I was a State Senator for eight years (1993-2000) and a State Representative for four years (2001-2004). During that time many controversial questions came before the State Legislature that tested whether or not a person was “pro-life”. We had many votes on the death penalty, abortion, assisted suicide, mentally disabled persons’ issues, health insurance for minors, education, day care and more.
Most of the people I served with then, and run into now, claim to be “pro-life” but they’re not actually. They certainly are anti-abortion and, for example, would applaud the State of Texas’ innovative (but probably unconstitutional) attempt to make law enforcement the purview of civilian bounty hunters when it comes to abortion. The Texas law outlaws abortions after the sixth week of pregnancy, often before a woman is even aware she’s pregnant. However, taking an anti-abortion stance doesn’t automatically make a person “pro-life”.
The Pope is pro-life. Of course the Pope thinks every sperm is sacred and every child is a Child of God regardless of the circumstances of conception (age of the mother, marital status or if the conception is a byproduct of rape etc.) or the condition of the pregnancy (genetic defect of the baby or life or health of the mother) or income level and so on. In that respect the State of Texas agrees with the Pope; there are no exceptions for rape, incest or life of the mother. Governor Greg Abbott says that Texas will eliminate all rapists from the streets of the Lone Star State before they can ever violate a female anywhere, any time so the women of Texas won’t have rape as a reason to seek an abortion.
The Pope doesn’t limit himself to abortion though. He’s truly pro-life. The Pope believes that God has a Plan for all of us – that includes pedophiles and murderers who hideously torture their helpless victims before viciously ending their lives – consequently, the death penalty should be off of the table. Only God can decide when to call a person home and the State has no right to rush that day with an execution, regardless of how righteous the punishment or how heinous the crime or how careful and just the procedure used in passing sentence. Likewise, using the same train of thought, assisted suicide is to be forbidden despite the excruciating pain someone may be experiencing, the advanced age of the person or the medical hopelessness of the situation. We can’t know God’s Plan so mere mortals should not thwart His purpose either directly by committing suicide as an individual or by participating in assisted suicide at the request of another.
The Pope recognizes that being “pro-life” means trying to alleviate poverty, providing education and healthcare as well as generally lifting up and supporting our fellow human beings wherever and whoever they might be. The Pope is cognizant that being “pro-life” involves decades of effort and commitment long after the nine months of pregnancy has been fulfilled; being “pro-life” also means embracing modern medical technology to extend and save lives and yes, that includes vaccines as well.
I’m not Catholic but I respect the Pope’s pro-life position. I’m not pro-life myself. For example, I don’t think we use the death penalty enough either in terms of its frequency or regarding the scope of crimes subject to the ultimate judgment. I also think murderers should be executed in the same way their victims died. I realize a little thing called the 8th Amendment, outlawing “cruel and unusual punishments” and prior rulings of the Supreme Court are contrary to my position and make my opinions on this subject unconstitutional. On the question of abortion, I view it as a medical procedure akin to amputation. We wouldn’t want doctors to perform amputations as a first choice or routine procedure but there are some conditions where amputation can mean the difference between life and death. Who should make that decision, you and your doctor or the State?
If you’re pro-life, good for you and I hope your actions reflect your beliefs. I know you give to charity, sing on the way to the courthouse to pay your taxes so that children may be educated and the indigent can get healthcare. I applaud your decision to adopt a child or to be foster parents or both. I appreciate the fact that you mentor or employ the mentally challenged and socialize with them as people rather than something to be humored or tolerated. I’m grateful you thought of other people and got vaccinated rather than endangering those around you by selfishly refusing to be immunized.
As former Secretary of State Lewis Cass said, “People may doubt what you say but they will believe what you do.”