
What do you say to a mother seeking abortion as a supposed remedy to the crises in her life?
Particularly, how would you respond to her if she told you the following? “Well, at least I will be sending my baby to heaven.”
I have had this conversation before, actually. It occurred outside a now-closed, thanks be to God, abortion mill in Dallas, Texas.
One mother I remember particularly had come to the clinic seeking abortion that day. After checking in, she came out to the front porch of the clinic to talk to her accomplice, a woman who was smoking a cigarette.
I engaged the mother seeking abortion into a conversation. I could sense she knew what she was doing was wrong. The relief she felt was that at least she would be sening her child to heaven, or so she thought.
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO A WOMAN SEEKING ABORTION WHO THINKS HER BABY WILL GO TO HEAVEN?
I think the response a pro-lifer gives in this situation tells a lot.
The modern, popular mindset of pro-lifers would not disagree with this mother seeking abortion that she will be sending your child to heaven.
The popular sentimentality these days remains that all unborn children, especially those murdered, are saved to heaven. After all, they have committed no willful sin against God. And God is merciful, loving, and understanding.
Does this mean it is true that the mother seeking abortion will be sending her baby to heaven?
QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF
Are All Children Immaculately Conceived?
It would seem, if all babies go to heaven if they die that all children, everywhere, are immaculately conceived. There would be nothing inherently disordered or fallen in human nature.
Yet, Scripture says “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). The Bible doesn’t make a categorical exception for each and every person so long as they are still a baby.
So, the Dogma of Original Sin Can Be Denied?
Saint Paul in two different epistles describes the effects of original sin (Romans 5:12-19 and 1 Corinthians 15:21-22). The fall of Adam and Eve, recounted in Genesis 3, effects all of mankind. We are all conceived into a fallen, human nature. Or, not…
This long-understood pillar of the Christian faith is called into question now. For, if all unborn children go to heaven, then how can we also say they are guilty of original sin?
Christ’s Requirement to be Baptized Can Be Ignored?
John 3:5 reads, “Jesus answered, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.’”
Saint Peter writes that Baptism “now saves you” (1 Peter 3:21). Elsewhere, the New Testament speaks of Baptism as the necessary gateway to heaven (cf. Acts 2:38, 22:16, Rom. 6:3–4, Col. 2:11–12).
Historically, the Church’s 2000-year history of urging quick Baptism for newborns was all for naught, however, it would seem, if all babies go to heaven. After all, there is nothing there to cleanse. It would seem Jesus had it wrong.
Should We Applaud Mothers Seeking Abortion?
I know, it is a shocking question. But let’s take the current, common, pro-life mindset to its logical conclusion.
It would seem as though the mother seeking abortion ought to be applauded by faithful Christians. For, if she sends her baby to heaven with the abortion, then she is fulfilling her duty as a parent to help get her child to heaven.
See how twisted the logic becomes?
Is an Abortionist More Powerful Than a Priest?
It would appear that an abortionist is more powerful than a priest. Moreover, it would seem like the abortion clinic is a holy place, full of efficacious, sacramental power!
After all, the abortionist is apparently doing “God’s work,” by sending souls to heaven.
The priest can baptize the child upon birth and hope the child perseveres in the faith to attain heaven. But supposedly the abortionist need not mess with that long process.
Oh, sure, the abortionist is guilty for the mortal sin of murder. The mother seeking abortion is guilty and those who served as accomplices are guilty unto the Lord too. But, if all unbaptized children who die go to heaven, then why has the grave sin of infanticide always been attributed to the work of the demons, particularly Molech?
“You shall not give any of your children to offer them to Molech, and so profane the name of your God: I am the Lord” (Leviticus 18:21, cf. 1 Kings 11:7).
The truth is, murdering children is the work of demons, not of God.
OR MAYBE
Or maybe there’s a different explanation and a different response to make to the mother seeking abortion.
And maybe Pope Sixtus V knew what he was talking about when he stated the following:
“Noticing that frequently by various Apostolic Constitutions the audacity and daring of most profligate men, who know no restraint, of sinning with license against the commandment “do not kill” was repressed; We who are placed by the Lord in the supreme throne of justice, being counseled by a most just reason, are in part renewing old laws and in part extending them in order to restrain with just punishment the monstrous and atrocious brutality of those who have no fear to kill most cruelly fetuses still hiding in the maternal wombs. Who will not detest such an abhorrent and evil act, by which are lost not only the bodies but also the souls?” (Apostolic Constitution Effraenatam (Against Abortionists), 29 October 1588).
What if Pope Sixtus V was right?
What if abortion really is that evil?
YOUR TURN
I imagine this will generate a lot of comments.
Please feel free to add your thoughts below.
Be civil and charitable, please.