Saint Aidan Catholic Church - Livonia, MI
  • Discover
    • About >
      • About Us
      • Our Patron Saint
      • Church Tour
    • Schedule
    • Contact
    • Register
    • Livestream Masses
    • Follow Us on Social Media
    • Groups >
      • Women of St. Aidan
      • Men's Club
      • Men's Prayer Group
      • Christian Services
    • Links
  • Grow
    • Become Catholic
    • Children's Liturgy of the Word
    • Families
    • Sacrament Prep >
      • Baptism
      • Reconciliation & Holy Communion
      • Confirmation
    • Staff Articles
    • Young Adults
    • VBS
  • Service
    • Pray
    • Assistance
    • Christian Services
    • Volunteer
  • Give
    • Electronic Donations
    • CSA
    • Endowment
    • RMD QCD IRA Contributors
    • Annual Report
  • Discover
    • About >
      • About Us
      • Our Patron Saint
      • Church Tour
    • Schedule
    • Contact
    • Register
    • Livestream Masses
    • Follow Us on Social Media
    • Groups >
      • Women of St. Aidan
      • Men's Club
      • Men's Prayer Group
      • Christian Services
    • Links
  • Grow
    • Become Catholic
    • Children's Liturgy of the Word
    • Families
    • Sacrament Prep >
      • Baptism
      • Reconciliation & Holy Communion
      • Confirmation
    • Staff Articles
    • Young Adults
    • VBS
  • Service
    • Pray
    • Assistance
    • Christian Services
    • Volunteer
  • Give
    • Electronic Donations
    • CSA
    • Endowment
    • RMD QCD IRA Contributors
    • Annual Report

Roe v. Wade to Be Overturned?

5/22/2022

 
While we pray that this will be the case, at the time of this writing we wait to see if the leaked draft opinion of the Supreme Court arguing for that will indeed be final.  In the meantime, here is some background information to consider as we await a ruling on the Dobbs case, which has led to this moment in our nation’s history.

David J. Conrad

What is this Dobbs case? What is supposed to happen?

In May of 2021, the Supreme Court agreed to hear the case, Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. The case involves a law in Mississippi that bans most abortions after the baby reaches 15 weeks. Jackson Women’s Health, as the only abortion provider in the state of Mississippi, sued, saying that the law is in direct violation of Roe v. Wade. In response, Mississippi essentially asked the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade as bad law, and barring that, to at least allow states to limit pre-viability abortions.

While it is impossible to speculate what will happen, we hope that the Supreme Court will do the right thing and allow states to once again limit or prohibit abortion, and in doing so, protect millions of preborn children and their mothers from this tragedy.

If Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health overturns Roe v. Wade, doesn’t that mean women in the US will no longer be able to get abortions?

No. All that this decision could mean is that each state will decide which restrictions it will allow on abortion. In states such as California and Vermont, abortion will continue to be permitted at least up until 24 weeks (when evidence shows that preborn babies feel pain).

Isn’t having a ‘patchwork’ of different state laws on abortion dangerous?

States are supposed to have the freedom to make decisions and legislate for the “health, safety, and welfare” of citizens within their borders. Since our country’s inception, states have enacted differing laws on almost every issue imaginable. Yet as of right now, the Supreme Court decisions in Roe v. Wade (1973) and Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992) prevent the American people, through their elected representatives, from fully protecting pre-born human life.

Fears about thousands of women dying from back-alley abortions should abortion laws return to the states have been proven to be unfounded, as the claims that thousands of women were dying from illegal abortions at the time of Roe were made up for political purposes. The late Dr. Bernard Nathanson, a chief advocate for legalizing abortion, said he and his fellow advocates invented the "nice, round shocking figure" of "5,000 to 10,000 deaths a year" from illegal abortions. While any death is a tragedy, the number of deaths from “back alley” abortions do not approach these numbers. In 1966, before the first state legalized abortion, 120 mothers died from abortion. In 1972, when abortion was still illegal in 80 percent of the country, the number dropped to 39 maternal deaths from abortion.

Further, women seeking abortion are overwhelmingly not seeking abortion to protect their health from a “dangerous” pregnancy. In fact, women seeking abortions overwhelmingly report they are not doing so for “health” reasons: a 2013 survey shows only 6% cited any concern for their own health among the reasons for the abortion.

A groundbreaking 2012 study of abortion in Chile published in a peer- reviewed scientific journal found that Chile's abortion prohibition in 1989 did not cause an increase in the maternal mortality rate (MMR). On the contrary, after abortion was prohibited, the MMR decreased by 69.2% in the following fourteen years.

Isn’t overturning Roe just forcing religion on people?

When asked if abortion is a religious issue, the Supreme Court has said no. Moral concern about abortion reaches far beyond any one religion, and these laws have the legitimate secular purpose of encouraging childbirth over abortion. The fact that some religions oppose abortion doesn’t change this. “That the Judeo-Christian religions oppose stealing does not mean that a State or the Federal Government may not, consistent with the Establishment Clause, enact laws prohibiting larceny.”

Abortion advocates claim that, “however we may feel about abortion,” we should not impose our views on others. But they do not hold themselves to this standard. How we feel about abortion - or rather, what we recognize it to be –is the whole issue. If abortion is a wrongful attack on human life, as millions of American women and men believe, it is wrong to prevent states from legislating against this injustice.

