Lesson 40: The Killing of Unborn Children
1. What were the two most corrupt decisions ever made by the U.S. Supreme Court?
The Dred Scott Decision of March 6, 1857 and the Roe v. Wade Decision of January 22, 1973.
2. What was the Dred Scott Decision of March 6, 1857?
In the Dred Scott Decision of march 6, 1857 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that black people were not legal “persons.” A slave was the property of the owner and oculd be bought and sold, used, or even killed by the owner at the owner’s discretion.
Those who opposed slavery protested. But they were net with the response: “So you oppose slavery? Well, you don’t have to own a slave, but don’t impose your morality on others. The Supreme Court has said slavery is legal, so it must be OK”
Thank God, things did not remain that way. Nonetheless, it took a bloody civil war to stop slavery. And it took the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments to the Constitution to legally grant African Americans freedom and civil voting.
3. What was the Roe v. Wade Decision of January 22, 1973?
On January 22, 1973, the US Supreme Court ruled that unborn humans were not legal “persons”. A mother could have the baby killed at her request for any reason whatsoever. (referred to as “health). This could be done at any time until birth.
Those who oppose abortion are told, “So you oppose abortion? Well you don’t have to have an abortion, but don’t impose your morality on others. The Supreme Court has said abortion is legal, so it must be OK.” (Sound familiar?)
Then, the discrimination was on the basis of skin color. Now, it is on the basis of age and place of residence (living in the womb)
4. When does life begin?
Any contemporary biology or medical book in the world will tell you that human life begins at the moment of fertilization.
Our faith tells us that God infuses the immortal soul. This tiny cell, invisible to the naked eye, is a human person, created in the image and likeness of God. As such he or she has more value than the entire material universe.
5. What are some elements of fetal development?
The feet of an 11-week-old child in his mother’s womb
- At 21 days the chid’s heart is pumping, with a blood type that could be different from the mothers.
- “By 11 to 12 weeks (3 months), he is breathing fluid steadily. At birth, he will breathe air. He does not drown by breathing fluid within his mother, because he obtains his oxygen from his umbilical cord. This breathing develops the organs of repiration.”
- Does the unborn baby cry? Although the watery environment in which he lives presents small opportunity for crying, which does require air, the unborn knows how to cry, and given a chance to do so, he will. A doctor “… injected an air bubble into the baby’s amniotic sac and then took x-rays. IT so happened that the air bubble covered the baby’s face. The whole procedure had no doubt given the little fellow quite a bit of jostling about, and the moment that he had air to inhale and exhale, they heard the clear sound of a protesting wail emitting from the uterus late that same night, the mother awakened her doctor with a telephone call, to report that when she lay down to sleep the air bubble got over the baby’s head again, and he was crying so loudly he was keeping both her and her husband awake. The doctor advised her to prop herself up-right with pillows so that the air could not reach the baby’s head, which was by now in the lower part of the uterus. “
- The child starts to feel pain at 8 weeks. A former abortionist, Dr. Bernard Nathan son narrated a movie of a 12-week suction abortion. It is called the Silent Scream. Through the use of the ultrasound you can see the pre-born child dodging the suction instrument time after time, while its heartbeat doubles in rate. When finally caught, as its body was boing dismembered, the baby’s mount is open wide. The baby was screaming. If air were in the uterus he would have been heard very clearly.
6. What is abortion?
Abortion is the killing of an unborn human person. The Second Vatican Council referred to abortion as an “abominable crime.” (Gaudium et Spec. #51) Murder, and thus abortion, is one of the sins that “cries out to God” for punishment (Genesis 4:150) It is a very serious sin.
7. What is the greatest evil that has ever existed in our country?
Abortion is the greatest evil that has existed in the history of our country?
- First of all, because it is the murder of innocent and defenseless human persons. We will never find victims of injustice who are as innocent and incapable of defending themselves as they are. Nor will we find an injustice that is greater than murder.
- Secondly, the number of persons killed through abortion is greater than any other tragedy in our history.
- Since January 22, 1973 over 40,000,000 unborn children have died through surgical abortion: that’s on the average over 1.3 million every year; over 4000 every day; about one every 20 seconds. (If we count chemical abortions that take place through the contraceptive pill, injections, implants, or the IUD, there are millions more every year – estimates range from 6 to as high as 14 million yearly in the USA alone) These numbers are incomprehensible
- The total number of Americans who have died in war from 1776 to 1996 is 1,077,200. More Americans are killed through surgical abortions in just one year.
- In the entire history of our country about 19,000 people have died through the death penalty. On the average more children will die in 5 days through surgical abortion.
