Tabloid socialite and TV personality Kourtney Kardashian recently made a decision that shocked Hollywood and rocked the reality TV world. The pop media is still in a frenzy over the news.
Kourtney, who is 30, is the oldest sister on the E! network’s Keeping Up With the Kardashian’s, and recently finished a season of her own show: Kourtney and Khloe Take Miami with her sister.
Los Angeles native Kourtney Mary Kardashian is the daughter of the late Robert Kardashian, who was OJ Simpson’s famous trial lawyer. Her mom, Kris, is married to Bruce Jenner, the 1976 Decathlon Gold Medalist. Kourtney is a graduate of Marymount High School, an all-girls Catholic school in LA. She earned a degree in Theatre Arts from the University of Arizona in Tucson, in May, 2002. After that, Kourtney assisted her mom in opening several children’s clothing boutiques in New York and LA called “Smooch”.

Reality Shows

Her first stint with reality TV began in 2005 with Filthy Rich: Cattle Drive, a show that followed celebrity kids working on a Colorado cattle ranch. The premiere of Keeping Up with the Kardashian’s in 2007 featured models Kourtney, Kim, and Khloe, who were joined by the rest of their family. This includes brother Robert, Jr. also a model, and step-sisters Kendall and Kylie Jenner and their parents Kris and Bruce Jenner.

Moving to Miami, Florida, Kourtney and Khloe began shooting their own reality show Kourtney and Khloe Take Miami, which aired on August 16, 2009. But that’s not all that aired that week. Kourtney also broke the news that she was pregnant.

Reality Bites

In an exclusive interview with People Magazine, (August 12, 2009) Kourtney revealed her thoughts as she struggled with what to do next.
“I definitely thought about it long and hard, about if I wanted to keep the baby or not.”
Kardashian reflected that the “choice” of abortion is often made without a lot of thought and information:
“… I don’t think it’s talked through enough. I can’t even tell you how many people just say, ‘Oh, get an abortion.’ Like it’s not a big deal.”
She felt a lot of confusion and turmoil at this point.
“I called my best friend crying, and I was like, ‘I don’t know what to do.’ She said, ‘Call your doctor, and at least find out the risks and stuff.’”

Alternate Reality

Kourtney’s doctor suggested that she do research in order to make an informed decision.
“I looked online, and I was sitting on my bed hysterically crying, reading these stories of people who felt so guilty from having an abortion,” she recalls.
“I was reading these things of how many people are traumatized by it afterwards.“
It began to dawn on Kourtney that abortion was not a choice for her after all.
“I was just sitting there crying, thinking, ‘I can’t do that,’” she said. And I felt in my body, this is meant to be. God does things for a reason, and I just felt like it was the right thing that was happening in my life.“
“For me, all the reasons why I wouldn’t keep the baby were so selfish…”

Reality, Man…

Her boyfriend, Scott Disick, 26, came to her side to offer his support even though she had broken up with him already.
“He wanted me to talk about it more, but I just kept to myself.“
He said, ‘I really want you to keep it [the baby], but I will support you whatever you decide to do.’”
“I really wanted to think it through for myself, and not hear what my sisters were saying, or what Scott was saying,” Kourtney explained.
“Even though I took it all in, I wanted it to be my decision.“
But the advice her doctor had given Kourtney at that first visit stayed with her.
“My doctor told me there is nothing you will ever regret about having the baby, but he was like, ‘You may regret not having the baby.’”
“And I was like: ‘That is SO true.’”
“And it just hit me. I got so excited, and when I told Scott, he was so excited.“
When asked about future plans for marriage to Disick, Kardashian said,
“We talk about marriage all the time.”
Then she adds:
“I just feel like there is so much to do… We should do everything for the baby right now and I’ll worry about myself later.”

Harsh Reality

Perhaps the most convincing information about the effects of abortion comes from those who know first hand what an abortion can do to both a mother and her baby. Some women who have had an abortion write their testimonies, the stories of their sufferings, and post them on web sites such as silentnomore.org , afterabortion.org , or abortionfacts.com . These post-abortive women hope others read the testimonies and learn from them, and might be spared the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual suffering they experienced after their abortion.
Dr. Alveda King, Director of the African American Outreach at Priests for Life and niece of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., applauded Kardashian’s decision. In a LifeNews.com interview Dr. King said,
“I am a member of the Silent No More Awareness Campaign, which posts the largest collection of such testimonies on the internet precisely for the purpose of exposing the truth about abortion.”
In another interview Dr. King said:
“Kourtney’s testimony is so encouraging. She found messages from post-abortive women like myself on the Internet.”
It takes a courageous woman to give a testimony of the painful results of choosing abortion, as Dr. Alveda King knows. But saving a child’s life makes it worth the pain.

Reality Check

The flashy, anything-goes lifestyle of reality TV star Kourtney Kardashian and the decision she made proves a very important point. Anyone, no matter who they are, no matter how they live, no matter what they do, can find the truth by seeking it with an open heart.
Kourtney didn’t want opinions. She began to ask real questions about abortion. What will it do to me? What will it do to my child? Before she made up her mind, she gave herself the chance to really check things out. Asking was the most important thing in the life of her unborn child. It saved his/her life.
Kourtney Kadashian’s current lifestyle may not change much right away. She is still the glitzy socialite chic with a TV camera covering her every move.
But who knows what questions she may ask in the future? One thing is for sure. If she asks God for His help, she is sure to get it.

Reality Babe–y

Kourtney Kardashian soul-searched until she found the courage and determination to accept new life.
“This baby was unexpected, but it’s 100 percent still a blessing,” says Kardashian. (8/26/09 from TransWorldNews)
Her choice of love over selfishness was a life and death decision. True love makes sacrifices.
Regardless of her career, or what others would think about her decision, regardless of what might happen to her in the future, Kourtney chose the life of her baby over her own needs.
For her, it was selfishness to do anything less.
Kourtney’s baby is due around Christmas. We pray she will continue to hear the voice of God.

We saw him and we fell in love with him. His name is Trig. His Sarah Palin’s son, and he is beautiful. Like all of us, he has a right to live. But sadly, before he was born, many people in this country would have denied him this right. And some would even deny it after he was born.

In this lesson, we will talk about two babies and two attitudes towards babies. We will point out the opportunity these elections offer us to save babies and to change attitudes towards innocent human life.

Vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin with her husband Todd and her fifth child, Trig, at Republican National Convention, September 3, 2008.

Gov. Sarah Palin holds her son Trig after the VP debate with Sen. Joe Biden. (CNS photo/Carlos Barria, Reuters)

Surprise of joy, not a punishment

Sarah Palin was a very busy woman when she got the news she was pregnant. She was governor of Alaska and already the mother of four beautiful children. Yet she was overjoyed. Her baby was a new gift of love. He brought new hope and new love to the world.

Very soon Sarah and her husband received some additional news. Their baby probably had Down Syndrome. In this situation many doctors in our country

immediately begin to insinuate that a woman should kill her baby. This is a sad, but true fact. Why is this? Because abortion is legal in this country.

And, because of abortion, doctors in our country think parents only want a “perfect” baby. This is how legalized abortion has changed the attitude of so many doctors and even so many parents.

Catholics for change

We as Catholics know this has to change, before any more babies are killed. The Palins, who are not Catholic, also know this. And they know that every baby, no matter how handicapped or “imperfect,” always brings new gifts of love and joy to the world.

Sarah Palin and Trig at the Republican National Convention when she was named vice presidential candidate. (Reuters/Mike Segar)

Fighting for life

The Palins kept the news of Trig’s existence as a surprise for a long time. This was not because they were afraid or ashamed, but because they knew many others would not understand their joy. They would not nderstand … until they actually saw Trig.

Unspeakable joy

When Trig was finally born, the Palins immediately released this press statement: “Trig is beautiful and already adored by us. We knew through early testing that he would face special challenges, and we feel privileged God would entrust us with this gift and allow us unspeakable joy as he entered our lives.”

The Palins are teaching us a powerful lesson during this election time. It is a lesson of joy and of love. Their son, Trig, has given a face to so many babies who have been snuffed out before they had the joy of being held and loved.

