Katholisch Leben: The Jesus Brothers!
Aufbruch und Erneuerung
Artikel von kathpedia.com
Was sagt die Kirche zur Abtreibung
Die katholische Kirche lehnt die direkte Tötung eines unschuldigen Menschens immer ab und bezeichnet Abtreibung als ein "verabscheuungswürdiges Verbrechen" (2. Vatikanum). Johannes Paul II. widmete 1995 in der Enzyklika Evangelium vitae sich dem Thema intensiv.
Nicht nur die Kirche, sondern auch Wissenschaft stellt klar, dass das Leben eines Menschen mit der Zeugung beginnt. Schon 21 Tage nach der Zeugung ist der Herzschlag festzustellen, und der Mensch zwar klein, aber im Wesentlichen fertig durchgebildet, wie uns entsprechende fotografische Aufnahmen zeigen. Es ist daher nicht zulässig, vom Kind als "Schwangerschaftsgewebe" oder "Zellhaufen" zu sprechen, oder es als Teil oder Besitz der Mutter darzustellen.
Laut Standpunkt der katholischen Kirche ist jedes Leben, auch das kranke oder behinderte, auch das Leben im Alter, von Gott her gesehen lebenswert, und die Entscheidung darüber steht grundsätzlich nur Gott zu - und der Mensch handelt anmaßend, wenn er sich zum Herrn über das Leben überhebt.
Klare Worte fand auch Papst Benedikt XVI. anläßlich seines Österreich-Besuchs am 07.09.2007 in der Wiener Hofburg: „In Europa ist zuerst der Begriff der Menschenrechte formuliert worden. Das grundlegende Menschenrecht, die Voraussetzung für alle anderen Rechte, ist das Recht auf das Leben selbst. Das gilt für das Leben von der Empfängnis bis zu seinem natürlichen Ende. Abtreibung kann demgemäß kein Menschenrecht sein - sie ist das Gegenteil davon. Sie ist eine ‚tiefe soziale Wunde’, wie unser verstorbener Mitbruder Kardinal Franz König zu betonen nicht müde wurde."
Post-Abortion-Syndrom
Post-Abortion Syndrom (PAS) (oder auch: Postabortives Syndrom) ist der Überbegriff für eine Anzahl von Symptomen, die Frauen nach einer Abtreibung aufweisen können. In Fachkreisen sorgt der Begriff regelmäßig für Kontroversen, in den medizinischen Klassifikationssystemen ICD-10 und DSM IV findet er keine Erwähnung. Nichtsdestoweniger kann das PAS hinsichtlich seiner Symptomatik als eine Sonderform der 'Posttraumatischen Belastungsstörung' betrachtet werden.
Symptome des postabortiven Syndroms:
- im physischen Bereich: z.B. Unfruchtbarkeit, möglicherweise erhöhtes Brustkrebsrisiko, Unfähigkeit weitere Kinder zu empfangen oder auszutragen.
- psychosomatische Folgen (also etwa der sexuelle Trieb wird gestört, Migräne, Schlafstörungen, unklare Beschwerden verschiedener Art)
- psychische Folgen: Ängste, Depressionen, Auto-Aggression, Jahrestags-Syndrom (am Jahrestag der Abtreibung Trauer, psychische Krise), Unfähigkeit Babies oder Kinder anzusehen, ein Gefühl des emotionell Abgestorben-Seins, erhöhte Selbstmordrate
- gesellschaftliche oder soziale Folgen: gestörte eheliche Beziehungen (erhöhte Scheidungsrate nach einer Abtreibung), Gewalt, Misshandlung, Hass
- geistliche Folgen: Schuld, Gewissensbisse
Dies sind einige der häufigsten Symptome, es können aber auch andere und vor allem unklare Beschwerden auftreten, die man vorerst gar nicht mit der gewesenen Abtreibung in Verbindung bringt, die jedoch damit in Zusammenhang stehen. Es leiden auch nicht alle Frauen nach einer Abtreibung an Postabortivem Syndrom - aber viele leiden schweigend ohne Hilfe zu suchen, oft sogar ohne ihre Beschwerden einordnen zu können. Im Vorfeld wird eine Abtreibung als so problemlos wie Zahnziehen dargestellt, und die Frauen werden hinsichtlich des Postabortiven Syndroms absichtlich im Unklaren gelassen.
