A wonderful friend of ours from 40 Days for Life Croatia shared some thoughts recently.
“When you look at someone’s face — you have no idea whether they were unwanted. If it’s a child, you don’t know if their parents are poor. You may not know if they were abandoned by a parent or if they are an orphan. You can’t tell if they were conceived in rape, or perhaps that they have an incurable disease. Each of us has a right to life — no matter how long that life lasts. No matter how difficult it may be — because no one is free from the hardships of life.”
Profound thoughts from someone who grew up during war. Truth is truth no matter where we live, what we’ve experienced and what time in history we exist.
Yet, here we are now, riding this incredible wave of post-Roe America — and the wave is carrying a lot of garbage inside of it. Fifty years ago, who would have thought that U.S. Supreme Court justices would be threatened at their own homes, that people would encourage violence against the justices’ children, personal death threats, etc. And yet they persevered and wrote a brilliant ruling in the Dobbs case explaining why Roe v. Wade had to be struck down.
Frenzy followed that decision in June. Some states are now more pro-life, while others — including Colorado, even before the Dobbs decision — proclaim abortion. We really are in a similar cultural variance in the U.S. as we were prior to the Civil War. Emotions are equally tense between the two views, that is certain.
But, as in those war years, there are those who hold steadfast to the value and sanctity of life. We have a vision, as did those seeking the freedom of slaves. We embrace a similar hope and trust in God and his truths. In spite of the darkness here in our own state regarding life issues, we continue to have reasons to rejoice. We know that in time, these truths will prevail.
An old preacher I knew decades ago sometimes would cry out in his homilies, “The devil is mad, so I’m glad!” He’s obviously mad, so we must be doing some things right! We are seeing such a surge of evil all around us: the attacks on pro-life centers here and around the U.S. How can they think the general public would want to embrace a movement based upon violence?
Yet, even in very liberal Colorado, we are seeing a new surge of hope, expectancy and joy during our recurring Eucharistic Processions around Planned Parenthood. Our educational efforts are impacting parishioners and students. Our youth are dynamically determined to be pro-life, and many are headed out to the national March for Life in Washington, D.C., on Friday, Jan. 20. The excitement will be explosive as the crowds celebrate the massive victory after 50 years! These hundreds of thousands of young people from across the United States are determined to promote God’s plan for the sacredness of all life. Watch the march as it happens through EWTN’s app and experience their contagious joy for yourself!
On Sunday, Jan. 22, the 50th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision, plan to attend the Memorial Mass for all those lost to abortion. Denver Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila will be the celebrant. This Mass will take place 12:30 p.m. at the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, 1530 Logan St., in Denver. We encourage early arrival for parking.
Lastly, if you have never heard the testimony of someone deeply involved in the abortion movement, come to Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Parish in Windsor at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 3, to hear the conversion story of Dr. John Bruchalski, M.D. His new book, “Two Patients: My Conversion from Abortion to Life-Affirming Medicine,” will also be available that night. See respectlifedenver.org/gospeloflife for details.
His story is incredible, and a true testament to the fact that love is the strongest force in the universe. In the end, it will be love that triumphs over evil. May we strive to be filled to overflowing with the love of God — and touch all of those we encounter, for his glory and the restoration of a Culture of Life.
Lynn Grandon is director of Respect Life Denver, a program of Catholic Charities of Denver. Learn more at respectlifedenver.org.