The vast majority of babies like Trig are never given the chance to bring a new joy to the world. The Palin family is showing us that a baby is never “a punishment.” A baby is never “a problem”, no matter what the circumstances. A baby is always the greatest gift we can receive as human beings.

The baby we never saw

But there is another baby who is making news during this election. We have not seen this baby. He was killed. In fact, he was killed twice: they tried to kill him once while he was inside the womb, by abortion, and when that didn’t work they actually did kill him once he was outside the womb, by refusing him medical treatment.

A Child holds a man’s hand during a prolife rally in London. (Reuters/Toby Melville)

We do not know this baby’s name, but in God’s eyes he has a name. For God, and in order to celebrate the dignity of this baby, let’s give this baby a name. Let’s call him “Leif ” (in honor of the brave explorer, Leif Ericson).

Like Trig, Leif was beautiful. Like Trig, he had many gifts to bring to the world. And like Trig, Leif had Down Syndrome. But our country, in spite of its great treasury of love and compassion, felt there was no room for Leif. Our country allowed him to be killed. He was legally aborted.

Leif the fighter

But Leif was amazingly strong, and a bit lucky. He survived the abortion. He made it outside. He was born alive. But he needed help. Instead, he was taken to a utility closet to be left to die. We have not seen Leif. But someone did. A nurse named Jill Stanek spotted Leif, being carried to the trash closet. She was shocked at what had been done to him. She asked the other nurse to give Leif to her. This occurred in a hospital in Illinois.

Jill Stanek at Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn, Illinois

Jill was not allowed by the hospital to do much for Leif. All she was allowed to do was hold him, trying to give him at least a moment of love.

Decision to do something

As the baby died in her arms Jill decided to do something. She would tell the world about this baby. She would try to save at least some babies like him. Within a few months, Jill began to lobby for a law that would at least allow medical attention for babies who had survived an abortion. She thought that at least our country could agree about that.

Killed by fear

Jill Stanek actually succeeded in bringing this law to the Illinois legislature. She was even allowed to tell the story of Leif to the full assembly. Yet, surprisingly, her bill was killed.

Sadly, one of the key opponents to her bill was Mr. Barack Obama, who is presently favored to become our next president. Mr. Obama is an ardent supporter of abortion. He feared that approving this bill would open the door to outlawing abortion in our country.

(CNS Photo - Catholic New World/Karen Callaway)

Out of defeat, victory

Thankfully, Jill persevered in her work to educate people, and she got others involved. Her bill was presented on a national level: it was brought before the US Congress. In 2002 it was approved almost nanimously by the US Congress.

The drama continues

Although justice was eventually done with the passage of the Born Alive Infant Protection Act in 2002, abortion is still legal, and the next President and Senators will be appointing and confirming the next Supreme Court justices. These justices will be deciding on the constitutionality of restrictions on abortion, and hopefully someday will again decide whether abortion itself is protected by our Constitution.

The election of members of Congress presents a further dramatic choice for the culture of life. During the next session of Congress, abortion proponents have vowed to push for passage of the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) which would make abortion even more permanent in our land.

Youth at the 2008 March for Life in Washington DC. (CNS Photo/Bob Roller)

Not one issue, but THE issue

During this election abortion is again an issue. In fact, for well-informed Catholics, it is THE issue. This is not a matter of closing ourselves to other issues. This is a matter of the very foundation for a just society. Without the right to life, all other rights are null and void.

Misunderstood compassion

Our country correctly prides itself on its love and compassion. Unfortunately, love and compassion can be misunderstood or even manipulated. This is often the case in abortion, when people talk about “a woman’s right to choose.”

Freedom yes, murder no

Yes, every woman has a right to choose. This is called free will. Free will is given to every man and woman by God. We all have the right to choose. But before choosing something as a country, we should ask ourselves a few questions.

The first question is: do we have the right to choose simply anything at all? The second is: what is being chosen in an abortion? And the third question is: does permitting abortion truly help a woman? Does it truly bring her lasting joy and peace?

The answer to the first question is “no”: we do not have the right to choose simply anything at all. For example, we do not have the “right” to choose to steal our neighbor’s car, even though we have the possibility to do so. Freedom is not a license to do evil.

Thus, the second question: what is being chosen in an abortion? The sad truth is that we are choosing the murder of an innocent baby. We do not have a right to murder anyone, much less innocent children.

March for Women’s Lives, Washington DC, 2004. (Zuma Press/Krista Kennell)

More pain and sorrow

The sad answer to the third question is also “no.” Abortion does not help women. They experience sadness, sorrow, and pain as a result of their choice. And often this sadness lasts the rest of their lives.

A woman only has an abortion when she is left alone to experience all the difficulties of a crisis pregnancy without the support and love of those around her. The deepest part of a woman’s heart never wants to have her baby killed. By allowing abortion, we are hurting women.

Abortion is a crime against women, against the deepest part of a woman’s nature: that capacity for love and compassion, that capacity for joy and wonder at the gift of a new human life.

2007 Mass for Life, Washington, DC. (CNS Photo/ Nancy Wiechec)

Proclaiming the truth about life

Yes, abortion is a terrible crime, against a baby and against a woman, but it is often covered up because it happens inside the womb, and because it manipulates a woman in a very difficult situation.

Maybe the story of Trig and the story of Leif can expose the cover-up. Maybe if people recognized that a baby outside the womb, like Leif, has a right to life, we might begin to awaken consciences and ask ourselves a few important questions: like if abortion is really such a great idea.

For the Trigs and the Leifs of the world, this is a good question to ask ourselves. Especially in these elections.

Bible Blurbs:

“For your lifeblood I will surely require a reckoning.… Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for God made man in his own image.”
Genesis 9:5-6

“What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to me from the ground.”
Genesis 4:10-11

“My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately wrought in the depths of the earth.”
Psalm 139:15

Pope Quotes:

It is necessary to witness concretely that respect for life is the first form of justice to apply.
Benedict XVI, May 12, 2008

Every person is known and loved, wanted and guided by him.
Benedict XVI, May 12, 2008

Continue on this path (of promoting life), in order that the smile of life may triumph on the lips of all children and their mothers. Do not be afraid.
Benedict XVI, May 12, 2008

Catechism Clips

2258: God alone is the Lord of life from its beginning until its end: no one can under any circumstance claim for himself the right directly to destroy an innocent human being.

2261: The law forbidding the murder of an innocent human being is universally valid: it obliges each and everyone, always and everywhere.

2270: Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception.

2273: These human rights depend neither on single individuals nor on parents; nor do they represent a concession made by society and the state; they belong to human nature and are inherent in the person by virtue of the creative act from which the person took his origin.

Saints & Heroes

Unloved by some; loved and wanted by God.

“The Little Shepherdess” by Adolphe William Bouguereau (Wikipedia Commons)

St Germaine of Pibrac, Virgin
(Entered heaven in 1601)

Germaine was the daughter of poor parents who lived in southern France. She had poor health as a child, which led to a deformity in her hand. She also lost her mother when she was only an infant.

Her father remarried, but the stepmother didn’t like her too much. eventually, Germaine was relegated to little more than servant status.

She was kind of exiled without being exiled. She had to sleep in the barn, or in a cupboard under the stairs (Did JK Rowling got the idea for Harry Potter’s sleeping quarters from here?), and when she was nine her parents hired her out as a shepherdess, difficult and rugged work for anyone, let alone a nine-year old girl with a crippled hand.

But she made a little Rosary for herself out of knotted string, and accompanied her work with prayer. When she could, she would gather the little children of the town in the fields and teach them catechism. She would never allow herself to miss Mass. Even if she were already in the fields and the bell for Mass rang, she would leave her shepherd’s crook there in the ground and charge her guardian angel to take care of the flock while she went to be fed by the divine Shepherd… She never lost a sheep.

Thus she passed her childhood, persecuted by her stepmother, mocked by the neighbors, but basking in the unswerving
love of God.

As she grew older, people began to change their opinion of her a bit, especially one time after she was accused of stealing bread, chased out of the house and forced to open her apron. Though it was winter, when she opened up her apron, instead of finding stolen bread, her stepmother beheld a miraculous armful of fresh flowers.

