I Choose Life

This week marks a grim anniversary for our nation. Thirty-five years ago in the Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade, the United States legalized the practice of abortion. Since that time more than four million babies have lost their lives. This is an issue that speaks deeply to me because I have had a real intellectual struggle with this issue within my own spiritual life. I have not always understood why abortion is such a grave evil.

Perhaps one of the reasons that I have struggled so is because so many women find themselves in difficult circumstances; and, one cannot help but feel empathy for their situation. Yet, the church's teaching on the sanctity of human life is clear. Furthermore, in choosing to end a human life through abortion one is essentially choosing an objective evil in order that some temporary life situation may be made subjectively easier. The taking of life even for seemingly good purposes cannot be a legitimate moral choice. Therefore, after much deep thought and prayer, I have to stand on the side of life in all cases. This is a very difficult position to maintain because it is often misconstrued as a harsh and judgemental position. Yet, nothing could be further from the truth.

I find for some it is hard to move past the deep emotions this issue elicits. That is why I find that music can be a powerful tool that can help communicate the truth of the Pro-Life position in a way that combines both the intellectual and emotional comprehension of the pain and evil caused by our culture of death. My good friends at http://www.topcatholicsongs.com/ have compiled a list of the best Pro-Life songs that are currently available. These songs run the musical spectrum from "soft contemporary to jazz infused rap". The featured artists cover a whole multitude of Pro-Life issues from nearly every angle, from the political to the personal. If you are looking for inspiration and support for a culture of life please check out these artists and support their music.

Since we are on this topic allow me to put in a plug for my favorite Pro-life Song "Unborn Victims of Violence" found here: http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?i=76875197&id=76875245&s=143441 on iTunes. You can also check out Fr. Stan's website here: http://www.francescoproductions.com/

We are constantly faced with choices. We can choose to do nothing and allow the culture of death to continue; or, we can choose to stand up for life. Please let us resolve to work in love to support life. Perhaps through our prayers we can help to change hearts and minds so that the sanctity and holiness of human life will once again be honored and respected.