Culture

Now is an opportunity to show that being pro-life requires care and respect for all people, even those with whom we disagree.

Michael
Reardon

Which is more important: the Incarnation or the Resurrection? This was the basis of a recent conversation with a friend, who also happens to be a priest. After some back and forth, reflection on Church teaching, philosophy, and a martini or two, he affirmed his belief that the Incarnation was the more important of the two events. After his reasoned and academic approach to this topic, he turned to me and asked what I thought.
Not being an academic and certainly not a theologian, I have more simple thoughts. To me, these moments are moments of hope, faith, and love. If one event is more inspiring or creates a better sense of connection, then I say, "Amen."
"Amen" is an ambiguous answer to the question, and that is very intentional. Sometimes things are not as black and white as we would like them to be, and sometimes when issues are black and white we can lose sight of the bigger picture. I believe this is certainly true in recent days around the pro-life conversation surrounding the late-term abortion bill in Massachusetts.

As one pastor recently wrote in their bulletin, "it can be hard to be pro-life in Massachusetts." The passage of the recent legislation can be disheartening and leave us feeling as though the pro-life movement has been defeated. However, reflecting on the conversation about the Incarnation and Resurrection, we must be people of faith, hope, and love. We must believe the Spirit is at work and that being pro-life extends beyond a single issue, because all life is valuable.
The recent legislation in Massachusetts has not defeated the pro-life movement in Massachusetts, it created an opportunity to demonstrate that being authentically pro-life is not about one issue. It is time to move forward with hope and to challenge the narrow portrayal of the pro-life movement as simply the fight against abortion. It is time to demonstrate that being truly pro-life means showing care and respect for all life. No longer will others be allowed to set the narrative.
Now is an opportunity to show that being pro-life requires care and respect for all people, even those with whom we disagree. This means having love, compassion, and understanding for those who have made the decision to have an abortion, those who struggle with gender identity, immigrants, and people struggling with mental health or substance abuse issues, those with terminal or developmental issues that impact their ability to function in the world. It means loving and respecting all people from conception to natural death.
As Pope Leo said, "Someone who says, 'I'm against abortion' but says 'I am in favor of the death penalty' is not really pro-life." Adding, "Someone who says that 'I'm against abortion, but I'm in agreement with the inhuman treatment of immigrants in the United States,' I don't know if that's pro-life."
In Catholic schools each day, students learn about the Incarnation and the Resurrection. Which is more important than the other? I am not sure it matters. What matters is that they are learning that Jesus is love, that love is real, and that we must be people of faith, hope, and love; to be authentically pro-life means to love and care for all our brothers and sisters.
Amidst the feelings of defeat that come with this recent legislation, much like the sadness of Christ on the cross, the story does not end there. Now is the time to have hope, to have faith and most of all to demonstrate love for all people.
Along with great hope at the start of the school year, I have extraordinary gratitude for the teachers, administrators, and pastors who bring the Gospel to life each day in Catholic Schools. I am also grateful to the supporters of the Catholic Schools Foundation, whose belief in Catholic education and trust in our work make it possible for one in eight students to find joy and hope in the Incarnation and Resurrection.

- Michael B. Reardon is executive director of the Catholic Schools Foundation, www.CSFBoston.org.

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