Hilfe bei Post Abortion Syndrom
Da es sich bei einer Abtreibung vorwiegend um eine "geistliche" Schuld handelt, sind medizinische und psychologische Behandlungen beim postabortiven Syndrom meist nicht ausreichend. Wirksame Hilfe kann ein Gespräch mit einem guten Seelsorger und eine ehrliche Beichte bringen. Geistliche Schuld kann letztlich nur von Gott gelöst werden, der in Jesus Christus alle Schuld dieser Welt getragen hat. Bewährt hat sich besonders auch die Hagiotherapie als geistliche Methode der Hilfe zur Heilung dieser schweren Wunden.
weitere Auswirkungen
Neben dem schon genannten Post Abortion Syndrom gibt es auch noch weniger bekannte Folgeerscheinungen (ebenfalls ohne Auspruch auf Vollständigkeit)
Folgen für nachgeborene Kinder
Nach einer Untersuchung der Europäischen Ärztevereinigung aus Ulm treten bei Kindern, die nach einer erfolgten Abtreibung gezeugt und geboren werden, vermehrt folgende Symptome auf:
- Reifen ist beeinträchtigt (sie reifen langsamer)
- nicht fähig oder vermindert fähig eine Ausbildung abzuschließen
- haben Gewissensbisse bzw. Schuldgefühle, vermehrt Ängste, Depression, Schlaflosigkeit, unklare Albträume (oft mit Schreien in der Nacht), ihr Selbstwertgefühl und Selbstvertrauen ist beeinträchtigt
- können sich oft im Leben nicht gut zurechtfinden, schließe schwerer Freundschaften, haben mehr Probleme in einer Ehe.
- vermehrt Psychosen, etwa auch das Gefühl der Anwesenheit eines Kindes, als ob ein Kind die ganze Zeit neben ihnen wäre.
- Hilflosigkeit und Hoffnungslosigkeit treten vermehrt auf.
Folgen für die Gesellschaft
Neben dem schon in den Medien diskutierten Fehlen künftiger Pensionszahler ist es vielleicht noch interessant zu bedenken, wieviele Menschen unmittelbar oder mittelbar mit Abtreibung in Berührung kommen (Mutter und Vater des abgetriebenen Kindes, die Eltern oder Vertrauenspersonen, die zu einer Abtreibung raten, Personen in Beratungsstellen oder am Arbeitsplatz, die eine Abtreibung notwendig erscheinen lassen, Ärzte und Personal, die sie letztlich durchführen.... usw). Alle diese Menschen tragen dann mehr oder minder geistliche Schuld mit sich, die für diese Menschen nicht ohne Folgen bleibt und sie bei einem Leben in Frieden, Freude und Selbstbestimmung hindert.
Um ein wenig die Dimensionen zu zeigen, um die es hier geht: Weltweit werden jährlich über 50 Mio Kinder durch Abtreibung getötet. Zum Vergleich: der 2.Weltkrieg hat etwa 56 Mio. Menschen das Leben gekostet.
In Österreich gibt es geschätzt etwa 60.000 Abtreibungen pro Jahr. Pro Abtreibung sind eine Vielzahl von Menschen betroffen... wenn man nun die Folgen in zweiter Linie bedenkt, z.B. die zerbrochenen Ehen und Partnerschaften als Folge dessen, dass der Mann die werdende Mutter im Stich gelassen hat, die Scheidungswaisen und deren existenzieles Leid der Verlassenheit, dann steht man vor einem der Hauptfaktoren, weshalb Depression eine der Volkskrankheiten dieser Zeit ist, und Christa Meves von einem "Volk von psychisch Belasteten und Leistungsschwachen" spricht.
Methoden
Es gibt verschiedene Methoden der Abtreibung:
- chirurgische: zB.Ausschaben (Curettage), Absaugen
- chemische: z.B. Abtreibungspille (z.B.: Mifegyne), oder die "Pille danach"
- Nidationshemmer: Vorrichtungen oder Mittel, die die Einnistung eines befruchteten Eies in der Gebärmutter verhindern, z.B. viele Formen der "Pille light", die nicht den Eisprung, sondern nur die Einnistung verhindern, oder auch z.B. die Spirale. Das Leben eines Menschen beginnt jedoch bereits bei der Befruchtung, und nicht erst bei der Einnistung. Daher lehnt die Katholische Kirche auch nidationshemmende Mittel - die ja de facto frühabtreibend sind - als Methoden der Familienplanung ab.
