The semi-annual 40 Days for Life had to be suspended several weeks ago as a result of the COVID 19 quarantine. At my last shift at an abortion clinic before the social distancing quarantine, two women were across the street with a sign that said “Every child should be a wanted child. It’s a women’s right to choose”. That sign got me to thinking about the implication that only wanted children should be allowed to be born. As Father Pavone of Priests for Life has often said: “the issue isn’t that a child should be wanted but that every child should be welcomed”.
In reflecting on the mentality that “every child must be a wanted child”, I wondered why and how have we reached a point that a child should be allowed to be born only if it was wanted. In exploring this question, my thoughts spread to the problem of child abuse, not just the clergy abuse situation but also the news about Boy Scout leaders and teachers being accused as abusers as well. Whether abortion or abuse can be viewed as a symptom of the human person being treated as a commodity. One’s worth gets based on his/her utility and what one can do to meet my needs. That conclusion led to the question about how have we reached a point where the human person appears to be viewed in such terms. Being in quarantine has provided ample time to reflect on that question.
Respect for life requires that science and technology should always be at the service of man and his integral development. Society as a whole must respect, defend and promote the dignity of every human person, at every moment and in every condition of that person’s life (John Paul II, Evangelium Vitae).
A Perspective on Human Nature
I now look at everything in the world through the lens of faith. Given that I do not believe that human beings are inherently good or bad. We were created good but because of sin, we do have a bad side. Bottom line – each of us has the potential to be for the better or for the worse.
If you look at history, especially salvation/covenant history I think there are three major influences on our perception of the human person and consequent moral behavior – the family, the culture, and our faith and belief in a “moral” God. While there can be a variety of moral issues, the lynchpin for the moral basis of Christianity, the family, and a “true” democratic culture can be summed up as “respect for the dignity of the human person”. The importance of that dignity was the recurring theme of Pope St. John Paul II who preached on it constantly.
When all three (faith, family, and culture) adhere to the respect for the dignity of the human person we can have a “just” society. When one or all three fail or are undermined, distorted, minimized, and disregarded then there is a loss in that respect. When that loss occurs, we then see the possibility whereby either individuals or a whole class of people can be deemed as not worthy. The individual can then be seen as worthy only as a commodity for one’s personal use or benefit. Large-scale examples are abortion, slavery, the extermination of the Jews by the Nazis, or the Communist tyranny in Russia, China, and the like. Smaller-scale examples are human trafficking and sexual abuse of an individual. At the heart of those actions is a loss of respect for the human person.
The pro-abortion mantra that only those children should be born who are “wanted” is reflective of viewing a child as only a possession that someone either wants or if it doesn’t meet one’s needs, dispose of through abortion. The same can said for sexual abuse. The other person is a commodity to the degree he/she can give sexual pleasure and meet one’s need for power over others. This potential negative side of human nature if left to grow is nourished by the devil who I believe is real. He cooperates with sin and makes it worse. He is an evil fertilizer.
The Status of Family, Faith, and Culture
The last 60 years have seen a gradual decline in families. Whether it be a rising divorce rate or a lower number of people getting married with an increase in cohabitation without a formal marriage, the family is in dire straits. The government allowing and the culture supporting same-sex marriage further adds to the problem. The impact of the marginalization of the family is seen in the rising rate of children living in single-parent homes usually without a father. As a result, the family has a lessened influence on the development of their own children.
In terms of faith, the polls note a decreased interest in religion with dropping numbers for all faiths in church attendance and membership. There is both a lack of belief in a higher order and a lack of belief that faith is important. As a result, the influence of faith as a bastion of moral instruction and order is lessened. The corresponding lack of faith and the breakdowns of families are intertwined into a symbiotic negative relationship.
The culture as represented by public morals, educational curricula, and government actions has stepped in to fill the void of the family and faith influence. More importantly, the culture at large has helped to create that void. A cultural relativism that humans can create their own self, their own truth, and what is considered right and wrong is replacing the acceptance of the traditional Judeo-Christian moral ethic that was the underpinning of western culture for centuries. Add to that a sexual revolution that maximizes personal pleasure with no consequences and another negative symbiotic cultural relationship is in play.
Associated with these changes is an increasing lack of a sense of obligation, responsibility, or respect for the dignity of the human person. In turn, there is a corresponding lack of a sense of self-control or guilt. Whether it be abortion because a child is an inconvenience or sexual abuse of adults and minors there appears little remorse. The popular “right” that the culture teaches (and the government allows) is the right to meet your personal and selfish needs irrespective of the consequences on the “other’.
The Bottom Line
The view that the “other” is just a commodity is all the result of what has happened when we lose respect for the dignity of the human person. Given the above, abortion and sexual abuse of minors/adults should not surprise us. They are just the most obvious and recognizable symptoms of the demise of that core principle.
One way forward is to first speak the truth about what is happening – to speak out through pro-life and similar activities. Secondly, we must support the family and our faith as bulwarks of respect for the dignity of the human person. Thirdly, we need to be conscientious voters in order to have a responsible government and schools that will defend against rather than promote intrinsic evils. Finally, we must be observant to support those elements of our culture that do practice respect for the dignity of the human person. An example is a response seen across our nation by many to take care of their neighbor due to the Coronavirus. It shows what happens when respect for the dignity of the human person is practiced individually or collectively by providing aid and comfort to those in need.
love one another with brotherly affection; outdo one another in showing honor ( Romans 12:10)
