Marian Helper • Fall 2022 • Marian.org 13 Like Anna in the Temple I was in Atlanta for the National Right to Life Convention on June 24 this year when I heard the news that Roe had been overturned. I was overcome with emotion in the moment — I felt a little like Anna in the Temple, having finally laid eyes on the Savior after years of praying for His arrival. I had prayed so long and so hard for the demise of Roe, I could scarce believe that I had been granted the privilege of seeing the end of the Roe era in my lifetime. The Supreme Court’s ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization returns the issue of abortion policy to the individual states. As of this writing, some states have taken life-saving action to protect preborn babies at the earliest stages of development. Others have laws in place that permit abortion throughout pregnancy. In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, where I live, we are working to pass an amendment to the Pennsylvania constitution which declares that there is no constitutional “right” to taxpayer funding of abortion. The amendment would also ensure that the people, through their duly elected representatives, decide abortion policy, rather than the courts. Much work to do Whether you live in a state where the law largely protects preborn babies, or in a state that does not, there is much work to do to renew the “Culture of Life” that Pope St. John Paul II spoke about. After all, an estimated 63 million unborn babies have died from legal abortion since 1973. Countless mothers and fathers, grandmothers and grandfathers have been left to grieve children lost to abortion. We are in the rebuilding phase of our society, trying to pick up the pieces after the devastation caused by the Roe regime. It is a daunting task, but we need to be committed to undertake it, for the sake of our children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and students. Our young people have grown up in an abortion culture. It will take a concerted effort to introduce them to the beauty and truth which a Culture of Life has to offer. People have been asking me, “Post-Roe, what happens now, and what should I do next?” Organizations such as National Right to Life and its state affiliates offer timely information about both pro-life and anti-life legislation. (Visit nrlc.org for details.) While the Supreme Court wisely determined there is no federal constitutional right to abortion, advocates for abortion continue to try to pass legislation in Congress to not only uphold abortion, but to expand it. The situation means that we must be vigilant in our lobbying efforts on both the state and federal level. We must be willing to take the time to call, email, write, and visit our legislators, and let them know that human life should be protected from its earliest stages. Listen, then talk Sadly, many of our families are deeply divided when it comes to the issue of abortion. In such cases, it is wise to talk to God about your family member before you try to broach the subject. In fact, I have found over the years that when I am engaged in one-on-one conversations about abortion, it is best to listenmore than I talk. When I do talk, I ammore inclined to ask questions than to make pronouncements. I have discovered that so many people are misinformed when it comes to abortion and other issues involving the sanctity of human life. By clearing up misconceptions, I can plant a seed that perhaps can blossom in the future. I recall that when I was a secular journalist, a representative from a right-to-life organization wrote me a note, thanking me for an interview I had conducted with her. I kept that little pink note in my desk drawer for years. It was instrumental in helping me to re-evaluate the issue of abortion and ultimately become a pro-life advocate. So you never knowwhere even modest efforts at pro-life persuasion might lead. People will also be drawn to the cause by your pro-life example. As St. Teresa of Calcutta noted, we can do small things with great love. Whether it’s taking part in a diaper drive at church, sorting baby clothes at a pregnancy resource center, or volunteering to baby-sit the children of a couple in your parish, you can make great strides in rebuilding a culture of life in your own community. Finally, the late Fr. John Hardon, SJ, a holy and gifted priest, used to say that there is no stopping abortion without the Eucharist. Please consider making a monthly or weekly Holy Hour before the Blessed Sacrament for the cause of the protection of human life. Offer your reception of Holy Communion for a pregnant woman facing challenging circumstances. With God’s help, we can create a culture that honors life as the irreplaceable gift that it is! A journalist and mother, Maria V. Gallagher works on education and legislation for the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation, the state affiliate of National Right to Life. She is the author of Joyful Encounters with Mary: A Woman’s Guide to Living the Mysteries of the Rosary (Marian Press; Product code B55-JYMY). People will also be drawn to the cause by your pro-life example. As St. Teresa of Calcutta noted, we can do small things with great love.
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