Die Wirkung der Abtreibungspille ist in etwa so: die Versorgung des Kindes wird auf chemischem Weg stark eingeschränkt, und der Embryo ist dem langsamen Verhungern und Ersticken über Stunden ausgeliefert. Anschließend wird das entweder noch lebende oder qualvoll zu Tode gebrachte Kind durch wehenauslösende Mittel ausgestoßen. Selbst falls der Mutter in dieser Zeit die Bedeutung ihres Tuns bewusst wird, muss sie diese Stunden bis zum Ende durchleiden. Nach Einnahme dieses Mittels gibt es keine Umkehrmöglichkeit mehr.
Zitat
Mutter Teresa: "Die schlimmste Krankheit, die keine Medizin jemals heilen kann, ist das Gefühl, unerwünscht und von allen verlassen zu sein. Das grösste Übel ist die furchtbare Gleichgültigkeit gegenüber dem Nächsten".
Literatur
Roland Rösler, Rohstoff Mensch, Christiana Verlag Stein am Rhein 1986 (1. Auflage; neu erhältlich) ISBN 3-7171-0886-7
Erich Blechschmidt, Wie beginnt das menschliche Leben, Christiana Verlag Stein am Rhein 2002 (7. Auflage; neu erhältlich) ISBN 3-7171-0653-8
Erich Blechschmidt, Das Wunder des Kleinen, Die frühen Verhaltensweisen des ungeborenen Kindes, Verlag Weißes Kreuz, Vellmar- Kassel 1986 (2. Auflage) ISBN 3-87893-057-7
Alfred Häußler, Die Selbstzerstörung Europas mit Pille Spirale Sterilisation und Abtreibung, Miriam Verlag 1991 (4. Auflage) ISBN 3-87449-157-9
(Quelle: http://www.kathpedia.com/index.php?title=Abtreibung)
Die Bibel sagt doch gar nichts zum Thema Abtreibung!
Lesen wir Jer 1,5: "Noch ehe ich dich im Mutterleib formte, habe ich dich ausersehen" (Einheitsübersetzung)
oder Jer 29,11-14: "Denn ich, ich kenne meine Pläne, die ich für euch habe - Spruch des Herrn -, Pläne des Heils und nicht des Unheils; denn ich will euch eine Zukunft und eine Hoffnung geben. Wenn ihr mich ruft, wenn ihr kommt und zu mir betet, so erhöre ich euch. Sucht ihr mich, so findet ihr mich. Wenn ihr von ganzem Herzen nach mir fragt, lasse ich mich von euch finden - Spruch des Herrn" (Einheitsübersetzung)
Gott hat uns also bereits erwählt, bevor wir überhaupt gezeugt wurden. DieTatsache, dass wir in diese Welt gekommen sind, war kein Zufall, sondern geschah, weil Gott es so wollte. Er hat uns aus dem Nichts erschaffen - damit wir leben und Seine Liebe aus freier Entscheidung heraus durch unsere Taten und unseren Glauben in Werken der Liebe beantworten können!
Wie können wir da ernsthaft behaupten, menschliches Leben im Mutterleib wäre noch gar kein "richtiges" Leben?
(Quelle: Fr. Bill Casey: Mission for Truth)
We Are at War!
Sunday, April 19, 2009
'We are at war' - Bishop Finn's Gospel of Life Convention Keynote
The Second Annual Gospel of Life Convention co-sponsored by the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas and the Diocese of Kansas City - St. Joseph was held this weekend at St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Overland Park, KS. Following is Kansas City - St. Joseph Bishop Robert W. Finn's Keynote address to pro-life activists gathered from throughout Missouri and Kansas:
Warriors for the Victory of Life
Key Note Address for the 2009 Gospel of Life Convention
April 18, 2009 – St. Thomas Aquinas High School
Most Reverend Robert W. Finn
Bishop of Kansas City-St. Joseph
Dear friends,
Thank you for coming together for this second annual Gospel of Life Convention, co-sponsored by the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, and the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph. It is a privilege to welcome you and greet you this morning. I am grateful for the encouragement of your presence and – as a Bishop it is my solemn and joyful duty to do all I can to fortify you in your own faith.
But as I speak a word of encouragement today I also want to tell you soberly, dear friends, “We are at war!”
We are at war.
