Not Everyone Is Prolife...

This is the response I got from an immediate family member a few days ago. It stemmed from a discussion we were having about a woman my relative knows. This woman is pregnant but also has Multiple Sclerosis. My family member proceeded to list all the ways that this pregnancy could worsen this woman's already progressing disease as well as leave her bed~bound for the rest of her life. On top of this, the woman in question agreed rather hesitantly to an amniocentesis and the baby has been diagnosed with Downs Syndrome. My response to the baby's diagnosis was, "So?" Not to be cruel and heartless, but to make the point that in the end it is still a person who is entitled to the life God has given it.
To this woman's credit, abortion was never even a consideration. In some ways I am reminded of the story of St. Gianna Molla who chose her child's life over her own. She had cancer and carrying the baby to term accelerated the disease and eventually led to her death. This woman to is willing to ignore the damage done to her own life for the sake of her child's.
It was at this point in the discussion that I got the, "Not everyone is prolife." remark. Unfortunately all I could come up with at the time was my "knee~jerk" reaction of, "Well they should be!"
My family member's remark was one thing, but what really troubled me was the underlying tone of "I'm not sure I buy into this whole prolife thing." That is the attitude I grew up with in this person's house and which I believe shaped my young adult views. Those of you who follow this blog know where that led!
If this was just someone I met on the street saying this, it would still trouble me. However when a family member says it it is even more disheartening.
Anyone who has read or heard my story knows that I was not always prolife either. Through much pain God has worked miracles in me and in my value system.
The reasons for sharing all this are varied. Yes, I needed to vent a bit, but more than that perhaps awareness. We live in a society that has accepted "murder on demand." Many so~called Catholics had a hand in electing a President who seems to do everything he can to promote the culture of death. Too many people have the same laize~faire attitude of my relative~"Not everyone is prolife."Well may all of us who are continue to pray for those who are not.
I commend this woman's courage and love in choosing life and my prayers are with her.

Prayer of Saint Gianna Beretta Molla

Jesus, I promise You to submit myself to all that You permit to befall me,
make me only know Your will.

My most sweet Jesus, infinitely merciful God, most tender Father of souls,
and in a particular way of the most weak, most miserable, most infirm
which You carry with special tenderness between Your divine arms,
I come to You to ask You, through the love and merits of Your Sacred Heart,
the grace to comprehend and to do always Your holy will,
the grace to confide in You,
the grace to rest securely through time and eternity in Your loving divine arms.

Amen+

Comments

Karinann, I remember the first time I asked some adult friends if they believed in abortion, they all thought it was okay. There was one girl who said only in rape. I was so sad. One of the most adamant about it, defended abortion as if her life depended on it. After she came back to the Catholic Church, she no longer believed it was acceptable and even handed out the "tiny feet" pins.

As for the baby being diagnosed with Downs Syndrome. First of all these children are some of the most precious I've ever met. Second of all, I've heard of women receiving such news and then delivering a perfectly healthy baby.

It comes down to Trusting God! Thank you for your post. I know the belief of others can be depressing. I keep reminding myself ~ when it is all said and done ~ God is in control. Hugs to you!
Anne said…
Karinann, thank you for this prayer and for sharing this experience of yours. I added the pretty much same remarks on Brian's Book of Everything for his picture of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Both of these wonderful women get me through the workday sometimes, because I meet an awful lot of women who tell me about their abortions as if they were saying "I drank a soda!"

Yesterday, I met someone different. Her two children were adults and she did not want to start raising another baby on her own. She said "I'm not a baby killer. I'm going to take care of myself so that I can deliver a healthy baby for another woman to raise. I can handle nine months, but I can't handle 18 years." Hooray for this prolife mom!
Gabriella said…
Oh yes, we must all continue to pray for those who are for the culture of death and continue to stand up for life.

I also admire that woman's courage and love in choosing life and my prayers are with her.
Deanna said…
Dear One,
God bless you!
blessings,
d
Judy Dudich said…
I do not think your reply to your family member was a "knee-jerk reaction" at all...I think it was perfectly TO THE POINT: "WELL THEY SHOULD BE"...and to that we can only ad "And God have MERCY on us all when we are not".
When I was carrying Sarah, who is my 9th child, I had chest pains...then an ekg which showed abnormality...research stated everywhere I turned that someone with this issue should NOT go to term...and should, in fact, "discontinue" the pregnancy (isn't that a HORRIBLE way to say "KILL THE BABY"...DISCONTINUE? What? LIFE?!?!?)
My doctor was ADAMANT that it was pregnancy-related (baby pushing and distorting heart muscles)...but even if he weren't...I knew I would "CONTINUE" my pregnancy...it was a crossroads of TRUST however...facing what I thought was a possibility of losing my life and leaving my sweet husband to care for nine children...I surrendered ALL to Jesus...turned out my Doc was right...I was NOT in danger...baby came...heart returned to normal...
good thing I did not share your relative's viewpoint or my beautiful Sarah might not be.
Sorry for this long reply...but Heartfelt Heartlook is right...it is a matter of TRUST. St. Teresa of Jesus said that we want to give God the fruits of our labor but we want to retain ownership of our gift. People must realize...we never OWNED it in the first place.
I will pray for that dear mama with MS and her darling little one. I greatly admire you Karinann.
RAnn said…
Kariann: I agree with your points, but suggest you research St. Gianna a bit more. I recently read a biography of her which stated that the condition found during her pregnancy was a fibroid tumor that threatened her life. She was given three options for dealing with it, and according to the book, two would have certainly led to the death of her child. The third was the most risky to her, and was the one she chose. Her child survived, and so did she. Unfortunately, she ended up with a c-section and died as a result of a post-partum infection.
Nod said…
Sad, but true, Kariann. It hurts most when it's our own family. I had a similar experience once with a co-worker when I was sort of non-plussed when asked if I was pro-choice. It's so inconceivable you don't know what to say.