Life is a gift. It is THE most fundamental gift given to us by God without which everything else we know is moot. Every one of us was created in the image and likeness of God, set apart from the moment of our conception for a purpose. The Book of Genesis tells us that humanity is the pinnacle of God’s creation. In Jer. 1:5, God says, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you…” Every human life has intrinsic value by the mere fact that God created him/her. It is a beautiful truth of our faith that speaks volumes of the love and generosity of God. And yet everywhere we turn these days the dignity of the human person is being torn to pieces under the guise of freedom and personal preference.
This is precisely what is happening with the proposed Issue 1 amendment to the Ohio Constitution. The amendment seeks to make abortion legal well beyond the current heartbeat ban. It enables the late-term abortion of fully-formed children. What’s more, in the name of individual rights and freedoms, with this amendment, parents will not be informed if/when their daughters seek an abortion.
Simply put, there is absolutely nothing good in this proposal, and we must vote no!
“This is a moral issue,” Fr. Troha says. “This is not a Republican or Democrat issue. This is a life issue!”
Life is at stake!
“As our bishops said during the last election, abortion isn’t the only issue, but it is the foundational issue,” Fr. Troha recounts. “The right to life is THE basic human right, and as Catholics, we need to defend it. Abortion isn’t good for the baby or the mother; both suffer tremendously.”
We must vote no!
If you take the time to read through the proposed amendment, you may be struck by the seemingly compassionate verbiage that pinpoints individual rights and freedoms as of prime importance. It is easy for us to get distracted and confused by the way things are worded. But make no mistake, the amendment threatens life at its core! We cannot let it pass.
What’s more, even as we seek to value the individual rights of the mothers who are choosing abortion, the reality is that their choice isn’t made in a vacuum. So often the women who choose abortion find themselves pushed to it. They are lied to and deceived into believing that abortion is what’s best for them when they will hurt post-abortion more than they can fathom. Post-abortive women tell of the horrors they live through — the physical, mental, and emotional pain they cannot escape from even years after their abortions. Absolutely nothing good comes from it.
We must vote no!
But what about the women who do find themselves trapped? What about the women who don’t have the resources to care for themselves or their babies? What then?
There are many Catholic hospitals, Catholic Charities, and other resource centers ready and eager to help these women! We do not want them to suffer. Quite the opposite! We want them to know a life of true love, a life where they do not need to sacrifice their children so that they can survive. We want to help!
If you or someone you know is experiencing a crisis pregnancy, reach out. Call the parish office at 440-942-4500 and they will connect you with resources that can help. Abortion is never the best option.
In John’s gospel, Jesus proclaimed: “I came that they might have life and have it more abundantly” (Jn. 10:10). Considering the Gospel, we must vote no to Issue 1!
Early voting has already started. Election Day is Nov. 7. Make time to get to the polls and have your voices heard!