This past January 22nd was the 40th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court decision on abortion which said that the child in the womb did not qualify as a person under our Constitution and, therefore, could not be protected by law. As pointed out by Bishop Burns in his recent column, this unleashed an avalanche of abortion resulting in a modern day holocaust with at least 55 million abortions since that dreadful decision.
It is impossible to assess the damage done to our culture and our society after 40 years of abortion on demand for the 9 months of pregnancy. In addition to the lost lives of the unborn there are millions of women who have suffered and continue to suffer the physical, mental, psychological and spiritual costs of abortion. In addition this has produced a culture of death mentality which dominates the judiciary, government, media, entertainment and academic institutions.
The effort to justify the need for abortions in our society has distorted and undermined fundamental attitudes which a healthy society should cherish, for example, there are large numbers of people who view pregnancy as a disease with abortion considered proper medical treatment. Then there is the natural inherent urge for a mother to protect her offspring being encouraged to deny this instinctive normal reaction by choosing to have her child killed in the womb. We have lost the awe and respect we should have for the God-given gift of procreation and the blessings of children. These attitudes are signs of a sick society. All of this, of course, is a part of the serious state of affairs in our culture which is on a downward trajectory of moral decay.
It is a daunting task to change our present path on abortion which has become so engrained in our society. Ultimately we are in a spiritual battle for the minds and hearts of people to reject abortion and protect the lives of the unborn.
Sid Heidersdorf
Juneau
Comments (4)
Add commentA four letter word about abortion: soul
There is one simple action, I think, that would likely halt all American abortions tomorrow: evidence for the soul right now. As superstitious as society can be in many areas of life, our courts still operate, in principle, by way of evidence and facts.
Of course, people of faith are unable to provide evidence for a soul and there is simply no reason to expect it.
I support the 1st Amendment right for this author to peacefully pray for some type of supernatural intervention but until then, the US Constitution makes it impossible for religious faith-based opinions to receive preferential bias in American Law. Does the author support my right under the 1st Amendment to be free from religious bias in law?
Regarding the unborn, the best evidence-based research strongly suggests that personhood arises gradually rather than instantly. That is to say if it ever arises at all, considering some genetically defective fetuses lack brains altogether.
And finally, I find it sad and off-putting that we who support a woman's right to abortion are implicitly admonished in this letter for contributing to a "sick society." As a response, I don't think I can improve on the following quote:
“The moral truth here is obvious: anyone who feels that the interests of a blastocyst just might supersede the interests of a child with a spinal cord injury has had his moral sense blinded by religious metaphysics.”
― Sam Harris, Letter to a Christian Nation
Mike
Hmm
"there are millions of women who have suffered and continue to suffer the physical, mental, psychological and spiritual costs of abortion" - All disagreement aside, I would contend that much of the mental and psychological abuse inflicted on said women is a result of your criticising and lambasting of their "immoral decision". By calling them murderers and selfish as a default you categorize many individuals making a tough decision. Not all women who get abortions are doing so as a medical treatment for a "medical infliction".
Curious, so Sid, how many children have you adopted?
Womens right to choose = respect.
Some in society are less sick...
Part of the history of abortion in this country must also include the women that were able to survive when a dangerous pregnancy threatened their life. How many of them after being saved were then able to go on and have children safely? Dealing in potentials runs both ways...
Abortion
Interesting that Mr.Heidersdorf is so anti abortion, and probably has NEVER been in a situation where abortion was the way to save the life of his wife. If he believe abortion is wrong fine, not please DO NOT try to force others to believe as you do. People have a choice . Please allow them to do what they chose. I wonder if Mr. Heidersdorf has ever ask a woman that has given up her child at birth. They go through just as much if not more depression as a woman that has had an abortion. Years ago when I lived in SF I met a girl that was pregnant. We became a couple. She had the baby and for the 4 years that we were together she thought about the baby that she gave up in adoption. She went through deep depressions ever time she thought about the baby.