Germaine died in her sleep at the young age of 22. Forty years later her body was accidentally dug up during a restoration of the church – it was incorrupt.
(Source: CollegeCompass.org)

Compassionate doctor, then doctor of souls

St Anthony Zaccaria, Founder of the Clerks Regular of St Paul
(Entered heaven July 5, 1539)

Anthony was born in northern Italy and raised by his mother; his dad died when he was quite young. She encouraged him in his compassion for the poor and the sick (it was simply a horrible epoch for the people of northern Italy; ravaged by unending wars and recurring waves of disease), and sent him off to study medicine at Europe’s greatest medical school in Padua. He
graduated when he was 22 and returned home to open up his practice.

Immediately he realized that his long line of patients needed not only physical treatment, but spiritual care as well. He began studying theology in his free time, which was meager considering how available he made himself and his services to every needy body and soul that came knocking.

Four years later he was ordained a priest, and his ministry became so popular that he was asked to set up shop in the much larger city of Milan, just down the road, so he could reach more people. Soon he gathered a small group of priests who shared his ideals of untiring and unrestricted service to God and man, wrote up a rule of life for them to follow, and set about
spreading the love of Christ throughout the bulging metropolis.

He dedicated himself so thoroughly to his work that he died, exhausted, from a minor illness at the young age of 37. The group of priests continued their ministry, however, receiving Milan’s Church of St Barnabas as their headquarters, and these Barnabites are still serving souls and bodies today.

All people, every person, need light for their souls, nourishment for their bodies, and love for their hearts. If we base our future on serving the real needs of our brothers and sisters, our Lord will be able to fill the world with his blessings.
(Source: CollegeCompass.org)

Virtue Verification

Awaken - to rouse from sleep or inactivity; stir up; to make aware of
Celebrate - to honor or praise publicly; to mark a happy occasion
Challenge - a demanding task that calls for special effort or dedication
Change – transform, undergo a modification. There can be good changes, and there can be bad changes. Some crisis or difficulties in life can provoke good change. Others can provoke bad change. Use of the virtues of wisdom and prudence are necessary when making changes in our lives.
Compassion – sympathetic awareness of others’ distress with a desire to alleviate it.
Conscience - a knowledge or sense of right and wrong, with an urge to do right
Entrust - to assign the care of; turn over for safekeeping; to charge or invest with a trust or duty
Free will - the freedom of the will to choose a course of action without external coercion but in accordance with the ideals or moral outlook of the person
Gift – something given voluntarily and without charge; present
Joy – 1. A state of happiness or fulfillment 2. One of the fruits of the Holy Spirit. Joy, as a fruit of the Holy Spirit, is the result of seeing things from God’s perspective and doing things the way Christ would do things 3. The highest and most complete joy of which man is capable is the joy of seeing and being with God.
Love – 1. A profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person. 2. Kindness, respect, and generosity towards others. 3. Devotion and desire for God as our supreme good. 4. Love for others from God’s point of view. 5. God’s passionate love, regard and concern for every human being.
Peace – One of the fruits of the Holy Spirit. Peace is tranquility of soul, flowing from awareness of God’s love and friendship. Living in the state of grace (freedom from mortal sin) is the most powerful source of peace, because of the intimacy with God that this allows.
Persevere - to continue in some effort, course of action, etc. in spite of difficulty, opposition, etc
Privilege – an advantage or favor granted to someone
Right to life – A right is something that one has a just claim to. The right to life is given to every human being by the mere fact that he or she is a human being. It is based on the fact that every one of us has infinite value in ourselves because we are creatures with spirits (with immortal souls). The right to life is a value that is “selfevident”: simply by recognizing the wonder of what a human being is does it become obvious that every human being has absolute value. This right to life is not based on the decision of any other human being. Ultimately, the right to life is based on the
fact that every human being is made in the image and likeness of God. However, someone does not have to believe in God to recognize the absolute value of every human being. He or she simply has to recognize that, because of man’s spiritual or intellectual nature, every man and woman has infinite value.
Strength - the power to resist attack; the power to resist strain, stress
Support – to help or comfort; to give courage, faith, or confidence to someone.
Wonder – awe awakened by something amazing; a person, thing, or event that causes astonishment and admiration; marvel

Anti-virtue exposure

Manipulate - to manage or control by shrewd use of influence, often in an unfair or fraudulent way.

Discussion questions

1. Have you seen Trig Palin and his family on television? What does seeing Trig tell you about the importance of respect for life? What does it tell you about his parents and brothers and sisters? Do you think unconditional respect for human life is an important issue in these elections? How important is it?
2. Can you name some Christian virtues that the Palins lived when they learned Trig would face special challenges?
3. Why do you think doctors often exert pressure on parents to abort their child when they find that the baby may have some disabilities? Do you think this is right? How would you help parents in this situation? What words of encouragement would you offer? What would you be willing to do to help them?
4. Does having a disability mean that a child will necessarily be miserable? Does having a disability decrease the dignity and worth of a child? What gifts do children with disabilities bring to families and the world?
5. Why do you think women have abortions? Is there anything we can do to help women in difficult pregnancies? What sort of things?
6. What do you think of the work that Jill Stanek has done to promote respect for life? Do you think it was worthwhile? Do you think it was difficult? What sort of strengths of character did she have to show in doing this work? Why do you think she did it?
7. Mr. Obama has said that he would not like to “punish” his daughters with a child if they face an unwanted pregnancy. Do you think this kind of attitude truly is the most helpful to a young woman and to everyone involved in a crisis pregnancy? Do you see a possible mistake in this thinking? How would you help your daughter (if you had one) if she had an unwanted or crisis pregnancy? How would you charitably explain this to Mr. Obama or his daughters?
8. Do you ever pray for the women who have had an abortion? Do you pray that God will heal their heart and help them know his forgiveness and love? Do you pray for their babies as well, that they will one day be able to meet and embrace their mothers? How does prayer help us overcome resentment and anger at injustice? How does it help us to be more charitable? What do we learn when we pray?

Debate

(Choose a theme.)

1. Is abortion a good thing for our country?
2. If abortion is not a good thing for our country, who is to blame for it?
3. Can young people make a big difference in our country in helping create laws that show greater respect for life?
4. Should pro-life be the decisive factor in making decisions on who you will vote for?
5. Are Catholic politicians who are personally opposed to abortion but who vote pro-abortion (“prochoice”) being coherent in their faith and in their reasoning?

Activities

1. Investigate the stand of your congressional candidates on prolife issues, and get involved in the campaign of those who you think will promote a greater culture of life. Get involved in the Special Olympics or with Buddy Walk (www.BuddyWalk.org).
2. Visit a child with special needs and spend an hour helping make him or her happy.
3. Investigate about the Freedom of Choice Act which is scheduled to be debated in Congress in January. Find out where the Catholic Church stands on this issue. Make a plan on how you can educate others about this issue.

Journal writing

1. Write a letter to Leif. Tell him your thoughts about his life, about the things he missed seeing, about the forgiveness that his mother and all of us need from him. Tell him what you will do to make this world a place where other children like him are more welcome.
2. None of us are “the perfect child” from every standpoint, but all of us are cherished and treasured by God exactly as we are. Write about a few of your own personal defects. See if you can think of a way that your defects actually help others sometimes. Make some resolutions about how you will treat others when you notice their defects or failings.

Resources

• “Voters Guide for Serious Catholics”, Catholic Answers Action: http://www.CAAction.com
• Video about voting Catholic: http://www.CatholicVote.com
• US Bishops statements on voting: http://www.FaithfulCitizenship.org
• Information about the effects of abortion on women: http://www.AfterAbortion.org
• Information on Barak Obama’s voting on the Born Alive Infant Protection Act: http://www.BornAliveTruth.org
• “Our Cherished Right, Our Solemn Duty”, Statement by bishops of New York State about the 2008 elections: http://www.nyscatholic.org
• “Trig, Turning the Tide”, Dennis Teti, National Review Online, October 2, 2008: http://www.nationalreview.com
• “A Tale of Two Down Syndrome Babies”, Paul Kengor, National Catholic Register, September 21, 2008: www.NCRegister.com
• “Palin the Pro-Lifer”, Joel Davideson, National Catholic Register, September 21, 2008: http://www.NCRegister.com
• “Termination rates after prenatal diagnosis of Down Syndrome…” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10521836?dopt=AbstractPlus

Christmas is a time of miracles and a time of gifts. As we celebrate the greatest of all miracles and gifts, that of God becoming a child to save us, it can also be a time to recognize modern miracles, especially the miracle of God’s love working in people’s hearts. In this lesson we will highlight two people who have contributed to some “modern miracles.” They have allowed God’s love to inspire and strengthen their efforts to defend the precious gift of human life.