Harsh as this may sound it is true – but it is not new. This war to which I refer did not begin in just the last several months, although new battles are underway – and they bring an intensity and urgency to our efforts that may rival any time in the past.
But it is correct to acknowledge that you and I are warriors - members of the Church on earth – often called the Church Militant. Those who have gone ahead of us have already completed their earthly battles. Some make up the Church Triumphant – Saints in heaven who surround and support us still – tremendous allies in the battle for our eternal salvation; and the Church Suffering (souls in purgatory who depend on our prayers and meritorious works and suffrages).
But we are the Church on Earth – The Church Militant. We are engaged in a constant warfare with Satan, with the glamour of evil, and the lure of false truths and empty promises. If we fail to realize how constantly these forces work against us, we are more likely to fall, and even chance forfeiting God’s gift of eternal life.
The ultimate promise of the Gospel.
Before I go any further I must proclaim a most important truth – a truth that we have just been celebrating throughout the last week: Jesus Christ, in His life, death, and Resurrection, has already won the war: definitively and once for all. He has conquered sin and death and has won the prize of life on high in heaven forever. We know the final outcome, but the battle for eternal life is now played out in each human heart with a free will to love or not, to be faithful or to walk away from the life which has been offered as God’s most wonderful gift.
Every day the choice is before us: right or wrong; good or bad; the blessing or the curse; life or death. Our whole life must be oriented toward choosing right, the good, the blessing; choosing life.
If you and I fail to realize the meaning and finality behind our choices, and the intensity of the constant warfare that confronts us, it is likely that we will drop our guard, be easily and repeatedly deceived, and even loose the life of our eternal soul.
As bishop I have a weighty responsibility to tell you this over and over again. This obligation is not always easy, and constantly I am tempted to say and do less, rather than more. Almost everyday I am confronted with the persuasion of other people who want me to be silent. But – with God’s grace – you and I will not be silent.
This work of speaking about the spiritual challenges before us is not just the responsibility of the Bishop. I am not the only one entrusted with the work of faith, hope and charity. You are baptized into this Church militant. You are also entrusted with the mission of righteousness. You have the fortification of the sacraments, and the mandate to love as Jesus loved you. You share in the apostolic mission and work of the Church.
What can we say about this constant warfare?
Our battle is ultimately a spiritual battle for the eternal salvation of souls – our own and those of other people. We are not engaged in physical battles in the same way military soldiers defend with material weapons. We need not – we must not – initiate violence against other persons to accomplish something good, even something as significant as the protection of human life.
But it is true that we might have to endure physical suffering to prosper the victory of Jesus Christ. He carried the Cross. He promised us that – if we were to follow Him – we also would share the Cross. We must not expect anything less. When you stand up for what is right – you will be opposed. The temptation will be to avoid these attacks. But through our responses we must see what kind of soldiers we are.
Who is our enemy in this battle of the Church Militant?
Our enemy is the deceiver, the liar, Satan. Because of his spiritual powers he can turn the minds and hearts of men. He is our spiritual or supernatural enemy when he works to tempt us, and he becomes a kind of natural enemy as he works in the hearts of other people to twist and confound God’s will. In our human experience people deceived by Satan’s distortions and lies may appear as our “human enemies.”
But, in his Letter to the Ephesians, St. Paul makes, for us, a very important distinction. “Draw strength from the Lord and from His mighty power,” He tells them and us. “Put on the armor of God, in order that you can stand firm against the tactics of the devil.” “For, our struggle,” St. Paul tells us, “is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the rulers of this darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens.” (Eph 6:10-12).
So let’s be clear: Human beings are not Satan, but certainly they can come under his power, even without their fully realizing it. When we, in our sinfulness, put something in the place of God: pleasure and convenience; material success; political power and prestige, we open a door for the principalities and contrary spirits who war against God. They want you and me for their prize. When we forsake God and outwardly reject His law and what we know to be His will, we make an easy victory for our supernatural enemies. We fall right into their hands.
But what about the so-called human enemies?
What about the persons who wish to establish a path of living which contravenes God’s law: promoting abortion; unnatural substitutes for marriage, and all such distortions of true freedom? Here Jesus is clear: “But I say to you, love your enemies: and pray for those who persecute you.” (Matt 5:44)
We cannot hate these human enemies, and we must find a way to love them. But we need not show them any sign of agreement. We pray for them. We do not lie to them – and we seek that which pertains to their conversion – not to their worldly comforts, but to their eternal salvation. To ignore their destructive errors, particularly those that cost the lives of others, is to shirk our responsibility to attend to their eternal salvation.
