Remembering a Pro-Life Champion

Remembering a Pro-Life Champion
John Cardinal O'Connor

Some feel that the right to be born is dependent on being wanted. They suggest that if a mother does not want her baby, the baby will be deprived of love, care and nurturing, and may even be subject to abuse. Yet how many unplanned children have been born to parents who initially did not want them, but whose attitudes changed completely to total acceptance and love? How many unwanted children have made enormous contributions to the world, as musicians, writers, doctors, entertainers, teachers, parents, or in other capacities?

Is an unborn baby to be denied the right to life because it is not wanted? Candidates for political office spend much campaigning time and often a great deal of money in trying to convince voters who don't want them to vote for them. Is an unborn baby to be denied even the opportunity to have someone plead with a mother to let the baby live, wanted or not? Is the unwanted baby to be denied the opportunity given to millions of refugees who have been admitted to the United States? For Almighty God there is no such thing as an "unwanted baby." Everyone is made in His image and likeness and is uniquely part of the Divine Plan. If there is a woman anywhere who does not "want' her baby, I plead with her to nevertheless let that baby live. A great number of people want that baby, as does the Church—we love that baby from the moment is is conceived.