Who will help the women who can’t get abortions?

The Church will never cease to do what it has always done - to pray, work, and serve until the day when every human life is protected in law, and welcomed in love. Until that day comes, and ever after, we will continue to care for women and children in need, so that every mother has the support to joyfully choose life.

Through the expansive social ministries of the Church, we do a lot to help mothers in need, but there are tremendous opportunities on the local and parish level to reach out to women who are pregnant and to provide them with the support to choose life. That is why the Church has started “Walking with Moms in Need,” a parish-based ministry where parishes “walk in the shoes” of pregnant and parenting women, so that they have the emotional and material support they need, so that no one gets left behind.
​
Pro-life Americans of all faiths have stepped forward to found thousands of pregnancy care centers, and could be counted on to provide even more help as needed. Pro-life activists have been helping these women over the last nearly half-century.

Peace

5/22/2022

 
Today the First Reading from the Acts of the Apostles concerns controversies in the early Church that at times our contemporary Church still faces: the challenge we face sometimes between the letter of the law and the spirit of the law. There exists, still, the struggle between tradition (doctrine) and Christian belief. The struggle is the discernment of these legal and spiritual issues—that struggle certainly not lending itself to any peace of heart or mind… St. Paul tells the Gentiles of Antioch, Syria and Cilicia that he does not want to place any undue burden beyond necessities—anything that may destroy their peace of mind. He tells them to just keep some basic rules about sacrifice and sacrifice-connected practices to be true to Christian belief.

​Jesus is very clear in the Gospel today: “Whoever loves me will keep my word…” He did not talk about continuing the traditions and customs of some particular culture; He sent the Holy Spirit to remind us of His words and example and then directed us to go out to all the world to tell the Good News. It isn’t about how we do our stuff versus how somebody else does their stuff; it is all about love and service, kindness and humility, gentleness and mercy. In such a divisive, polarized and fractured world His are the words we need to hear and to follow. We are to love one another, to treat each other with love and respect (even if we dislike the other person) no matter what the circumstance. This is the struggle: to do this, to act this, to love like this when people and their issues drive us to distraction, discomfort and yes, sometimes, even hatred. We need to remember to hate the sin and not the sinner. That is a struggle; as we tend to be defined by what we think, how we act and who we follow. Again—these struggles do not lead to any peace of heart and mind…

The acts of the apostles bringing the Good News to the Gentiles and the “Behold, I make all things new” passage from Revelation (last weekend) are coupled in uncanny fashion with the Gospel of the last supper today. We pick up the story from where, prior to entering into his passion, Jesus has just finished washing the feet of his disciples. “I give you a new commandment,” He tells them. “Love one another as I have loved you.” He calls this not a suggestion or good advice, but an outright a commandment. As in, on the same level as the Ten Commandments—only new and even more important!

The context here is a reminder that the salvation won by Christ for us has come with our responsibility to earn it—not just by abiding by the “thou shall not’s” but by actively living lives of compassion, humility, mercy, justice and above all, love. That’s easy enough to understand with the ones closest to you, but what about those with whom you have the greatest differences? Those with whom you simply cannot see eye to eye? Yes, them too. Enemies? Yes, them too. Love is often difficult, but it’s the new command from our Lord himself. We’re reminded of the “why” in the words of the Institution Narrative from the Eucharistic Prayer: Christ’s blood shed for “the new and eternal covenant.” The ultimate price paid by the Lamb of God has made all things new. Let us in turn heed the one command given so clearly for us and our chance at new life. “Whoever loves me will keep my word…”

So, how do we attain a peaceful mind and spirit in the midst of this world’s chaos? Keep the word of Christ and strive to always follow His example in the face of any and all experiences. Knowing how to speak and act regardless of situation should at least give us the peace of Christ in choosing our behaviors. Knowing how and what to do takes away the agony of choosing to commit sins of selfishness, thoughtlessness, revenge, greed, violence in thought and deed. Knowing how to behave can give us peace.

Today as we hear Jesus’ farewell discourse at the Last Supper promising us the Holy Spirit, God’s way to still be among us—we are reminded of all we have been told and taught by Jesus. “I am going away and I will come back to you.” We continue to build the kingdom of God on earth with the Spirit and in the peace of Christ. This peace is the peace of faith and belief: we always have God’s love and forgiveness; we know that we will rise again. We live in peace knowing that no matter what our burdens and crosses, we ultimately triumph with Christ over sin and death.

We have the opportunity to experience peace as we strive to live in the Spirit, to do better, to work for our salvation. This gives us the courage to live fully in the face of all our trials and tribulations. This is the peace of Christ! Our prayer and our work are to be an instrument of that peace. Live Christ’s peace in this world!

Keep singing!

Elizabeth Dyc
<<Previous

    Authors

    ​Elizabeth Dyc. Our Director of Music Ministry.

    Paul Pyrkosz. Our Youth Minister & Bookkeeper.

    ​

    Archives

    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

St. Aidan Catholic Church
17500 Farmington Rd. 
Livonia, MI 48152
Phone: 734-425-5950
[email protected]

Weekend Mass Schedule
Saturday Vigil: 5:00 PM
Sunday: 7:30, 9:30, 11:30 AM

Picture