Abortion: Understand, Pray, Act

Abortion will continue to be a win for the devil as long as we do not speak out to defend life. However, in order to defend the unborn, we must first understand the issues presented by our modern culture and then we must learn the position of the Catholic Church, and the reasons behind that position. And we must pray constantly, and yes, even fast, in order to obtain God's help in the defeat of the abortion culture. And finally, when the opportunity is given us, we must act.

Understand

1. We must be informed about the scientific "fact of life." You can start by reading the information on the page When is a Baby Human? You can also find more information on the webpage, Another Look at Abortion.
2. We must also recognize that the baby is not the only person who suffers in an abortion. For more information on that, read the page Not Just a Woman's Issue.
3. Last but not least, we must learn and understand exactly what the Church's position on abortion is, and what that position is based on. To begin, check out the page Catholic Teaching on...
4. Also, remember that many who have had an abortion have come to regret it. These women are hurting, in body, mind, and soul. If you know someone in this situation, let them know there is Healing After Abortion, and how to find it.

More human beings died in abortions than any other cause of death in 2019, a new report indicates.

A heartbreaking reminder about the prevalence of abortion, statistics compiled by Worldometers indicate that there were over 42.3 million abortions world-wide in 2019. The independent site collects data from governments and other reputable organizations and then reports the data, along with estimates and projections, based on those numbers.

When contrasting the abortion numbers to other causes of death, including cancer, HIV/AIDS, traffic accidents, and suicide, abortions far outnumbered every other cause.

By contrast, 8.2 million people died from cancer in 2019, 5 million from smoking, 13 million from disease, and 1.7 million died of HIV/AIDS. Deaths by malaria and alcohol are also recorded.
Worldometers estimates about 58.6 million deaths world-wide in 2019, but that number does not include unborn babies’ abortion deaths. Unborn babies are not recognized as human beings even though biology indicates that they are unique, living human beings from the moment of conception and they die brutal, violent deaths in abortions.

The abortion number is incomprehensible, but each of those 42 million abortions represents a living human being whose life was violently destroyed in their mother’s womb. Each unborn baby already had their own unique DNA, making them distinct from their mother. That DNA indicated if the child was a boy or girl, their eye and hair color, their height, possible genetic disorders and other disabilities, and much more. In most cases, the unborn babies’ hearts are beating when they are aborted, too.

In America, just under 1 million babies are aborted every year. Though abortion rates have been dropping in the past decade, abortion remains the leading cause of death in the United States as well.

 

Pray

This is something you can do in the privacy of your own home, or in any free moment of the day. Just lift your mind and heart to God, and ask Him to open the hearts of those seeking an abortion, and to give them the courage and support they need to choose life. Ask Him to convince those in leadership positions that life must be protected from conception to natural death. And ask him to heal those who have suffered from the evils of abortion in any capacity.

There are also occasions when you can offer more formal and public prayers.

• This year, our parish will be holding our second Day of Prayer and Fasting for Life, on October 21, 2021, and we will continue to hold this critical event every year going forward.
• You can pray the rosary outside of the nearby abortion clinics. Contact Nelson Abreu or Dominic Conte (see Contact Us, on the left) for information on where these prayer vigils are held.
• Sign up to Walk with Moms in Prayer, through United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities

Act

Whenever we can, we must act on our convictions! There are ways, big and small, that you can contribute to the effort to end abortion:

Legal actions:

• We must vote against any elected official, candidate, or program that is "pro-choice." This is not to minimize the importance of any other issues presented by candidates in an election; it is to focus on the most important issue—without the right to life, there are no other rights. 
• Every year, on or near the anniversary of the infamous Roe v. Wade decision, there are Right to Life Marches in which you can participate. If you are not up to joining the March for Life in the nation's capitol (which happens every January), you can participate in local marches. There is usually a Right to Life gathering in front of the State House in Trenton. This is within your reach!
• You can and should contact your elected representatives to speak out against legislation being considered that contravenes the right to life of both babies in the womb and elderly and disabled people. Check out the Legislative Updates page for information on legislation on abortion, assisted suicide, and religious freedom.

Other ways to act:
 

• Pray for an end to abortion. You can join our parish Respect Life group from the comfort of your own home during this pandemic, to pray the rosary together via Zoom at 6:45 PM on Wednesday evenings. Contact Dom Conte at [email protected] for a link to the Zoom session.
• Support local women's centers that provide help to women who find themselves pregnant in difficult circumstances. For example, our parish recently held a Bottle Drive for the Legacy of Life Foundation, which supports two Women's Centers—one in Philadelphia and one in Bristol.
• Our parish holds a Mother's Day Baby Shower to collect necessary baby supplies for mothers who would otherwise have trouble providing for their babies.
• Witness for life outside known abortion centers, praying for those who enter, and for those who work there.
• Spread the news about what abortion really is and what its after-effects are, that there are better options that uphold both the mother and the child, and that there is healing after abortion.
• Support organizations that exist to inform and help, such as
  • Students for Life, which brings the message to students on college campuses, where the battle for life rages at peak levels;
  • Live Action, whose mission is to educate people about the humanity of the preborn, expose the corruption and human rights abuses of the abortion industry, and inspire and activate people to be a voice for the voiceless;
  • Legacy of Life Foundation, mentioned above;
  • Good Counsel Homes, which provides both a home for unwed mothers and the training they need to support themselves and their babies.
  • and many others. You'll see them on Facebook, on YouTube; you can hear about them on the local Catholic radio station (WFJS 1260 AM) and on EWTN.

We cannot simply get rid of legal abortions. We must also act to help those who think they must have an abortion, so that they discover the truth about abortion and the other options available to them, and find the support they need to choose life.