Stephanie hoffmeier: adoleScent with an attitude … for life

Two-tone hair, black T-shirt with matching fingernails, adolescent attitude … this could describe any one of a million teenagers today. Who it describes in this instance is sixteen-year-old Stephanie Hoffmeier. The student from Colonial Forge High School in Stafford, Virginia, is not just another rebellious teen, however. She wants to do something for God, by helping to overcome the injustice of abortion.

What makes Stephanie so different from other teens her age is her unstoppable conviction. Last academic year, the practicing Baptist filled out the necessary paperwork to begin the first pro-life student organization in the local public high schools. Asked why she would take on such a task, Stephanie responded,“God has laid this on my heart….[Abortion] is a really relevant issue to teenagers today.”

making Space for life, deSpite the obStacleS

The Stafford school system initially denied Stephanie’s application, noting that a pro-life club was not connected to any school “curriculum.” However, Stephanie knew that the Key Club, the Young Republicans, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and other groups were already active in her school. She felt this denial by the school board was unfair, so she did what has often been done by people who think their rights have been ignored – she sought out a lawyer.

Her attorney, David Courtman, a lawyer for the Alliance Defense Fund, determined that the best way to get the school system to take Stephanie seriously was to threaten it with a lawsuit.

The Alliance Defense Fund believed that Stephaniehad a precedent-setting case. As stated on her application, the goal of her club was “to educate people about the biggest holocaust that is going on right here in the United States. To come together and pray to end abortion. To be a voice for my generation and a voice for those who cannot speak for themselves.” Stephanie explained that hers would be a “Christcentered club” whose meetings would begin with prayer and devotion. Any student would be welcome to attend.

miSunderStanding of Separation of church and State

Pro-life issues are more than just religious issues. They are human rights issues. Nevertheless, when religion enters into a decision about public schools or government institutions it often leads to a common misrepresentation of the U.S. Constitution. The Constitution prohibits Congress from establishing a national religion or showing a preference for one religion over another, but it does not restrict the rights of citizens to express their faith and values in public. On the contrary, the Constitution upholds this right. In Stephanie’s instance, her lawsuit might protect the rights of others in the future. Catholics need to be prepared to work with leaders such as Stephanie to promote the common good of society, especially in regards to the rights of the unborn.

fruitS of faith and perSeverance

Stephanie’s persistence in this endeavor can be traced back to her faith.“I prayed for a really long time for God to use me in my school,” she said. The teen did not give up, even when facing opposition, because she knew she was not doing anything wrong. She stood her ground, knowing that the law was behind her. She worked against injustice in a mature way.

Faced with Stephanie’s legal challenge, the Stafford school system recently recognized her pro-life club. Her efforts are already paying off; fellow students are joining her club. Thus, Stephanie is helping to educate students around her. She is convincing others of the truth of human life. Through her club, Stephanie is making a difference. It is her small gift to Christ.

Dr. Markus Grompe: A scientist working for life

Recently another victory for life was won. The victory confirmed the efforts of a Catholic scientist who found himself almost alone among his peers in his insistence on respect for life.

Dr. Markus Grompe is in an elite class of about thirty of the most qualified experts in the world on stem cell research. He is director of the Oregon Stem Cell Center and a member of the board of the prestigiousInternational Society for Stem Cell Research. He has been consulted by such persons as President

Bush on stem cell research.

Dr. Grompe is also a fervent Catholic. His involvement in stem cell research comes from his love of children. He is a practicing pediatrician who decided to go into biochemical genetics and stem cell biology because he saw children who were suffering from genetic diseases.

tough going

As a Catholic and as a compassionate physician, Dr. Grompe has always been convinced that scientific research should never harm any human being, including tiny embryos. He wants to find cures for children’s diseases that can be done even at the initials stages of life. But he also knows that the ends do not justify the means; you cannot harm or kill an embryo so that other children can benefit. Unfortunately, few of his colleagues agreed with him.

Dr. Grompe admits that being a pro-life stem cell scientist has been“tough going.”He explains,“There aren’t many people [pro-life stem cell scientists] out there. The way to be heard is to be successful in science. That’s the only reason I have a voice. If I had my moral convictions but didn’t do prominent research in my area, I would have no impact.”

The doctor was often amazed that such intelligent people could show such moral blindness. While continuing to work with integrity and professionalism, Dr. Grompe published papers in prestigious scientific journals advocatingrespect for the human embryo.

a breakthrough reaffirmS life

Then, in November, it was announced that two of his colleagues, Professor Shinya Yamanaka at Kyoto University in Japan and Professor James Thomson of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, found an ethical way to “reprogram”adult skin cells into “pluripotent” stem cells. This meant that scientists would not have to use or kill human embryos to get pluripotent stem cells.

Pluripotent cells hold the promise of delivering cures for many diseases. Up to this point, most scientists thought that the only way to produce such cells would be by dissecting and killing human embryos. This latest development is abreakthrough for pro-life researchers and very good news.

a fruit of perSiStence

If it hadn’t been for persistent voices such as those of Dr. Grompe, this method of stem cell research would not have been so aggressively pursued as a viable alternative to cloning. In fact, it was known among the top stem cell scientists that Dr. Grompe was already pursuing “reprogramming” adult stem cells in his lab at the Oregon Stem Cell Center.

Dr. Grompe was very happy about the research breakthrough. In newspapers and scientific journals, he drew attention to the news.“I think this is really what we have been dreaming about,” he told the National Catholic Register.

Asked by Our Faith In Action if his efforts had helped other stem cell scientists think more deeply about the dignity of human life,Dr.Grompe replied,“Definitely. But I haven’t converted anyone to the Catholic faith yet. Just made themthink.”

One of the scientists who led this breakthrough, Dr. James Thomson, recently admitted he always had ethical qualms about the destruction of human embryos, even though he had been doing it in the past.“If human embryonic stem cell research does not make you at least a little bit uncomfortable,” Dr. Thomson told The New York Times after his breakthrough,“you have not thought about it enough.”

much Still to be done

There is still much to be done to build respect for the dignity of life, and Christmas can be a special time to gain strength and confidence for our efforts. Christmas reminds us that God sees each human being, no matter how weak and small, as a great gift. As we kneel to adore the Christ Child in the manger this Christmas, let us renew our promise to love him and to love all our brothers and sisters in him. He has sacrificed himself to save us and bring us love. We can do nothing less. He is here to help us.

catechism clips

2271: God, the Lord of life, has entrusted to men the noble mission of safeguarding life, and men must carry it out in a manner worthy of themselves. Life must be protected with the utmost care from the moment of conception.

2294: Science and technology by their very nature require unconditional respect for fundamental moral criteria. They must be at the service of the human person, of his inalienable rights, of his true and integral good, in conformity with the plan and the will of God.

2044: In order that the message of salvation can show the power of its truth and radiance before men, it must be authenticated by the witness of the life of Christians.

Catholic Pioneer of Genetic Research

You may have noticed all the buzz after all the votes were counted in our recent election. News reporters wanted to know what factors had turned the tide in President Bush’s favor. So they turned to the exit pollsters, the people who question voters about their views once they leave the voting area.

The news people expected voters’ top priority to be either the war against terrorism or the job market. Instead — to nearly everyone’s surprise — it was “moral values” that topped the exit polls as “the issue that mattered most” in the election.

What Was Different This Time?

There have been serious moral issues at stake in other elections, but this time many more people took this into account. The high turn-out of voters in this election also seems to suggest that more people were concerned about the issues involved.