There are people who make themselves the public enemies of the Church. They openly attack belief in Christ, or the Church’s right to exist. Quite honestly such groups or individuals are less prevalent than they might have been in prior moments of history. In some ways they are not the most dangerous opponents in our spiritual warfare, because they show themselves and their intentions more forthrightly.
The more dangerous “human enemies” in our battle are those, who in this age of pluralism and political propriety seek ways to convince us of their sincerity and good will. With malice or with ignorance, or perhaps with an intention of advancing some other personal goal, they are willing to undermine and push aside the values and the institutions that stand in their way. They may propose “tolerance” and seem to have a “live and let live” approach to all human choices – even if the choice is not to “let live,” but actually to “let die,” or “let life be destroyed.” These more subtle enemies are of all backgrounds. They may be atheists or agnostics, or of any religion, including Christian or Catholic.
This dissension in our own ranks should not surprise us because we all experience some dissension against God’s law of love within our own heart. But the “battle between believers,” who claim a certain “common ground” with us, while at the same time, they attack the most fundamental tenets of the Church’s teachings, or disavow the natural law – this opposition is one of the most discouraging, confusing, and dangerous.
In my first U.S. Bishops’ Conference meeting – June of 2004 – the bishops passed what seemed to me to be a compromise statement as a result of our lengthy debate on politicians and Communion. There we stated that pro-choice leaders (and specifically, Catholic leaders were mentioned) should not be given public platforms or honors. As we all know the eminent American Catholic University, Notre Dame, is poised to bestow such an opportunity and honor on President Obama, who is, of course, not Catholic. But it doesn’t take another Bishops’ Conference statement to know this is wrong: scandalous, discouraging and confusing to many Catholics.
God knows what all motivates such a decision. I suspect that, since Notre Dame will need a scapegoat for this debacle, and Fr. Jenkins will probably lose his job, at this point perhaps he ought to determine to lose it for doing something right instead of something wrong. He ought to disinvite the President, who I believe would graciously accept the decision. Notre Dame, instead, ought to give the honorary degree to Bishop John D’Arcy of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, who has supported and tried to guide the University, despite their too frequent waywardness, faithfully for 25 years.
In my remaining time this morning I want to talk principally about three things: 1) I want to comment briefly on some of the particular battles we face in the cause of the protection of the life of human beings. 2) I want to reflect on some of the costs of doing battle; and 3) I will suggest some ways we can fortify ourselves to go forth in this mission.
First – the battle for Human Life.
The battle we face for the salvation of our souls is the most important one we face – bar none. Where I spend all eternity; where you spend eternity – in bliss or in damnation – is important beyond any individual choice I make. But the individual human choices I make – even one grave choice in which we remain unrepentant – can determine the direction of my salvation.
To deliberately destroy a human person, and without any justification of self-defense, is to preempt without an equal and sufficient cause, the right to life bestowed by God alone. Life is a gift which we have from God, not from man. This right cannot be taken away by means of a human law. It ought to be protected and assured by human law.
The constant magnitude of this crime against humanity is staggering. We must never get used to it. In the United States there are 4000 abortions every day. Compare that to the tragedy of September 11, or to any other war, or even to the genocidal Holocaust of six million Jews and many others under the Nazi regime.
The count of abortions over the 36 years, since its legalization in January, 1973, is beyond 50 million human lives. These are just the reported abortions. There are more. There are many, many more worldwide. But keep reflecting on 4000 killings a day of innocent babies. Recently someone told me the number of abortions had gone down. I don’t believe it, but if you wish, you can think of 3500 killings a day or even 3000 per day.
Thousands of human lives every day: If we keep saying this – first of all – some people will get very upset with us. They will want us to stop. They may quote other statistics about the tragedies of poverty and war. We must truly share their horror at these things too. However, in the end the measure of our society is in how we treat the most vulnerable in our midst. The unifying thread is “the value of human life and the dignity of the human person.”
4000 abortions each day in the United States. This is the tally of the enemy. Are we in a war? Absolutely. Are we winning? Are we even battling to win? Or do we consider this someone else’s war?
