Though the pro-choice rhetoric may seem convincing, it is absolutely crucial that Catholics spread the truth about the tragedy of abortion.
Many people that are for abortion may not realize the consequences of their actions. Life in the womb is incredible.
Did you know that at 18 days conception the baby's heart begins to beat? At nine weeks the baby has permanent fingerprints. At 12 weeks the baby can smile and suck its thumb.
These facts are amazing and many times people who say they are pro-choice do not realize the humanity of the child in the womb.
I spoke to one of my teachers in high school who told me that she was always pro-choice until she became a mother, "When I heard my son's heartbeat for the first time, my opinion on abortion changed," she said.
One crucial way for Catholics to get involved in the pro-life movement is simply by spreading facts about fetal development to show that the fetus is indeed a baby whose life is worth protecting.
The Pro-life Across America Campaign has printable fetal development cards which people can share with others. This campaign puts billboards around the country showing these incredible fetal development facts and many women have decided not to go through with abortion after seeing one of these billboards.
Another way Catholics can get involved in the pro-life movement is by volunteering at a pregnancy crisis center.
When I was in high school, I organized a baby supplies drive for my local pregnancy crisis center. This is a good way to encourage women to choose life by helping them both emotionally and financially during this time.
Many women choose abortion because they fear they can not provide for their child. If we step up as Catholics and help them out by giving them baby supplies, many of them would not feel so alone that they would need to choose abortion.
God has given us an incredible gift of life and it is important to uphold the life of every human being.
St Pope John Paul II said, "A nation that kills its own children is a nation without hope." We must advocate for life in our country by reaching out to those that are most in need.
Catholics can spread the pro-life message by attending the March For Life which is held in Washington D.C. every January. They can also contact their senators and representatives and plead for them to stop the tragedy of abortion.
In Evangelium Vitae, it says, "To claim the right to abortion, infanticide and euthanasia, and to recognize that right in law, means to attribute to human freedom a perverse and evil significance: that of an absolute power over others and against others. This is the death of true freedom: "Truly, truly, I say to you, every one who commits sin is a slave to sin" (Jn 8:34)."
God loves us all unfathomably and gave us each life for a purpose! It is our duty to protect the lives of others so God's plan can be fulfilled.
We must stand together and stop the greatest tragedy that is claiming our generation!
