The perception problem in the Pro-Life Movement.

As he stood on one of the banks of the Jordan River that day, he was surrounded by many people: people from Jerusalem, people from the countryside of Judea. They came to him in huge numbers. Of course, that was not unusual. In fact, Scripture indicates it was always that way for John the Baptist in his ministry. He was a charismatic, passionate preacher who could draw a crowd and then hold them spellbound, because he spoke the unadulterated truth with clarity and conviction. Even some of those who hated him, like King Herod, were "captivated by his words." On this particular occasion, as he was ministering to the hundreds who had gathered for spiritual nourishment, John suddenly caught sight of a familiar face in the crowd. But John was not alone. Everyone who was there that day observed this young man as he humbly approached the Baptist. But to them, he was simply a young, Galilean male, about 30 years of age; if they knew his family they would have said, "Oh yes, that's the son of Joseph, the carpenter from Nazareth." In other words, when these hundreds of people looked at Jesus, they saw someone who appeared to be just like everybody else. But not John! John looked up, saw his cousin walking in his direction, raised his finger and said, "Look there! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world." JOHN THE BAPTIST PERCEIVED WHAT EVERYONE ELSE MISSED! That's my point: John the Baptist perceived the deeper reality that everyone else missed!

My brothers and sisters, we live in a world right now where a similar phenomenon is taking place with respect to the human person and basic life issues. For example, when we as Catholics and as Christians look at another human being, we "see" an individual of infinite value, an individual made in God's image and likeness, an individual with an immortal soul, an individual deserving of the utmost respect from the moment of conception to the moment of natural death.

But the sad and tragic fact is that many others do not "see" any of those things when they look at a fellow human being. When they look at another man or woman what they see is a cluster of cells, a product of conception, a disposable item, an object to be used for their own pleasure, a being no more valuable than a mosquito or a piping plover. They are like the crowds who stood with John that day on the banks of the Jordan River; they do not perceive the deeper reality: in this case the deeper reality concerning the dignity the human person.

But unfortunately the "perception problem" as I would call it goes beyond this, even affecting some who would call themselves "pro-life." Here I'm thinking of those who do not perceive that abortion is the key social issue of our time. These people would say, "Of course I'm pro-life, but I think there are other social issues which are just as important as abortion, such as poverty, racism, violence and capital punishment. Consequently, all issues should be treated equally." The problem with that position is that it's contrary to what our Holy Father has said, as well as contrary to the dictates of common sense! As John Paul II told us just before he left our country after his pastoral visit of 1987:

"Feeding the poor and welcoming refugees, reinforcing the social fabric of this nation, promoting the true advancement of women, securing the rights of minorities, pursuing disarmament, while guaranteeing legitimate defense: all this will succeed only if respect for life and its protection by law is granted to every human being from conception until natural death. Every human person, no matter how vulnerable or helpless, no matter how young or how old, no matter how healthy, handicapped or sick, no matter how useful or productive for society, is a being of inestimable worth created in the image and likeness of God. This is the dignity of America, the reason she exists, the condition of her survival, the ultimate test of her greatness: to respect every human person, especially the weakest and most defenseless ones, those as yet unborn." (Departure Ceremony, Detroit, Michigan, September 19, 1987.)

The Holy Father, who certainly has the perception of John the Baptist, rightly understands that a person's position on the issue of abortion will ultimately affect his or her position on every other social and moral issue. This is also in accord with the dictates of common sense. If we do not have respect for the innocent human life inside the womb, common sense tells us, sooner or later we will lose respect for the not-so-innocent human life outside the womb. We wonder why so many young people today exhibit such violent proclivities. I'm convinced it's because they have grown up in a world where violence toward pre-born babies is considered acceptable behavior! These misguided and misinformed adolescents think to themselves: "If it's okay to kill that innocent baby, what is so bad about killing that guy in school who's been mean to me? He's certainly not innocent. If there are some innocent babies who don't deserve to live, then he certainly doesn't deserve to live."

I will mention one other area where the "perception problem" exists even among Catholic and Christian pro-lifers. It concerns what I would call "the contraception connection." This intimate connection between contraception and abortion, as well as the connection between contraception and other social and moral evils, has been clearly affirmed by two great prophets of the latter 20^th century, John Paul II and Paul VI. With the keen perception of John the Baptist, these men have seen what so many of our pompous and proud intellectuals have completely missed. Although "they are specifically different evils," John Paul has said, both abortion and contraception are "fruits of the same tree," rooted in "a self-centered concept of freedom." (Gospel of Life, number 13.) Marvelously put! In other words, at the root of both abortion and contraception is pure, unadulterated human selfishness. The person using contraception says to his or her spouse, "You exist for me. Your purpose is to give me pleasure--to satisfy my desires." (The act of contraception, by its very nature, proclaims that message.) The advocate of abortion says, "Pregnancy is a disease and children are a nuisance. I should not have to be bothered dealing with either one."

And then we have that much-persecuted prophet, Paul VI, who back in 1968 clearly affirmed the perennial teaching of the Church that there are two purposes of sex within marriage: to have children and to establish a loving union between the spouses. Whenever these two purposes are separated through a contraceptive act, he maintained, it harms the relationship between a husband and wife. Back then, of course, most people scoffed at such an idea. They said, "Holy Father, you’ve got to be kidding. Don't you realize--artificial birth control is great blessing! It will make for stronger marriages. Couples won’t have to worry about unwanted pregnancies anymore. It will lessen marital anxiety. It will make for happier relationships and stronger families." The pope said, "Don’t be fooled!" He warned that if artificial contraception ever became accepted and widespread, there would be many negative consequences. He said there would be more infidelity in marriages; he said that women would be treated more and more like objects by men; he said that morals would be lowered in society as a whole; and he predicted that some governments would try to push birth control on poor countries just like the United States does today.

On every count, he was right! He had the perception of the Baptist when so many others were blinded by their own hormones! Praise God, some 30 years later, many are now finally seeing the truth and embracing it. There is definitely hope for the third millennium!

On that note, I just finished reading a great book I'll recommend. It's called Physicians Healed, and it's published by One More Soul. It consists of personal testimonies by 15 medical doctors from around the country who have stopped giving all contraception to their patients. (Interestingly enough, some of these physicians are non-Catholics!) They have all become promoters and teachers of Natural Family Planning, which, contrary to popular belief, is NOT the old "Rhythm Method." It's a scientific method of fertility awareness which can be used either to achieve or avoid a pregnancy. When used properly and with the right disposition of mind and heart, NFP is acceptable to the Church and is as effective as any means of contraception.

One of the doctors cited in this book wrote the following in his personal testimony. This, I would say, speaks volumes:

As physicians, we should realize that the popes have far more wisdom on ethical issues than we could imagine. We can only appreciate their wisdom by following their teachings. We are not smart enough to overrule their infallible reasons. Eight years of medical training does not counterbalance 2,000 years of Catholic tradition. To learn, we must adopt an open-minded attitude of humility and obedience." (Physicians Healed, p. 14.)

Now there's a doctor with the insight and perception of John the Baptist!