One reason seemed to be the concern many people have about preserving the sanctity of marriage. Protection of marriage was on the ballot in eleven states, and in every one of these states it won by a vast majority. This issue surely gave the voters another reason to pause and consider each candidate’s positions on moral issues.

Another moral issue that people seemed to notice more this time was the attitude of the candidates toward pro-life issues.

A Chance to Help

Nevertheless, the issue of moral values was only a relative winner among the five priorities polled, not an absolute winner. 22% said it was the decisive factor, not 51%. If we are concerned about moral values, it is clear we still have much work to do. Young people have a key role in this work, since so much of popular culture is addressed to them, but we need to understand better what is at stake in order to take a stand ourselves.

What are moral values, really? And, when two people disagree on what makes one choice moral and another immoral — as so many did disagree in the presidential election — how can we know whose values are truly the most moral?

Right vs. Wrong

One definition of the word morality is “in accord with the principles of right and wrong.”

Another way to state that thought might be: Moral values are the deeply held beliefs that guide us when we need to decide whether it would be right or wrong to do something —or not do something.

It might help to illustrate the difference between a moral act and an immoral act by comparing two incidents that were recently in the news.

Morality Rocks

Last spring, a young lady from Redmond, Washington, wrote a short letter to the business executives who run Nordstrom department stores. Her name is Ella Gunderson, and she was concerned because she had a hard time finding modest clothing choices in their stores.

Ella wrote: “I am an eleven-year-old girl who has tried shopping at your store for clothes (in particular jeans), but all of them ride way under my hips, and the next size up is too big and falls down. I see all of these girls who walk around with pants that show their belly button and underwear. Your clerks suggest that there is only one look. If that is true, then girls are supposed to walk around half-naked. I think you should change that.”

A lot of local and even national publicity followed, including an appearance on NBC’s “Today Show” with Katie Couric. The most exciting development came when the Nordstrom executives promised to offer more modest clothing than in years past —leading other large retail-store chains to make the same pledge.

That’s a pretty impressive accomplishment for an 11-year-old girl.

From Ella’s experience, it’s easy to identify two ways her moral values made a positive difference in her life.

First, she said “No” to the immodest clothing choices she found when she went to the store. Simply by refusing to purchase the clothes, she made a moral choice.

Then she said “Yes” to doing something to change the situation. It might not have seemed like much to write a short letter, but just look at the results that followed from that one small, morality-based decision.

Immorality Rankles

Contrast Ella’s choices in a tricky situation with a choice made by Terrell Owens, the talented wide receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles who has become one of the most popular stars in the National Football League.

On Monday, November 15, just before the start of ABC’s Monday Night Football game between the Eagles and the Dallas Cowboys, Terrell appeared in a promotional advertisement for ABC’s racy soap opera “Desperate Housewives.”

In the ad, Terrell is in the locker room in his Eagles uniform, about to run out for the start of the game. Suddenly Nicollette Sheridan, an actress on the “Desperate Housewives” show, approaches him. Wearing only a bath towel, she tries to talk him into staying there with her rather than joining his team on the field. When he explains that he has a duty to his team, she jumps into his arms. With that, Owens changes his mind. “The team’s going to have to win one without me,” he says with a smirk.

Time to Speak Up

In the days after the ad ran, there was quite an outcry from the general public and from some influential people in the NFL. “When we turn on ‘Monday Night Football,’ you’re expecting to see football,” said Tony Dungy, head coach of the Indianapolis Colts. “I want my boys to watch football. I don’t want them to see what they saw.”

Lovie Smith, head coach of the Chicago Bears, added: “I’m a father. I have young kids at home, too. I’m a Christian man. I think it goes without saying that what happened was totally inappropriate.”

And Art Rooney, president of the Pittsburgh Steelers, called the promotion an “out and out disgrace. This is NFL football. We don’t do those things.”

Did he miss something?

For his part, Terrell seemed surprised at the moral outrage the ad provoked. He apologized — but not because he agreed that the ad was morally wrong. He said he was sorry only because some people felt upset about it. “I felt like it was clean,” he said. “I think it just really got taken out of context with a lot of people and I apologize for that.”

In other words, he believed the problem lay not in what he had done, but only in how people had reacted to it. This would be like smashing a neighbor’s window, on purpose — and then, when the neighbor came out and yelled at you, you say you were sorry about upsetting him even though you saw nothing wrong in what you did to his window.

You could say that this attitude points out that Terrell’s moral compass is malfunctioning. He doesn’t have a clear understanding of what is right and wrong. His moral values are not consistent with the full truth about God and man.

Tough Enough

Standing up for moral values takes courage. To clarify the morality (or lack thereof) of the choice Terrell made, let’s imagine he refused to make the ad or insisted on making the ad in a different way. Imagine if he insisted on telling Nicollette:

“I’m sorry, Nicollette, but I can’t do that. First, you are not my wife. Second, I have a job to do. Third, many kids who look up to me are watching.”

In other words

“It is morally wrong for two people to be intimate when they are not married to one another.

“I have a duty to my coach, my teammates, our fans and everyone tuning in on TV. It’s morally wrong to shirk my duties to others in order to satisfy my selfish desires.

“Being a man implies a responsibility. I have a duty to encourage people, especially young people, to be the best they can be — not to live an immoral and destructive lifestyle.”

Imagine if, after saying that, he turned away from Nicollette and ran out to the field to join his teammates. The ABC network would still have been morally wrong to show a scantily clad woman on TV, especially one who acted the way Nicollette acted with Terrell, but at least Terrell could have held his head high.

Terrell and ABC, you just lost a chance to help people.

The Conscience Clause

Have you ever heard a car alarm go off? It buzzes, it whistles, it screeches like a fire alarm. Your conscience is like that. It should go off when you are about to do something you know to be wrong in all circumstances (such as vote for a political candidate who strongly supports the right of people to destroy unborn babies).

But your conscience does not decide all by itself what is right or wrong. In order for it to guide you to doing the right thing, it has to be formed, because sometimes we can make mistakes, even big ones, especially when things get confusing. Only when your conscience has learned objective right from wrong will it be able to function as a reliable moral compass.

Proclaiming Morality

God does not leave us alone to be fooled by our selfishness or the passing fads. He puts his natural moral law into our consciences, and he further helps us with his teaching and grace.

Ever since God became man in the person of Jesus Christ, He has called on the Catholic Church to courageously stand up for what is moral and right in human society — and stand against what is immoral and wrong.

What a tremendous privilege it is to be a part of that Church — and what an awesome responsibility.

Of course, championing morality while challenging immorality won’t always make us popular. But it will always be the right thing to do, and it will always help our friends and our world find the way to real fulfillment.

It’s 2004. Do you know where your moral compass is?

Vocabulary

Duty – Conduct based on faithfulness to one’s responsibility.

Conscience — knowledge of right and wrong and the conviction that one should do what is right.

Modest — clean and proper in thought, conduct and dress.

Moral compass — a metaphor for the “internal pointer” in our heart that shows us the way to go in a situation with moral implications.

Moral values — the deeply held beliefs that guide us when we need to decide whether it would be right or wrong to do something -- or not do something.

Natural moral law — the standard of right and wrong that can be discerned using human reason and logic, even by people without religious faith or beliefs.

Priority —something coming before another in importance.

Privilege — a right or liberty granted as a favor or benefit.

Responsibility — the force that binds a person to his or her obligations; accountability.

Bible Blurbs

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.” (Matthew 5:14-16)

“Let no one disregard you because you are young, but be an example to all the believers in the way you speak and behave, and in your love, your faith and your purity.” (1Timothy 4:14)

“Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves. (Matthew 10:16)

Catechism Quotes

1798 A well-formed conscience is upright and truthful. It formulates its judgments according to reason, in conformity with the true good willed by the wisdom of the Creator. Everyone must avail himself of the means to form his conscience.

1802 The Word of God is a light for our path. We must assimilate it in faith and prayer and put it into practice. This is how moral conscience is formed.