We can hardly know how many human embryos have been destroyed in pursuing in vitro fertilization, and other experimentation, or through abortifacient contraceptives. Our President has just signed a law providing government funding – your tax money and mine – for the funding of these human embryonic stem cell experiments. Are we at war? Absolutely. Are we winning? Missouri lost a valiant battle to constitutionally outlaw human cloning and human embryonic stem cell research. We haven’t given up, but it requires a constant effort. We won many people over through good instruction in the truth. We were outspent 30 to 1.
Assisted Suicide is now legal in Oregon and Washington State. There are more efforts underway and polls, sadly, show a steady decline in the numbers of people opposing such referenda. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that matters concerning the regulation of medicine and other health issues are up to the states. Several state supreme courts have already ruled that assisted suicide would not be unconstitutional. Are we at war? Absolutely. Are we winning? Unfortunately, there is reason to believe that people are losing their sense of the moral evil of assisted suicide. But we cannot give up.
The fight for life is a constant warfare. Those who vied for the leadership of our country last November offered Americans a clear choice in this regard. The President is keeping his promises – one by one. We are getting what we chose. Is the war over? Never. Is the battle over? We must not give up. Remember: we already know the final outcome. The battle now is about our readiness to remain faithful – our readiness to suffer while we peacefully, legally, and prayerfully seek the victory of life.
We must defend life, but also build.
In his encyclical Evangelium Vitae, on the Gospel of Life, Pope John Paul II said that we must oppose the culture of death, and he said we must construct a civilization of life and love. So, we must defend the right to life, but even beyond that we must take action for the promotion of what is good. We must build a civilization that proclaims the Gospel of Life.
Occasionally we still hear an elected official speak of his or her personal opposition to abortion, while they support the legal right to an abortion. We should be very clear: Such a person places him or herself completely OUTSIDE the moral framework, the moral imperative of Evangelium Vitae and other Church teaching on these issues. They are NEITHER defending human life against the forces of death, NOR or they taking steps to build a culture of life. They have abandoned their place in the citizenship of the Church. Quite simply they have become warriors for death rather than life.
Such a person who makes a public stand – and acts directly – in defense of the right to kill - endangers their eternal salvation. If you and I support such a person who has so flatly told us of their intentions to protect a fraudulent Right to Death, a Right to an Abortion, we make ourselves participants in their attack on life. We risk our salvation, and we better change. Why? – because Bishop Finn is going to condemn you? No, I must say what the Church says, but I will not finally judge any human soul.
I know Catholics in our country are looking to their bishops for leadership in this. Four out of five letters I receive on these issues urges me to do more, not less. I was not able to attend the installation of Archbishop Timothy Dolan in New York this week, but I watched part of the Mass on EWTN. I heard the homily and saw how well the new Archbishop was received. But there was one place in the homily that was particularly dramatic. When Archbishop Dolan mentioned the defense of human life, all St. Patrick Cathedral thundered with spontaneous applause and rose to its feet. At no other spot in the homily did any such thing happen.
Please note: This is NOT partisan politics on the part of bishops or their flock. This is zeal for life, pure and powerful. This is care for truth, and attention to the salvation of souls. It cannot and must not be neglected, even if it means we might get scolded at times by those who want us to speak less. We bishops should note it carefully – how our people are starving for more leadership – more unanimity – more courage in this regard.
Every believer is called to be a warrior for righteousness – a soldier in support of human life. Are we at War? It is clear we are, and we will each stand before Jesus Christ, the Lord of Life.
Dr. Scott Hahn makes an interesting observation about a well known passage from Matthew’s Gospel. St. Peter is entrusted with the leadership of the Church; he is handed the “keys” to the Kingdom. “And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.” (Matt 16:18). Hahn points out that it is not just the work of the Church to hold strong against the powers of hell. Rather: in the battle, the Church must beat upon the gates of hell. We must not give up until those sorry gates fall off their hinges and the victory of Jesus Christ is made full and complete and final. Bishops are called to teach, lead and sanctify. These are not defensive postures – but elements of a powerful offensive designed to promote and extend the Kingdom of God.
It is not enough for us to defend against the assaults of Satan. It is not enough for us even to defend innocent human life. Of course, if we fail to do this, we fail in our most urgent task. But by good deeds of love and charity, we must build this active culture of life that is ready and capable of turning back hell itself. If we won’t put the abortionist out of business we are pitiable souls. If we don’t enact laws and work tirelessly to change human hearts so that life is forever reverenced and protected, we have not fought the good fight which is our charge as the Church Militant. As warriors we must first beat back the enemy. But then let us not forget that we are warriors for the victory of life!
