Homily by Fr. Nolan Lowry on
Sunday, October 4, 2020
[W]hatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things (Phil 4:8)
Twenty-five years ago, Pope St. John Paul II published his encyclical Evangelium Vitæ, that is, The Gospel of Life. It masterfully articulated defense of the right to life for children in their mothers’ wombs, the elderly, persons with disabilities, and the marginalized. In twenty-five years, not much has changed in regards to the right to life. In most “Christian” countries, including this one, it is still permissible to take the life of a child in the womb. Since 1973, in a lamentable decision Roe v. Wade, it has been considered a “right” for a woman to take the life of her unborn child. Supporters of this call it a woman’s right to choose. But what about the person in her womb. What about his or her right?
Science — not faith — tells us that life begins at conception. This is basic biology. When a sperm and an egg come together, they form a zygote and then an embryo. When it is a human sperm and a human egg, it cannot become anything else than a human person. Not a dog, not a horse, not a lizard. To call the embryo anything other than a person is not a scientific distinction — it is an ideological one.
Unfortunately the same people who promote abortion on demand are the same who speak of the evils of racism, the issues confronting immigrant brothers and sisters, the harm being done to the environment, accessible healthcare, and the horror of the death penalty. Indeed, these are all issues that we need to confront as Catholic Christians. Last November, the USCCB reaffirmed, “the threat of abortion remains our preeminent priority because it directly attacks life itself, because it takes place within the sanctuary of the family, and because of the number of lives destroyed.” If we fail to protect life, no other rights matter.
Over the course of the next few Sundays, I will address pro-life issues as they relate to the elderly and the COVID-19 vaccine. I will also talk about how these issues relate to our responsibility in the voting booth — not talking about or promoting candidates or political parties, but how we as Catholics apply the principles of our consciences. In the meantime, let us give thanks for The stone that the builders rejected / has become the cornerstone; / by the Lord has this been done, / and it is wonderful in our eyes? (Mt 21:42). Our Savior Jesus Christ died for all of us so that we might have life. And so we are a People of Life who preach the Gospel of Life.