Saints and Heroes

St. Maria Goretti was just 12 years old in 1902, when she was attacked by a 19-year-old farm-hand named Alessandro Serenelli. He tried to rape her, but she refused to submit to his advances. She told him what he was trying to do was a sin and warned him that he would go to hell if he did not call off the attack. He stabbed her 14 times. She survived for two days in the hospital, where she forgave Alessandro and asked God to forgive him. She died holding a crucifix and a medal of the Blessed Mother. Eventually Alessandro repented of his sin and even testified at her cause for beatification.  (Note: the picture is from a movie about the life of Maria Goretti made by RAI, an Italian television network. The movie broke all records for audience numbers in Italy.)

Bishop Clemens Augustus von Galen (1878-1946).

Better known as the “Lion of Munster”. During the whole Nazi period in Germany, Bishop von Galen raised his voice in defense of the rights of the Jews, the poor, the sick, and the Church . He energetically opposed the spread of Nazi paganism.

His homilies of the summer of 1941 became famous, which brought him to the brink of being arrested and condemned to death. He will soon be beatified by the Holy Father.

Von Galen’s resistance to the Nazi euthanasia programs was kept up by other priests, among them the priest in charge of the Berlin Cathedral, Father Bernhard Lichtenberg.

Fr. Lichtenberg was arrested, tried and condemned in October 1941. He died in 1943 on the way to Dachau. John Paul II raised him to the honor of the altar on June 23, 1996.

Discussion Questions

Do you tend to view the popular culture through the eyes of the Church — or are you prone to viewing the Church through the eyes of the popular culture?

In what areas does the popular culture tend to agree with the morality of the Church? In what areas does it disagree?

What are the potential costs of “going with the flow” of the popular culture in deciding what values to live by? What are the benefits of standing with the Church’s values even when those choices make you unpopular?

Personal Reflection/Writing

One of the ways to consider the basis of our own moral values is to think about those times when it would be wrong not to do something. For example, if you came across a lost toddler in the city, it would be wrong not to help the child in whatever way you could — trying to find his mother, calling the police or whatever seemed most helpful and appropriate to the particular circumstance. Have you ever found yourself in a situation where it would have been wrong not to take some kind of action? Describe the situation. Tell what you did then, or what you now wish you had done, looking back.

Write a letter to Terrell Davis. Tell him why you think his appearance in the ABC promotion for “Desperate Wives” was wrong. Explain why it was wrong regardless of how he feels about it. Also tell about how morally loose behavior by admired sports celebrities encourages many young people to make bad decisions that can affect their lives in negative ways for years to come.

Resolution Idea

Go through your music and movie collections. See which of the recordings celebrate immorality as though it’s “cool” or “inevitable.” Consider getting rid of such recordings. With friends develop a collection of music and videos that promote courageous moral or Christian values.

Consider the TV shows you like to watch on a regular basis.  Review the programs from the eyes of morality.  (For example, does the program show non-married people in bed with each other?  If so, consider not watching this program again.

Further Formation: Catechism Tips

Conscience is man’s most secret core, and his sanctuary. There he is alone with God whose voice echoes in his depths.

Conscience is a judgment of reason by which the human person recognizes the moral quality of a concrete act.

For the man who has committed evil, the verdict of his conscience remains a pledge of conversion and of hope.

Faced with a moral choice, conscience can make either a right judgment in accordance with reason and the divine law or, on the contrary, an erroneous judgment that departs from them.

A human being must always obey the certain judgment of his conscience.

Conscience can remain in ignorance or make erroneous judgments. Such ignorance and errors are not always free of guilt.

Quotable Quotes

“The talking heads are rushing to interpret the 2004 election as the year of the ‘values voter.’ A little skepticism is in order. Twenty-two percent of the electorate identified “moral values” as the “most important issue” shaping his or her vote. No other single issue garnered an equal or higher percentage. But that hardly yields the interpretation that values were the most important election issue. Even if we assume that the exit polls were completely accurate, the numbers do not add up to a moral-values election.

“I’d love to see the American people say with one voice that they are disgusted with the trash-mouth Hollywood types, the porn industry that invades our computers and our cable channels, the unethical businessmen, the foul reality shows, the abortion mills, kids killing kids over sneakers, the drugs, the child abuse, the shock jocks … well, I have only 750 words so I’ll stop there.

“The point is: We’ve got a long way to go before that day dawns.”

Related Websites

http://www.catholiceducation.org/ The Catholic Educator’s Resource Center, a resource clearinghouse for Catholic teachers and school administrators

http://www.heritage.org/ The Heritage Foundation, a research and education institute (a

“think tank”) stressing the principles of traditional American values

http://www.catholicyouth.org/ The Catholic Youth Foundation, a Catholic source of youth-ministry

resources

http://www.catholics-in-action.org/ Catholics In Action, a group based in Louisville, Ky., that works to restore the primacy of traditional family values:

http://www.sexnot4letters.com/ Sex Is Not A Four-Letter Word, a site of articles, testimonies and links all aimed at encouraging teens to reach for the beauty and rightness of chastity.

Introduction

There remains great debate about who was most responsible for the death of Jesus. Christians know that Jesus’ death was caused by the sin of each of us. But we also know that Christ died at one specific moment in history, and that those who lived at that time also had a part in it. They could have avoided it. We could have avoided it. We know Judas had a part in it, since he turned Jesus over to those who hated him. We know the religious leaders at the time had a part in it, since they handed him over to the Romans for crucifixion. Nevertheless, one thing is certain: Jesus was crucified because Pontius Pilate allowed it.  

Yet, Pontius Pilate personally opposed Jesus’ crucifixion; he said so several times during the course of Christ’s trial, and ultimately washed his hands of Christ’s blood before he turned him over for crucifixion.  So the question becomes: did his personal opposition to Christ’s being crucified truly absolve him of his responsibility in the matter?  Personally opposed or not, he still gave his permission for it to happen.  

Now fast-forward two thousand years to our current political climate, where our leaders must decide on many important issues- including matters of moral importance.  Since some matters are as serious as life and death, the Church has recently been reminding politicians and voters about five non-negotiable issues we must consider when choosing a candidate in the upcoming elections.  In this lesson, we will examine these non-negotiable issues, which we can call the “Big Five”: 

Abortion 

Euthanasia 

Embryonic stem cell research 

Human cloning 

Homosexual marriage  

Why so important?

Of course, Americans face more than these five issues during this election.  There are economic issues, security and world peace issues, including the war on terrorism and Iraq.  With so many pressing issues, why does the Church say these five issues are essential and non-negotiable?  The reason is that the right to life is antecedent to all other rights.

The Church is not trying to impose its religious creed on everyone. It is simply reminding Catholics and society about basic truth. The Church reminds us that these are basic human rights issues. Giving in on these issues will make our society crumble.

The first four non-negotiable, ethical issues are life-and-death issues, actions that always kill innocent human lives.  The fifth one deals with something essential for a healthy society: marriage and family.

The First Four: Life-and-Death Issues

Abortion and euthanasia are deliberate acts to terminate life in its most vulnerable stages: in the womb, and in sickness or old age.  Both are hot topics in current elections.  

Candidates fiercely debate the legality of abortion and partial-birth abortion-a procedure in which the baby is partially removed from the womb, and then killed.  The state of Oregon has approved euthanasia, but part of the federal government is challenging this. Many courts of law are dealing with the issue of the killing of the sick or elderly.

Embryonic stem cell research and a potential application of human cloning involve the manipulation and killing of human life for scientific purposes. Scientists want to use stem cells from human embryos to create healthy cells for sick people. But a human embryo is a baby at the very beginning of its life. All scientific data points to this, even though this is not obvious to the naked eye. Some scientists promote human cloning as a way to reproduce, or mass produce, healthy organs and body parts for medical use. 

Even though embryonic stem cell research and human cloning are proposed as a way to help the sick, they also involve inhuman production of human lives (manufacturing children), manipulation of these new human beings, and their destruction. Similarly, neither embryonic stem cell research nor human cloning is a proven method.  In fact, adult stem cell research has offered a positive alternative.  Nevertheless, the scientific community puts heavy pressure on elected officials to grant government money to these morally destructive pursuits.