How do we arm ourselves for what is first and foremost a supernatural war?
First: Unless we are living in God’s life we should not go near this battle. I don’t care if you are the strongest and most brilliant and clever person on the planet. The devil – as he has shown over and over again – will turn you inside out. If you are not fortified by the sacraments – frequent confession and worthy Holy Communion – you cannot succeed in an ultimately supernatural battle. We must live – no longer ourselves – but Christ in us. Be always in the state of grace.
Pray. Be a prayer warrior. One modern day saint said when you are going out to try to change someone’s heart determine to make your effort 80 % prayer and 20% words or actions. Prayer defeats the devil. Prayer aligns us with Christ. Pray for the abortionist. Pray for the legislator. Pray for the mother (and father and other family members). Pray for the child in the womb. Pray for yourself and allow God to guide you. Pray that you will be a warrior of faithfulness and love and mercy. Remember that God often chooses the foolish to shame those who are clever.
Use the symbols and instruments of our devotion. Arm yourself with the rosary. Protect yourself with the scapular or a blessed medal. Ask for a blessing as a sign of unity in the Church in what we do: unity with the Holy Father, with your bishop, with your pastor. What I am supposed to do as bishop (teach and lead, and sanctify) I must, in turn, delegate in proper measure to my pastors. They, in turn, need you as soldiers.
Don’t worry very much about numbers. If you read the accounts of the Old Testament battles, over and over again God used a tiny misfit army to overthrow a legion 1000 times its size. In this way it is so much clearer that God is fighting the battle. We are only His instruments.
What will happen to us if we take up this war in faithfulness?
Do you really want to know? You will be hated by some powerful people. You may be rejected by those whose approval you most desire. You will be loved and supported by some and this will be a wonderful encouragement. You will be misunderstood by many – and this can be very painful. After you have suffered a little in your battle, some will tell you that you have done nothing – or that you have done it the wrong way.
Yes, if you push – others will “push back.” We should always be very careful to obey the law. But, regardless, some will threaten you with legal action, and law suits cost money and you may suffer that difficult hardship. In the end, dear friends, if we err let it be on the side of life. Life! 4000 human lives a day!
What if I suffer greatly trying to change this tragic trajectory – through prayerful, legal, peaceful means? It is in God’s hands, and you and I are warriors for the victory of life. The stakes in terms of human life are high. The stakes in terms of human souls are even higher.
A final word
There is much more we might say, and I know that today’s many presentations will be of great value to you all. Years ago I first heard Dr. Janet Smith teach so eloquently about the dangers of contraception: to our souls, on marriages, on our culture, as a preamble to abortion and as a degrading stain on human love. I am so pleased she has joined us to teach this truth so much at the foundation of the sad culture of discarded life and love.
I wish to thank Adrienne Doring and Ron Kelsey who, with much assistance from so many of you, coordinated this event. To my brother and co-worker Archbishop Joseph Naumann, whose leadership in pro-life is so well known throughout our country, I express my thanks and admiration.
May the Peace of the Risen Lord Jesus – the glory of His Easter triumph– the hope and promise of undying love and the power of Life sustain you all in your high calling as Warriors for the Victory of life.
(taken from: http://catholickey.blogspot.com/2009/04/we-are-at-war-bishop-finns-gospel-of.html)
Links National
Kath-Info: Abtreibung
Die Anti-Baby Pille - auch abtreibend!
