Scottish Catholic Observer

The 21st century will no doubt be judged as a century defined by new and emerging social justice issues. In particular, ecological issues have risen sharply in our national debate. There is now a settled determination to tackle the climate crisis and to preserve our common home with greater urgency than ever. Few would disagree that this is a noble commitment.

Yet there is a glaring irony to these new social projects. While we focus on defending the gift of our earthly homeland, the issue of defending human life is not seen as an urgent priority. In fact, you might rightly conclude from some militant ecologists that they would much rather defend the rights of a tree or a dolphin than those of a human being. It is a strange approach which sees humanity, the jewel of God’s creation, as a problem to be solved rather than a gift to be cherished.

These misplaced priorities are visible in our own national debate. As our country adopts a new and ambitious ‘green’ agenda, the UK parliament voted recently to introduce abortion in Northern Ireland, against the will of the people there, who have historically opposed such a move.

Protection life

It seems even in our own country preserving ‘mother nature’ has more sway than preserving innocent human life. It seems absurd that responsible ecology does not extend to protecting all life.

As Christians we must be careful that environmentalism does not replace reverencing the gift of the human person. No tension need exist between these two social issues. A holistic ecology surely encompasses a love for all life.

Recently in our own Diocese of Motherwell we celebrated an awareness weekend, focussing on the amazing work of our diocesan pro-life charity The Innocents Society. Founded in the mid 1970s, it offered spiritual and practical support for young girls who found themselves in crisis pregnancy and struggling with the prospect of motherhood.

The Innocents

The Innocents offered layettes and temporary housing for women who couldn’t stay at home for whatever reason, cared for lovingly by the Sisters of the Immaculate Conception. Their work continues today, with a small team of volunteers working behind the scenes to support women in crisis pregnancy and giving them whatever they need for their new-born child, including handmade shawls and clothing.

Of course, many people are perplexed by the Church’s involvement in this area. Why does the Church engage so energetically in pro-life work? Why is it so important to us?

God’s Word tells us that ‘before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you came to birth I consecrated you’ (Jer. 1: 45). Christians cannot ignore God’s unchanging Word, which speaks of His creative hand in forming every new life. Nor can we turn a blind eye to the Gospel imperative ‘do not kill.’

Human life

We acknowledge every human life to be willed and wanted by God. As a result, the Church is unapologetically pro-life and always has been. It is a characteristic of the Church. So we should never be afraid to witness to the Gospel of Life, and to stand up in defence of every human person.

The world today needs to hear our message: that every life is precious. We need to repeat that no life is worth more than another; that we are all equal, and deserve equal respect. We must stand up against a culture of death which says: this child is worth keeping but another child should be discarded.

Of course, the teaching of the Church also has to be crystal clear and unambiguous on this issue. Our pulpits must give clear teaching. There is no valid or compassionate reason to end the life of a child. There can be no excuse for taking the life of an innocent, defenceless and vulnerable child within the sanctuary of his mother’s womb. There are very few moral principles which are absolute and admit no exception—killing innocent human life is certainly one of them. It is always morally wrong even when it’s done in desperation.

Principles of Faith

We Catholics should be so proud to belong to the one institution around the world that will stand up for every human person, be it the child in the womb or the vulnerable person in a care home who lives in fear of euthanasia. Everyone knows where the Church stands on these issues—we are uncompromising when it comes to protecting human life and dignity. The Church may be attacked and derided from all sides. Nonetheless we must hold firm to the essential principles of our Faith, and stand as a beacon of light in a world darkened by the prevailing culture of death.

As St Augustine once said: “Right is right, even if everyone is against it, and wrong is wrong even if everyone is doing it.” This is a noble principle to live by.

Unfortunately, a great number of Catholics today have already crossed the divide on this issue, persuaded by secular opinion when it comes to the so-called ‘hard cases’ of abortion or euthanasia. It is certainly a novelty in Catholic culture that some oppose the Church’s settled tradition on this issue. We need to do more to reach out to those who see abortion and euthanasia as a compassionate response to challenging situations.

Love for life

At a time when abortion is being exported to the people of Northern Ireland, let’s re-affirm our love for life. Let’s pray for the amazing work of The Innocents Society, SPUC and so many others, and stand with them in defence of the smallest, weakest and the most precious of God’s children.

As we raise the next generation to be passionate environmentalists, let’s not forget to teach them about the greatest human rights injustice of our age. We can only hope our young people will be as enthused to protect our first home which is the sanctuary of the womb, the most precious environment of all.