does physician-assisted suicide or euthanasia impact the value of life?  Who ends up determining the value of a life based upon its functionality?  Will that be the role of government in making these determinations??

The moral and ethical questions are mounting almost on a daily basis.  Frequently, it appears that all viewpoints are welcome into the conversation except those of the Christians.  This Gallup poll reveals that we are in for some difficult days ahead.  The martyrdom of Christians throughout history shows the price that is sometimes exacted for being a believer.  We may have never considered that it could enter our time and location in history, but I think it is beginning to enter upon our doorstep.  How will we respond?    

The snow was falling throughout the morning hours yesterday in Cheyenne, Wyoming but I had made a commitment to participate in the 40 Days for Life prayer vigil in Fort Collins, Colorado later in the afternoon.  It was already 18 days into vigil and I did not want to delay my participation any longer. My family and I decided to make the 60 mile trek across the border to keep our commitment. Thankfully, the only slick spots on the highway were on the bridges and under the overpasses and travel was relatively easy.

Taking up our position on the sidewalk I began quietly praying for all who are hurting in some way. I asked the Lord to touch them with His love and peace. Next, I simply began praying for the conversion of our nation. The Scripture passage from Luke 18:8 has been weighing heavily on my heart in recent months. “When the Son of Man returns, will he find any faith on earth?” In the midst of my prayer I was startled a number of times by profanities being hurled our direction. As cold as it was outside, some folks took the time to roll down their windows and stick their heads out the window to make sure we heard their verbal assaults. It still astounds me that standing quietly in prayer can draw such vile responses.

Snow flurries fell periodically as we maintained our vigil for the hour. The dampness of the air seemed to penetrate down to the bone and my fingers were numb by the time we finished our hour. Although I was physically cold, I couldn’t help but think of the coldness that must be present within the confines of the Planned Parenthood facility right behind us. The darkness of despair and the gloom of death must surely permeate the atmosphere of an environment where hurting people make desperate choices that snuff out innocent human life and frequently brings a lifetime of regret.  I was certain that the experience of coldness outside was minimal in comparison to the coldness inside. Luke 18:8 continued to reverberate in my mind.

The outstanding results of the 40 Days for Life prayer vigils held across the world are detailed on their website at www.40daysforlife.com. The current campaign is happening in 21 countries and 522 different cities. Society owes a huge debt of gratitude to all who coordinate these efforts and recruit people to participate. Over 600,000 people have participated in being a witness to the sanctity of life. The power of prayer is making a difference in a profound way.

If you have never been involved with 40 Days for Life I would encourage you to give it a try. Go to their website and find the location nearest you. Then join with others in your local community who are praying for an end to abortion. The Ash Wednesday ritual reminds us, “Repent, and believe in the Gospel.” It is my hope and prayer that individually, and as a nation, we will heed that urgent call. May each of us do our part to stand up for the sanctity, dignity and value of each human life from conception through natural death!