12th Sunday OT 2008

You cannot but be concerned when you hear the figures for Abortion that have come out last week. This is only for one year in England and Wales – Abortions rose 2.5per cent to 198,000. But when you look at the figures in detail it is quite staggering: girls age 16 years the figure rose by 10% from the previous year; girls aged 15 year the figures rose by 12% from the previous year; girls aged 14 years by 11%; and girls under 14 by an amazing 21%.

Even people who believe in Abortion are quite staggered by the increases. Of course they blame it on not enough contraceptives. There has never been more contraceptives, never been more sex education and yet the figures continue to rise!

Parliament had a great chance to send out a great pro-life message recently and reduce the time when the terminations of pregnancies can take place. It decided to do the opposite, to keep the limit at the same stage and to send out a further message, you don’t need to have a father!

Is it any wonder that people get the message that it is not important. Is it any wonder that so many people think it is alright to do away with an unwanted child. Is it any wonder that the basic ideas of conception are being eroded. The child in the womb is being considered as thing, a commodity, a thing of less and less worth.

What does it do to someone who has a termination, there is ample evidence that it damages them mentally, it is bad enough losing a child in a natural way. What does it do to the society that we live in, how does it value life ? We wonder why people stab one another, we wonder why people don’t care for the young, the old and the vulnerable. We don’t see that we might be building a society in which human life is not valued, not sacred, not precious, not God given.

In the recent vote in parliament there were voices calling for Abortion on demand, absolutely no limits. There are people who are also calling for Euthanasia to be allowed. Everything that we thought important to have a father and mother, to protect a child in the womb, to look after the old and sick – these seem to be being undermined.

The Gospel of today’s Mass tells us that we are not hide away, we are not to cover up our beliefs, we are to shout it from the roof tops. There comes a time when we have to stand out from the crowd and lend our voice to what we know to be right. Some times it brings us no popularity like Jeremiah, whom the crowds wanted to lynch, but right is right. As St Paul says sin entered the world through Adam and sometime it wraps itself up in all sorts of ways, abortion looks harmless: but look into it what happens in the womb, what happens to the person who has an abortion, to a society that allows abortion. How can it be right?

Should we not be trying to strengthen society rather than weakening it. Strengthening marriage and family life, rather than undermining it. Should we not be trying to teach people about the sacredness and value of human life, rather than sending out the opposite message.

The fight goes on, the attempts to convince will continue. It is a thing of great merit that the Catholic Church continue to defend the goodness and sacredness of human life, the human child in the womb.

Prayers of the Faithful 12 OT A

Priest

God is the Creator of all things - may we value what he has created and see his hand in the wonder of all created things

Intercessor

That the Church may speak out the message of the Gospel in a clear and convincing way.

Lord hear us

That the work of pro-life organisations may win hearts and minds.

Lord hear us

That people considering abortions may realise the sacredness of human life

Lord hear us

That parents may have all they support that they need in bringing new life into the world.

Lord hear us

For those who lead in society that they may always build on the sacredness and sanctity of human life.

Lord hear us

For all who have died and all those who anniversaries occur at this time

Lord hear us

Priest

Heavenly Father,

You have given us the gift of life with all its wonders. Give us the grace not to destroy or take for granted what you have given us.. top Comment on this Homily