The recent visits of the pope to the Americas were grace-filled days. People of all walks of life hold him in admiration for his honesty, wisdom and humanness. The 78-year-old pope, although
frail in body, is still strong in his message urging us to strive for higher moral standards.

He reminded Americans of the Dred Scott Decision, made in the Old Courthouse in St. Louis and supported by the U.S. Supreme Court, a decision the pope said, "declared an entire class of human beings outside the boundaries of the national community and the Constitution’s protection." This was reversed only after a long battle and much suffering. Many people were mistreated for standing up for what was right. We still need to renew the battle against racism and all forms of injustice.

I immediately thought of another Supreme Court decision, Roe vs. Wade, that also denied an entire group of human beings the protection of the Constitution. Unborn babies are discriminated
against because of their age, their size and their place of residence. It’s a civil rights issue as well as a moral one. "Today," the pope went on, "the conflict is between a culture that affirms, cherishes and celebrates the gift of life, and a culture that seeks to declare entire groups of human beings — the unborn, the terminally ill, the handicapped and others considered ‘unuseful’ — to be outside the bounds of legal protection"

Most surprising of all, was the pope’s emphasis against the death penalty; exhorting Americans of faith once again to abolish the death penalty — and he said it over and over again. His was a clear
and certain voice on this subject. "A sign of hope is the recognition that the dignity of human life must never be taken away, even in the case of someone who has done a great evil. Modern society has the means of protecting itself, without definitively denying criminals the chance to reform. I renew the appeal I made recently at Christmas for a consensus to end the death penalty, which is both cruel and unnecessary." At least one person’s heart was changed by the pope. The governor of Missouri commuted the death penalty of the man who was to be executed during the pope’s visit to life in prison without parole.

Here at George Mason University, students on our Pro-Life Committee see the connection that the pope made. the organize peaceful prayer demonstrations outside women’s clinics where abortions and performed, and attend prayer vigils at the Manassas Courthouse the evening of an execution in the state of Virginia. They participate in outreach to the elderly, the developmentally disabled and the imprisoned. They support single mothers and their newborns through "baby showers" and monetary support for housing. Students reach out to the homeless and hungry in Washington, D.C. and low-income families in Northern Virginia. Alternative Spring Breaks provide immersion experiences in Appalachia, Mexico and the Dominican Republic. I am inspired
by their commitment to be "pro-life unconditionally."

The pope’s visit will long be remembered for his encouragement and hope as we enter a new millennium. Let us continue to respect the sanctity of the unborn, the elderly and the handicapped and even the prisoner who has committed a very evil act. Let us oppose all forms of violence, including the violence of poverty, hunger and sexism. Even if we are misunderstood or mistreated, God blesses those who stand up for what is right in difficult moments. "Blessed are you when they mistrust you and persecute you and utter every kind of slander against you falsely; Rejoice and be glad. Your reward will be great in heaven" (Mt 5:11-12).

Fr. Cilinski is campus minister at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia.

Send a pro life letter (letter is preferable) or an email to your  Senators and representatives using the Directory at the Congressional Email Directory.  Point and click here to surf to their web site.

Copyright ©1999 Arlington Catholic Herald, Inc. All rights reserved.

This article was published in the Arlington Catholic Herald,
200 N. Glebe Rd., Suite 607, Arlington, VA 22203; Vol. 24, No 7;
page 4, dated Feb 18, 1999.
E-mail: letters@catholicherald.com
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A note from the Web Master:

It is noteworthy and honorable that some folks are willing to stand up for a ban on Partial-Birth Abortion.  Let us not forget that ordinary everyday Abortion is also murder.  We must understand that murder is murder no matter the method.  Because one method of abortion seems to be horrible does not justify the other methods.  We should be horrified and sickened by any Abortion regardless of the method.  The Fifth Commandment spells it out clearly: "Thou shalt not kill."  A fetus is a person, a human being with a God given soul.  Imagine the pain the Lord must feel when any Abortion occurs.  Please contact both of your Senators and Representative, via letter or phone,  to let them know how horrified you are that Abortions are legal and to stop Partial-Birth Abortions and all other Abortions as soon as possible. (It has become apparent that they do not respond to email therefore you will have more of an impact by writing or telephoning.)

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