The Fifth Issue: Protection of Marriage  

The last of the Big Five is homosexual “marriage.”  Some elected officials want government to allow and recognize the union of two people of the same sex as a marriage.  Some judges or politicians have declared homosexual marriages legal even though these decisions often disregard laws that have been enacted to protect the definition of marriage. Even though most Americans oppose legalizing same-sex marriages, a very vocal minority is gaining the sympathy of many politicians and judges. 

The Church’s Role:  Reminding about Basic Human Rights

The Church is not interested in political parties.  In this case it is interested only in helping us distinguish between right and wrong.  That is why it offers guidance also during election years, when we face the responsibility of choosing legislative leaders.  The Church has always confirmed the importance of certain basic ethical values, even when doing so has made it very unpopular, and has even lead to persecution.

Right to Life

Abortion, euthanasia, embryonic stem-cell research and human cloning all result in the deliberate ending of human life. They go against the most basic human right: the right to life. 

Some argue that embryos are not human beings, but consider this: either the embryo is a human being or it is not.  If it is not, then it should not become a child and then an adult. To use a simple example: a human embryo will definitely not grow into a cabbage or a kitten. From the moment of conception, a human embryo has all the elements necessary for its full development. Saying that it only becomes a human life after a certain amount of cell multiplication is arbitrary, and contradicts the facts. The embryo becomes a human life because it already is a human life. 

As discussed above, this is not just a faith issue. Even though as Christians we know that these things directly violate the Fifth Commandment, “You shall not kill”, every human being is capable of understanding that killing innocent human beings is gravely wrong, whether he believes in God or not. Only selfishness and superficialness can make someone deny this.  

That is why the Church is very clear when it speaks on these issues.  Abortion is a “moral evil” and this teaching is unchangeable (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2271).  Euthanasia is “morally unacceptable” and “constitutes a murder” (CCC, 2277).

Likewise, human cloning and embryonic stem cell research violate human dignity because they involve creating, manipulating, and oftentimes the killing of human embryos solely for research.  “It is immoral to produce human embryos intended for exploitation as disposable biological material” (CCC, 2275).  The reason is that a newly formed embryo carries all the genetic material the person will ever need during his or her entire life.  A new human being is there- just not in the form that is obvious to the naked eye. Therefore, any attempt to manipulate the embryo or genetic material is the manipulation or destruction of a human being.

Respect for Marriage

In regards to homosexual “marriage,” the Church has always upheld and defended the sanctity of marriage as an intimate union between a man and a woman. In marriage, a lot is at stake: the psychological and physical health of the spouses, the psychological and physical health of children, and the virtues that spouses and children will live in society. The health of society depends tremendously on the health of marriage and the family.  

There are real consequences for everyone when marriage is called something it is not. It promotes a culture of deception and moral confusion.  The very things that give society stability will be considered optional, and eventually will be despised. Calling homosexual unions marriage will promote a lack of respect for the essential things in real marriage. 

These essential things in marriage, such as the sexual complementarity of the man and woman and the openness to the proper conception and education of children, work for the good of society and he good of children. They are an indispensable help for deeper happiness, maturity, and fulfillment of the husband and wife, and especially for the healthy formation of children. Every child has a right to a true father and mother, and a real family.

While the Church acknowledges some persons may have an attraction to other persons of the same sex, it is firm in its teaching: “Homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered…contrary to natural law” (CCC, 2357).  Homosexual persons are called to abstaining from sexual acts that go against the correct use of their sexual faculties, as every Christian person is.

The Church never tells people who to vote for, but it continues to educate and inform voters on matters of moral importance.

Election 2004

While the Church does not endorse either candidate in the current presidential election, its guidance helps us compare and contrast their views on the Big Five issues.  

	President Bush	Senator Kerry
Abortion	Signed into law a ban on partial-birth abortion ban and signed the Unborn Victims of Violence Act  Appointed several federal pro-life judges  Has repeatedly stated he wants to promote a culture of life. Stated many times that a compassionate country should have room for all human beings, including the unborn.	Voted six times against the ban on partial birth abortions  Voted in favor of using tax dollars to fund abortions Voted against Unborn Victims of Violence Act Voted against the appointment of pro-life judges Promised to appoint only pro-abortion judges
Euthanasia	The Bush Administration challenged Oregon’s assisted-suicide law in court	Claims he is personally opposed to assisted-suicide, but would not challenge any state’s law regarding it
Embryonic  Stem-Cell Research	Blocked federal funding on new embryonic stem-cell research	Promises to end the President’s block on funding for embryonic stem-cell research
Human cloning	Regards human cloning as “morally wrong” and called for a ban on it	Voted against a ban on human cloning and even introduced his own bill to make it legal
Homosexual “Marriage”	Supports a constitutional amendment defining marriage as between a man and a woman	Voted against the Defense of Marriage Act in 1996 and then against allowing even a debate on the proposed marriage amendment

A fundamental difference in the candidates is the role they give their faith when making decisions.  President Bush, a born-again Christian, believes strongly that his faith should influence his decisions.  Senator Kerry, though a professed Roman Catholic, believes his faith should not influence the way he votes as a politician.  He has said many times that he is personally opposed to certain issues, but would not impose his personal beliefs on others. 

Other Elected Officials  

In this election many other political positions are also being filled. One third of U.S. senators face election. All the members of the House of Representatives will be chosen. Many state and local officials will be elected. All these positions are important in defending these five non-negotiable issues. A responsible citizen will promote candidates in all these positions who defend human life and the family, since our society is affected by the laws that are proposed, enforced, and interpreted by all levels of the government. Of course national positions have more universal effect, but state and local levels are also essential in promoting and protecting a culture of life and a culture of respect for marriage and family. In addition, most national politicians and judges start first at a local level.

Vices and Virtues in the Political Process

In a perfect world, the sound moral judgments of voters would put moral leaders in office.  Unfortunately, certain negative factors can affect the outcome of an election.  One is the deceit and confusion that occurs when politicians give false information about issues or are not clear with us about where they really stand.  News media can sometimes add to this problem. Voters must show discernment when choosing a candidate.  Discernment is figuring out which issues are the most important, based on what is right and wrong, then prioritizing them accordingly. 

Another negative factor is moral cowardice on part of politicians.  Even if politicians are convinced of the right thing, it is difficult for them to stand up for it.  This leaves voters with imperfect or poor options when going to the polls.  It takes moral courage to stand up for what is right, both as a politician and as a supporter.  When a candidate shows strong moral values, we should do all we can to support him or her.  Sometimes this takes a spirit of initiative and networking for essential causes.  An example of this is a campaign by Catholic Answers, an apologetics organization, for national distribution of a voter’s guide outlining the Big Five issues.  They advertised the guide in full-page ads in a national newspaper and on radio stations in order to reach the most people.

Voters may also hinder the political process by way of their laziness and indifference.  Either they do not make the effort to inform themselves properly on the candidates’ true positions or they do not vote because they think their effort will not amount to anything.  In fact, little more than half of all eligible voters actually vote.  Victory, however, results from tenacity and action.  The beauty of democracy is that it rests in our hands.  It is our responsibility to make our government a reflection of truth.

Get Involved 

Some say the Church has no place in politics, but there is more than politics involved in an election.  The Church has a duty to educate consciences on moral matters, just as lay people have a responsibility to spread Gospel values in the secular world.  Many times during his pontificate, Pope John Paul II has reaffirmed this vocation to evangelize by reminding us, “Be not afraid.”  

While we do not have the right to impose our beliefs on others, we have a right and a duty to propose the truth to them.  Truth has a special power because it makes sense, like the difference between life and death.  It also carries a special grace, as God uses it to convert hearts and minds.  

The good news is that young people today are more pro-life and pro-family than in the very recent past. And we don’t have to be over 18 to have an impact.   Often “campaigning” done by young people such as discussing these issues with friends and family, can make a huge impact. Ignorance is the greatest enemy to truth.  We can make a difference by educating others on the importance of the Big Five issues and the stance that candidates take on them.  Begin by understanding theses issues ourselves, and then we can find effective ways to help others understand them. 

