As I compose this post, my family is engaged in text-based communication, coordinating the contributions of each individual to the Christmas Eve post-church meal and the subsequent repast on Christmas Day, which will be enjoyed in the aftermath of the opening of gifts. It is a great blessing that we are able to be together.
It is worthy of reflection that, regardless of whether times are favourable or challenging for those who advocate for the vulnerable, many of us within the Movement are sustained through the inevitable ebbs and flows of life by our loved ones and by the conviction that our actions are divinely ordained.
In a brief but poignant and perceptive piece, Paul Stark, Communications Director for Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life, considers the ways in which Christmas illuminates aspects of human life and dignity. The following paragraph is illustrative of this theme. In his written work, Paul Stark posited that Christmas serves to convey a number of key messages.
The weak and vulnerable are just as important as the strong and independent. God himself chose to enter the world in the most vulnerable state possible: as a tiny embryo, then as a foetus, then as a newborn baby lying in a manger. This turned the old morality of “might makes right” on its head. It suggests that human dignity is not determined by age, size, power or independence.
One might be forgiven for thinking that this is an example of counter-cultural behaviour.
President Joe Biden’s pro-abortion stance aligns him with the most zealous followers of Planned Parenthood, demonstrating a bloodthirsty disposition. His insatiable appetite for abortion is evident. Rather than offering the traditional gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, the Biden administration presents serrated forceps, plastic curettes, and laminaria sticks.
The following has been previously discussed on numerous occasions, yet its continued relevance remains evident. On 14 May 2004, then-President George W. Bush delivered a commencement address to graduates of Concordia University. Concordia University, situated in the vicinity of Milwaukee, is the largest Lutheran institution of higher education in the United States.
The following two passages are of particular interest to me.
A man shows his character in kindness and charity, and what is true in our lives is also true in the life of our nation. The character of a society can be fairly judged by how it treats the weak, the vulnerable, the most forgotten. Our own country, at its best, strives to be compassionate, and it’s not easy. Compassion is not just a vague feeling of empathy; it is a demanding virtue. It requires action and effort and deep conviction, a conviction as old as the scriptures and as present at the founding of our country. We believe that everyone has a place and a purpose in this world, that every life matters, that no insignificant person was ever born. …
America needs your good hearts to fulfill a fundamental responsibility to protect and honour life in all its seasons. A compassionate society shows special concern for those at the beginning of life, those at the end of life, and those who struggle in life with disabilities. Most of you will at some point be called upon to care for a dying relative, a frail and ageing parent, or someone close to you with a terrible illness. Often, in their pain and loneliness, they will feel that they are a burden and worthless to the world, and you will need to show them that this isn’t true. Our worth as human beings does not depend on our health or productivity or independence or any other shifting value that the world might place on us. Our worth comes from bearing the image of our Creator. And the hardest times of your life may be the most important as you witness to this truth through your sacrifice and loving kindness to another soul.
What collective message do Mr. Stark and President Bush wish to convey? In the context of the Christmas season, it is appropriate to highlight three key truths.
1. The greater our power, the greater our obligations, particularly to those who are at our mercy. The distinction between these two positions is profound. One perspective holds that being more powerful entails a moral obligation to care for those in one’s charge. The other suggests that this responsibility is negated by the belief that one is free to act as one pleases because of one’s superior position.
We offer a multitude of justifications and pursue a multitude of avenues of inquiry, yet we persist in concealing our true beliefs by employing rhetoric that is self-delusional and debasing. This rhetoric serves to obscure the fact that we are, in essence, espousing a doctrine of might makes right.
2. Those who are unborn, born with disabilities, or elderly women who have learned that they are a burden are the most easily forgotten. Are they rendered invisible? This is not the case. We choose to ignore these individuals.
If, from a moral standpoint, our peripheral vision is blurred or non-existent, it is relatively simple to overlook the fact that they have claims on us that are independent of the aforementioned values. Each and every one of them is of infinite value simply by virtue of their existence.
As President Bush observed, for Christians, their worth is derived from the fact that they bear the image of their Maker.
The third point is as follows: Those who are pro-life do not exist in a vacuum, isolated from the pain, difficulties and challenges that life presents. It is acknowledged that an unplanned or untimely pregnancy can present significant challenges. A significant proportion of us will also have or will experience caring for our ageing parents. In contrast to the assertions of our opponents, we maintain a robust grasp on the realities of the “real world.”
However, as President Bush observed, the most challenging periods of our lives may also be the most significant, as they provide an opportunity to demonstrate our shared humanity by offering assistance and compassion to others.
It is evident that those who are pro-life also engage in acts of witness, whether through self-sacrifice or benevolence towards others. This is evidenced by the generosity of Americans to the Red Cross, the Salvation Army, churches, and the multitude of voluntary organisations that step up in crises of all sizes.
However, for a significant proportion of the population, the aforementioned “gene” of self-sacrifice and benevolence is not expressed, or activated, as it were, in the same way as a biological mechanism. For those who are pro-life, this is a fundamental aspect of their identity.
In the spirit of the approaching Christmas season, we extend our best wishes to you.
Daniel Miller is responsible for nearly all of National Right to Life News' political writing.
With the election of Donald Trump to the U.S. presidency, Daniel Miller developed a deep obsession with U.S. politics that has never let go of the political scientist. Whether it's the election of Joe Biden, the midterm elections in Congress, the abortion rights debate in the Supreme Court or the mudslinging in the primaries - Daniel Miller is happy to stay up late for you.
Daniel was born and raised in New York. After living in China, working for a news agency and another stint at a major news network, he now lives in Arizona with his two daughters.
