Self-Sacrifice in the Defense of Life

"Cardinal John Henry Newman pointed out that even if you were the only sinner in the world, Jesus would have undergone His Passion just for you. We are made in the image and likeness of God, redeemed by His blood. Our destiny is to share everlasting happiness with Him in heaven. This dignity belongs to every human being from the moment of conception to natural death. If we fail to appreciate our dignity in the eyes of God, or out of sinful pride reject God in His commandments, then we will begin to evaluate others falsely by wealth, health, prestige, outward appearance, size, stage of development.

Many live as if there was no God or they make themselves like gods or claim rights that belong to God alone — who lives, who dies, interfering with God's plan for procreation through contraception, in-vitro fertilization, abortion, cloning and experimenting on human embryos, euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide. We can be tempted to separate ourselves from others, caring only about ourselves and our families alone, with little thought given to eternal life or correcting injustices. But Jesus taught us that we must imitate His humble service. He taught us the way to salvation was to take up our own cross and follow Him.

A true follower of Christ will not be afraid to make sacrifices and even face death. By His death and resurrection, Jesus has taken away the sting of death. Shortly before his own death Pope John Paul II said "We must get used to thinking confidently about the mystery of death so that the definitive encounter with God occurs in a climate of interior peace.""

In my own encounters, I find it very disturbing many Catholics support the above procedures. What they fail to see is that each one of those embryos is another person, no different than the rest of us, and should be allowed to grow and develop.

I've also found the attitude of "it's not my problem" even more disturbing. All these assaults on life are the problem of each and every one of us. People don't become involved until there is some effect on their lives, and by that time it may already be too late.

It won't be long before courts and judges will be the ones to decide who is and is not fit to live, unless we take action now.