kath.net: 'Humanae vitae' als Hohelied der ehelichen Liebe
kath.net: 'Ich bereue es keinen Moment'
kath.net: 'Abtreibung auf Wunsch war mein größter Fehler'
kath.net: Benedikt XVI: Humanae Vitae nach wie vor aktuell
kath.net: US-Bischof: Abtreibung ist wahlentscheidend
Kathwahrheit.de: Abtreibung
Aktion Lebensrecht für alle e.V. (ALfA)
ALfA: Beratung & Hilfe
Sozialdienst kath. Frauen Osnabrück
Sozialdienst katholischer Frauen (bundesweit)
Wikipedia: Babyklappe
Babyklappen in Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz
Infos zur Abtreibung und Alternativen
kath.net: 'Ich war der Totengräber vieler Ungeborener'
kath.net: 330.000 Unterschriften gegen Abtreibung als Menschenrecht
kath.net: Ich habe meine Abtreibung überlebt
Links International
Links to the International Pro-Life Community
Internationaler Aufruf für die Rechte und Würde des Menschen und der Familie
Vatikan: Evangelium Vitae
Vatikan: Jubiläum der Familien
New Advent: Abortion
New Advent: Physical Effects of Abortion
Original Catholic Encyclopedia: Abortion
Cathechism of the Catholic Church: Abortion
LifeSiteNews.com: Pope to World Youth Day: "The Womb - Has Become A Place of Unutterable Violence"
World Prayer Congresses for Life
LifeSiteNews.com: Humanae Vitae
Catholic Education Resource Center: Abortion
There is no Stopping the Abortion Without the Eucharist
What Has the 5th and the 9th Commandment to Do With Abortion?
The Abortion-Contraception Connection
Abortion is Hazardous to Your Health
Everything You Need to Know About Partial-Birth Abortion
Catholic Education Resource Center: Abortion
Catholic Answers: Abortion
The Church Fathers and Ancient Councils on Abortion
Early Church Fathers: Excerpts Pertaining to Abortion
Canonical Misconception: Pope Pius IX and the Church's Teaching on Abortion
EWTN: Historical Opposition of the Catholic Church to Abortion
Can Catholics Be Pro-Abortion?
The Euthanasia/Abortion Connection
The Abortion-Breast Cancer Link
Catholic Answers: Why Agonize over an Abortion?
A Pro-Abortion Icon Comes to Life
Abortion: Women's Rights and Wrongs
NCRegister.com: Abortion Comes to Latin America
LoveToBeCatholic.com: Donna Lee: Whispers from Heaven (Song)
Gemeinschaft vom hl. St. Josef: Frühabtreibende "Pille danach" in Österreich ab sofort rezeptfreiEfrat (Israel)
Priests for Life -- Information and Resources for all aspects of the Pro-Life Movement
Human Life International -- Educational Resources & International Pro-Life Efforts
American Life League -- Political Action for Life
National Catholic Bioethics Center -- Information on Catholic Teaching on all Life Issues
National Catholic Bioethics Center -- End-of-Life Decision Guide
The Gift Foundation -- Promoting the Gospel of Life
The Nurturing Network -- Help for Women with Unplanned Pregnancies
Birthright -- Help for Pregnant Women [Non-Catholic Site]
The Gabriel Project -- Help for Pregnant Women
Crisis Pregnancy Centers Online -- Directory of 1900 Crisis Pregnancy Centers [Non-Catholic Site]
Pope Paul VI: Humane Vitae
Couple to Couple League -- Natural Family Planning
One More Soul -- NFP-only Physicians & Information; Dr. Janet Smith's tapes
Pope Paul VI Institute -- Authentically Catholic Medical Institute for Fertility Problems
Edith Stein Foundation -- Medical Information on Contraception & Fertility Issues
Microsurgical Vasectomy Reversals [Non-Catholic Site]
Retrouvaille -- For Troubled Marriages
The Alexander House -- For Rebuilding & Strengthening Marriages
Women for Faith and Family
Rachel's Vineyard Retreats -- Catholic Post-Abortion Healing Retreats
Hope After Abortion/Project Rachel -- Catholic Post-Abortion Ministry
Hope After Abortion Kentucky/Rachel's Vineyard of Bowling Green -- Catholic Post-Abortion Retreats in Kentucky
After Abortion -- The Elliot Institute: Post-Abortion Information [Non-Catholic Site]
Abortion Hurts Women -- Post-Abortion Information [Non-Catholic Site]
Silent No More -- Campaign by Post-Abortive Women to Speak Out about their Abortions [Non-Catholic Site]
Hope Monument -- Post-Abortion Healing [Non-Catholic Site]
Michael John Poirier's CD: "Healing After the Choice"
AmericansForTruth.com: Abortion and Homosexuality Movements Are Linked in their War Against Life and Marriage
Resources
Drei Linden Film: Der stumme Schrei (DVD)
Drei Linden Film: Maria und ihre Kinder (DVD)
Come What May (DVD)
Father Ben Cameron: Healing After Abortion (CDs)
Ignatius Press: I Was Wrong (DVD)
Catholic Media House: The Miracle of Life (Mini-Video)
