The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Day for Life 2007

 1. This year’s Day for Life coincides with the 40^th Anniversary of the passing into law of the Abortion Act. I was only 16 when abortion was legalised. I hardly understood the issue at that time, but even then I could scarcely credit that people would want to terminate a pregnancy. And I remember my Mum and Dad expressing deep concern for what they regarded as a sinister development. And their fears were not without foundation. Since 1967, there have been more than 7,000,000 abortions in Great Britain. Abortion is available more or less on demand. It is has become almost routine. Latest figures show that the number of abortions carried out in Scotland has increased by 500 to more than 13,000 in 2006.

 2. The sad contrast of our present situation with Catholic faith regarding human life could not be starker. When Mary visited Elizabeth, the two women were full of joy and wonder for the new lives that had been conceived within them. Like many women, Elizabeth felt the movement of her child in the womb. The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, part of the mystery of the Incarnation of the Lord, confirms the perspective of God’s word as a whole that life is God’s first gift to us. God gives us life. He offers us new life in Christ. He holds out to us the promise of eternal life. Every human life is unique, inviolable and sacred.

 3. On this basis, the Catholic Church continues to affirm that human life is sacred from conception to its natural end, and this implies the illicitness of every procured abortion and of euthanasia. To use a word that we can all understand, abortion is objectively a sin.  For that reason, the dynamic of serious sin applies to abortion: Catholics who procure abortion, perform abortions or support abortion in politics or education or in any other way are called upon to examine their consciences, ask forgiveness, and seek sacramental reconciliation with God and with the Church. Let me say at the same time that the Church has no desire to demonise people for their errors.  Jesus Christ, carried in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary when she visited her cousin Elizabeth, died on the cross for the forgiveness of the sins of all men. God never ceases to call the prodigal son to return to the Father’s house. God’s love is so great that even the sin of abortion, evil as it is, can be forgiven in response to a contrite heart.

 4. The pro-abortion lobby has been very successful in elevating abortion almost to the status of a human right. This perception has sadly permeated all levels of society. It is however false. The first and most fundamental human right is the right to life. Catholic social teaching, in describing abortion as a “horrendous crime” and a “particularly serious moral disorder”, goes on to say that abortion, “far from being a right” is “a sad phenomenon that contributes seriously to spreading a mentality against life, representing a serious threat to a just and democratic society.” Human rights are woven into a seamless garment. Abortion is a human rights issue. Abortion is a sin against justice.  It is an injustice against the unborn child, whose right to life has been suppressed. It is an injustice against the woman, whose right to choose life is very often compromised by poverty, by partners, by disinformation and by inadequate counselling.

 There has been arguably a dichotomy in the Catholic community between justice and life. I would say that the kind of compartmentalism which would separate the issues of human life from the issues of justice and development is now redundant and out of date. For the sake of human rights as whole, as well as for the sake of the rights of the unborn, we need to overcome that dichotomy.

 5. You will be asking, “Can we ever change things?” The abortion industry is so ingrained in our country and has so many powerful defenders that we may be forgiven for raising the flag of surrender. But we know we cannot do that. Personally I was heartened by recent news from the USA that the Supreme Court upheld the ban on the barbarous practice of partial birth abortions. This will not end abortion in the USA, but it shows that pro-abortion politics is not invincible. I have said before that the scientific argument that what is conceived is truly human life has been won comprehensively, and has been backed up visually by outstanding new photographic technology. I recently met Mr Jim Dobbin MP, the Chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Pro-Life Group, who spoke about  people beginning to review their stance on the status of the unborn child after watching amazing images of  these developing children walking, sleeping, yawning etc in the womb, Cardinal O’Brien referred earlier today to groups of doctors who are no longer willing to cooperate in abortion. We need to be aware of and support such groups and initiatives. We need to convince our politicians and medical professionals that unborn human life is not to be terminated and trashed. We need to give them the conviction and the motivation to change things.

 6. Finally, I encourage parents, families and educators to continue to make sure that children and young people are presented with the message about the sacredness of human life as the most fundamental human right. Tell them and show them the full facts about the wicked injustice that is abortion. Explain to them that there are other options. Can we change things? Christ once said to his disciples, “For men it is impossible, but nothing is impossible for God.” We need to pray, to trust, and to act.

St. Mirin’s Cathedral

31^st May 2007