- About 3000 people died in the terrorist attack of September 11, 2001. On the average, more than 4000 people die every single day through surgical abortions.
8. Do those in favor of abortion lie and deceive?
Yes, the primary promoter of abortion is the devil, and Jesus calls him “a murderer from the beginning… the father of lies.” (John 8:44) Humans who promote abortion also deceive and lie. Let’s look at some examples.
- Abortion is called “the termination of a pregnancy”. Yet even a live birth is the termination of a pregnancy.
- A politician who is in favor of legalizing murder is called “pro-choice.”
9. Why do most people have abortions?
Most often abortion is an action of desperation. People do not want an abortion the way they want a new car or a vacation. People who have an abortion are in crisis. People in crisis are deeply influenced by what the people around them say. If a woman goes to an abortion facility, the workers there will try to convince her to have an abortion. That is what they are paid for – to sell abortions. If they come to us we have a strong moral obligation to speak up, and to try to persuade the woman to welcome her child. About 50% of women who have had an abortion claim that if someone had just supported them, and tried to encourage them to have the child, they never would have had the abortion. We thus must encourage her. Do not remain silent.
10. Are there alternatives to abortion?
Yes, Yes, and Yes, there are alternatives to abortion. Someone can always get help. There are various 1(800) numbers that can be called around the country. One of those numbers is 1(800) 848-LOVE. Someone is always there to answer the phone 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. They can provide a place for an expectant mother to stay, maternity clothes, clothes for the baby, counseling services, medical help, aid on giving the child up for adoption, etc.
11. Isn’t giving a child up for adoption a bad thing?
On the contrary, for a single young mother giving a child up for adoption is normally the best solution. It takes a great deal of maturity and love for a mother to do that.
It is often the best solution for the child. In the USA there are about two million couples waiting to adopt a child. Furthermore many of these couples would want two or three, if available. Couples who are financially and emotionally stable, and are of the same faith, as the biological mother would be chosen. The child would be raised with loving God-fearing parents, and probably end up with a college education. Many will take hard-to place children with special needs. Only about 50,000 non -related children are plced for adoption every year. Compare these figures with the 1.3 million abortions every year. Even if all these aborted babies were given up for adoption, there would still be a demand for more children.
Studies have consistently shown that these children who are given up for adoption right after birth do much better than children who are raised by their single biological mother. They repeat grades less; see mental health professionals less; have better health; have a better standing in their school classes; and have fewer behavioral problems.
It is better for the single young mother. Teenage mothers who choose adoption do better than mothers who choose to be single parents.
-They have higher educational aspirations, are more likely to finish school, and less likely to live in poverty and receive public assistance than mothers who keep their children.
They delay marriage longer and are more likely to marry eventually.
- They are more likely to be employed 12 months after the birth and less likely to repeat out-of wedlock pregnancy.
12. What are some of the negative effects of abortion?
- It is a very serious mortal sin, an offense against God.
- It kills a human person.
- It is harmful to the woman who has the abortion
- It affects her physical health. Many physical health problems can be caused by abortion; death; breast cancer; cervical, ovarian, and liver cancer; uterine perforation, handicapped newborns later pregnancies; pelvic inflammatory disease; endometriosis; and lower general health.
- It affects her emotional health.
- It affects her spiritual heath.
- It has a negative effect on the children that remain. Child abuse has increased. In 1973, when abortion became legal in the United States, there were 167,000 cases of child abuse and neglect reported. Seven years later in 1980 there were 785,000 cases – an increase of 370%. In 1987, there were 2,025,2000 cases reported. That’s an increase of 1112% (US Department of Health and Human Services) Dr. Philip Ney did a study of why this would be the case. His research clearly pointed to the fact that abortion lowered a parent’s psychic resistance to violence and abuse of their surviving children.
13. What about rape?
Only about one or two pregnancies occur for every 1000 incidents of rape.
Even in these rare cases abortion is seriously wrong. Why should the innocent child be put to death for the crime of his or her father?
Moreover, women who have been raped and have had abortions also experience deep emotional pain, terrible guilty, and remorse. Women, who have been raped, who have their children find great joy in them.
14. Can women who have had abortions be forgiven and healed?
Yes, Our Lord always forgives us if we are sorry for our sins and we go to Confession.
Women who have had abortions can also be emotionally healed through prayer, the Eucharist, and by counseling. They can begin a new life, and help other women who have the same problems that they faced. There is a Catholic Organization that offers counseling to women who have had abortions. It’s called Project Rachel. They can be contacted at: 1 (888) RACHEL5.
15. How can we help to put an end to abortion?
- The primary means is prayer and fasting
- Vote for candidates running for public office who are pro-life.
