What If...?

Last Friday was the 48th. anniversary of the two United States Supreme Court decisions which in essence struck down all laws and regulations regarding abortion, Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton.

Today is the day for the 48th. annual March For Life in Washington, DC, the largest gathering of those who promote the sanctity of the unborn.

However, this and other like demonstrations around the country have also fallen victim to the Covid-19 epidemic. The flagship march will be a virtual event. Tomorrow, here in Utah, instead of marching, they will be driving past the state capital in support of life. Accommodations and adaptations are in place all over the place.

Prudence does dictate not to gather en masse. But something is nagging at me and creating forehead furrows. This virus has (of this post) claimed over 2.1 million lives world wide. The economic toll, on both macro- and micro-levels, is devastating; one wonders how corporations and individuals if or will recover. But the focus of this writing is the concern I have for the pro-life movement.

Will it survive?

Why do I raise this question?

Consider the following items:

1.  The current President of the United States, Mr. Joseph R. Biden, a baptized and (self-professed) devout Roman Catholic, has been throughout his entire political career a poor-(pro-)choice advocate, even finally disavowing his support for the Hyde Amendment. Serving as Vice-President under what many people believe to be the most poor-(pro-)choice President in this country's history, Mr. Barack H. Obama, he has made it a point of not only wanting to reverse the many gains the pro-life movement made over the last four years, but also to enshrine this "Constitutional right" into federal law, perhaps along the lines of what the states of New York and Illinois enacted.

(And to his claim of being devout:  while I cannot judge the state of his soul, and understanding all too well no one perfectly practices the Faith, may I humbly suggest James 2:14-26 as a point of departure for discussion.)

2.  The Democratic Party has an unwavering commitment to "reproductive rights" and "women's health care" (their euphemisms for unrestricted abortion services), among other positions which are incompatible with Catholic teaching. Now with control of the legislative and executive branches of the federal government, their policies in this regard will have an easier time becoming true.

3.  Yes, the abortion issue had always been on a political seesaw, with the pro-life side having been in the ascendency for a while. The side in power has control over the direction it takes. Now, consider how power has shifted during this past election. With questions over the conduct of the presidential election persisting, notice which party ultimately benefited, despite the other side holding its own down the ballot. And it seems the side now in control has no interest in assuring this won't happen again.

4.  "Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely." While I think both political parties do condescendly look upon those who they purport to serve, it appears the Democrats do it a touch more overtly. And they seem to have the ways and means to act more like a bully. As an example, look at the tolerance exhibited by those whose control social platforms. Traditional, orthodox, or conservative voices are being "told" to "sit down and shut up" or else. Is that a sign of wanting total control?

5.  And you don't believe they have the tools or the will? Consider the founder of the Center for Medical Progress, David Daleiden, and the videos he produced exposing the selling of fetal tissue by Planned Parenthood. The State of California then charged him under the state's eavesdropping law. The Attorney General at that time? The current Vice-President of the United States, Ms. Kamala D. Harris, a more ardent supporter of abortion rights than the President. What the resolution is to this is not the point. The point is that it was done. Retaliation and retribution? 

Having said all that, people more intelligent than I could conjure a way to silence the pro-life movement once and for all. It would take lots of time and and lots of incremental actions. I fear it could happen. You think it can't? Remember the only rule the enemy has is the end justifies the means. If the poor-(pro-)choice crowd doesn't have any regard for the unborn, how easy could it be for them to cross the line and have no concern for those who who disagree with them? 

So, where does the pro-life movement go from here?

It will carry on, having to work harder than ever before.

It will have to watch its back.

It will need God all the more.

"St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle."