Building a Bridge over Troubled Waters
By Rev. John J. Raphael, SSJ
(Article: Page 4 of 5)
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Here it is that these two groups can possibly find common ground. Both groups can agree, and I believe that they both do agree that abortion is an evil that displeases God. As indeed previous generations eventually came to agree (after a terrible war) that slavery was an evil that displeased God, and later generations agreed (after a courageous movement) that segregation was an evil that displeased God, agreement can now be reached regarding abortion. Furthermore, these two groups may even find that their coming together is mutually beneficial. Being pro-life must not remain primarily a one-party political issue and advocacy for the rights of the unborn ought to supersede all other political/social positions which are genuinely subjects of debate and disagreement, important as these issues may be.
For instance, a pro-life America would bring about a wonderful and absolutely necessary change for the African American community. Currently the African American community comprises 13% of America's population, yet according to the Guttmacher Institute, 37% of the abortions in the US take place in the Black community ("Facts on Induced Abortions"). According to the US Centers for Disease Control, 425,000 African Americans die annually from heart disease, hypertension, kidney disease, AIDS, and violence, and the infant mortality rate for African Americans is twice as high as the national average. 447,700 African American babies are aborted every year ("Highlights in Minority Health").
 Can anyone remain indifferent to these horrifying statistics? Yet statistics represent individual human lives. Given our particular history in this country of being excluded, unprotected, constitutionally de-personalized, and de-humanized, can we as African Americans remain silent while close to 450,000 of our little African American brothers and sisters and 1.2 million little American boys and girls of every race, color, and creed are slaughtered annually, and legally? Can any Christian prepare to stand before God and render an answer for remaining silent in the face of this assault on God's gift of life at its very heart and core?
Another African American Catholic Bishop has also made a poignant plea to the African American community to play an active role in ending the scourge of legalized abortion in the United States. Bishop Martin Holley, Auxiliary Bishop of Washington, DC writes:
As an African American, I am saddened by evidence that Black women continue to be targeted by the abortion industry. The loss of any child from abortion is a tragedy, but we must ask: Why are minority children being aborted at such disproportionate rates... We must demand an end to the victimizing of African American children, women, families and communities by Planned Parenthood and others in the abortion industry. Over 80 percent of Planned Parenthood clinics are located in minority neighborhoods. Margaret Sanger, the founder of Planned Parenthood, began the "Negro Project" to reduce the Black population. We should be shocked and heartbroken by the findings of a recent phone investigation, that recorded a fundraiser at an Iowa Planned Parenthood clinic saying she was "very excited" about a donation specifically for aborting Black babies. (Holley)
Addressing the Catholic bishops of the United States, Francis Cardinal George, Archbishop of Chicago and President of the USCCB set an important tone for the engagement of Catholics with the incoming presidential administration. Cardinal George acknowledges the symbolic importance and triumph of his historic election, but he also reminds us that as Catholics we must actively fight to defend the most defenseless among us. Acknowledging this moment in history, he writes:
The Bishops of the Catholic Church in the United States welcome this moment of historic transition and look forward to working with President-elect Obama and the members of the new Congress for the common good of all. Because of the Church's history and the scope of her ministries in this country, we want to continue our work for economic justice and opportunity for all; our efforts to reform laws around immigration and the situation of the undocumented; our provision of better education and adequate health care for all, especially for women and children; our desire to safeguard religious freedom and foster peace at home and abroad. The Church is intent on doing good and will continue to cooperate gladly with the government and all others working for these goods. (George)
Acknowledging the unique moral and political challenges of our times he has this to say:
The fundamental good is life itself, a gift from God and our parents. A good state protects the lives of all. Legal protection for those members of the human family waiting to be born in this country was removed when the Supreme Court decided Roe vs. Wade in 1973. This was bad law. The danger the Bishops see at this moment is that a bad court decision will be enshrined in bad legislation that is more radical than the 1973 Supreme Court decision itself…FOCA would have an equally destructive effect on the freedom of conscience of doctors, nurses and health care workers whose personal convictions do not permit them to cooperate in the private killing of unborn children. It would threaten Catholic health care institutions and Catholic Charities. It would be an evil law that would further divide our country, and the Church should be intent on opposing evil. (George)
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