Let’s keep in mind that our efforts to educate others on these issues cannot end with these elections. The Holy Father has called young people to be active protagonists in promoting a culture of life and in spreading the Good News about marriage and family. He believes deeply in young people. We need to remember, however, that people are won over by charity in proposing the truth and by respect for their free will.  

Vocabulary

Human Embryo- A human life in the earliest stage of human development.  

Discernment-Wisdom and judgment in determining the moral importance of issues or problems and prioritize them accordingly. 

Moral Courage-Facing and dealing with what is important without withdrawing when it is dangerous or difficult. The virtue that helps us put into action and defend essential values, especially when they are contrary to popular opinion

Initiative-Personal capacity for thinking up and carrying out a positive action. Ability to think and act without being urged or obligated

Networking- Making the most of one’s personal relationships to spread information and inspire action

Apologetics- The art of using reason and knowledge to defend one’s faith. Explaining the specifically Christian faith to non-Christians and explaining the Catholic faith to non-Catholics 

Tenacity- Endurance, strength, persistence. Holding fast to ideals and actions. Opposite of laziness. 

Arbitrary- depending on individual discretion (as of a judge) and not fixed by standards, rules, or law

Antecedent- something that precedes- or comes before- something else

Complementarity- the state of filling up or completing; supplying mutual needs or offsetting mutual lacks   

Bible Blurbs

“I have set two things before you: life and death, blessing and curse; therefore choose life.  (Deuteronomy 30:19)

 “What you did you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.”  Mt. 25: 45

“No one who lights a lamp conceals it with a vessel or sets it under a bed; rather, he places it on a lamp stand so that those who enter may see the light. (Luke 8:16)

“…for if these things are done when the wood is green what will happen when it is dry?” (Luke 23:31)

For the children of this world are more astute in dealing with their own kind than are the children of light.’ (Luke 16:8)

Saints and Heroes

White Rose Martyrs (1942)

As Hitler’s Nazi party consumed Germany and threatened the rest of the free world, a group of university students in Munich decided to educate the German public about what was taking place.

Hans Scholl, a medical student, was a natural leader with a charismatic personality.  His sister, Sophie, was intelligent and gutsy, never backing down from the truth.  With fellow students Christoph Probst, Willi Graf, and Alexander Schmorell, they formed the White Rose, an underground resistance movement against the Nazis.

Though from different religious backgrounds - Orthodox, Protestant, Catholic - the students recognized and wrote about the fundamental evils in Hitler’s plan.  They printed and distributed thousands of anti-Hitler leaflets to leaders throughout Germany.  Three of the White Rose, the Scholls and Probst, were caught passing out leaflets at the university.  At trial, when asked why she participated, Sophie proclaimed, “Somebody had to make a start!”  Hours later all three were beheaded.  Today, over 200 schools in Germany are named after the students who gave their lives to promote truth.  

Blessed Alberto Marvelli (1918-1946)

Alberto Marvelli grew up in Rimini, Italy.  A boy of great energy and determination, Alberto excelled at sports, especially cycling.  After serving in the army, Alberto became an engineer and worked for Fiat, a famous sports car manufacturer.  When the German army destroyed his hometown, he returned to help the people left injured, homeless, and hungry.  He traveled all over by bicycle delivering food, clothing, and medicine.  Once, he sent the windowpanes of his own house to a sick priest whose house was without windows.

His tireless works of charity earned him such a reputation that local authorities asked him to lead the committee for rebuilding the area.  He oversaw building projects and managed large sums of money for those in need.  He made the most of his responsibilities by founding a university, soup kitchens, and an association for construction workers. 

Alberto enjoyed serving people through political action.  He became a candidate for political office in the new government.  Unfortunately, Alberto was struck by a military truck and killed on Election Day while riding his bicycle to the polling station.  Even his political enemies mourned the loss of this sincere, courageous young man.  

Discussion Questions

A. Using the Big Five guidelines, which presidential candidate, which senatorial candidates, and which candidates for the House of Representatives most support a culture of life and family?    

B. What is the difference between the Big Five and other life-and-death issues such as war and capital punishment?  (Note: Help students distinguish between situations that are “intrinsically evil” and those that prudential decisions made with certain criteria and which the Church has never said they are always intrinsically evil (Criteria for defense of society combined with respect for human life. Final decision left to the prudent judgment of “those who have responsibility for the common good”, etc.) See resources: 

Abortion: CCC 2771; Euthanasia CCC 2277; Embryonic Stem-Cell Research: CCC2275; Human Cloning: CCC2275;  Homosexual “Marriage”: CCC2357; 

Capital Punishment: CCC2266; War:  CCC2307-2317 

C. Is it possible to believe one thing but to do the opposite?  Give examples of how some politicians act this out in their political offices.  Why would a politician do this?  Is this a good characteristic to have in a leader?  

D. Some people staunchly identify themselves with a certain political party to the point of disregarding these five non-negotiable issues.  Is this a good rationale to have if one wants to be a serious Catholic voter?  

Writing Activities

A. In your journal, make a list of some things you really believe in.  Next, write what you would do if these beliefs were challenged.  Which beliefs are objective truths?  Can you prove them?  Which beliefs are your own personal opinions? Can you support them?

B.  Write down the process of discerning a political candidate’s views.

Resolution Ideas:  

1. Gather information on your local and state political candidates.  Make a bulletin board for your classroom or school delineating the candidates’ positions according to the Big Five criteria.  Make handouts available with the same information and offer them to your fellow students so they may disseminate the information.  

2. Distribute the Catholic Answers Voter’s Guide for Serious Catholics ( HYPERLINK “http://www.catholic.com” www.catholic.com) to neighbors, relatives, friends, and other Catholics.  

3. Organize a debate to encourage students to further research the moral aspects of campaign issues, and to express their own opinions to rest of the class, or to the whole school.  Explore the issues of just war and capital punishment in addition to the Big Five.

Further Formation 

From Doctrinal Note on Some Questions Regarding the Participation of Catholics in Political Life

About the Five Non-Negotiable Issues:

“When political activity comes up against moral principles that do not admit of exception, compromise or derogation, the Catholic commitment becomes more evident and laden with responsibility. In the face of fundamental and inalienable ethical demands, Christians must recognize that what is at stake is the essence of the moral law, which concerns the integral good of the human person. This is the case with laws concerning abortion and euthanasia (not to be confused with the decision to forgo extraordinary treatments, which is morally legitimate). Such laws must defend the basic right to life from conception to natural death. In the same way, it is necessary to recall the duty to respect and protect the rights of the human embryo. Analogously, the family needs to be safeguarded and promoted, based on monogamous marriage between a man and a woman, and protected in its unity and stability in the face of modern laws on divorce: in no way can other forms of cohabitation be placed on the same level as marriage, nor can they receive legal recognition as such.” (Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, , November 24, 2002, number 4)

From The Catechism of the Catholic Church 

About discernment, prudence, justice, and fortitude:

1835 Prudence disposes the practical reason to discern, in every circumstance, our true good and to choose the right means for achieving it. 

1806 …With the help of this virtue (prudence) we apply moral principles to particular cases without error and overcome doubts about the good to achieve and the evil to avoid.  

1836 Justice consists in the firm and constant will to give God and neighbor their due. 1837 Fortitude ensures firmness in difficulties and constancy in the pursuit of the good.

  “All sinners were the authors of Christ’s Passion … the Church does not hesitate to impute to Christians the gravest responsibility for the torments inflicted upon Jesus.  (Catechism of the Catholic Church number 598)

 ”…This Biblical language does not mean that those who handed him over were merely passive players in a scenario written in advance by God.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church number 599)

 “No ideology can erase from the human spirit the certainty that marriage exists solely between a man and a woman…”( Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Note on Legal Recognition to Unions of Homosexual Persons, November 24, 2002, number  2)

 “Society owes its continued survival to the family, founded on marriage.”  (Note on Legal Recognition to Unions of Homosexual Persons, number

 “Legal recognition of homosexual unions or placing them on the same level as marriage would mean… making it a model in present-day society..(and) would also obscure basic values which belong to the common inheritance of humanity.”(Note on Legal Recognition to Unions of Homosexual Persons, number 11)