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A Matter of Life and Death

In our own day, the magnified power of humanity threatens to destroy the race itself…For we are tempted to think that our personal rights are fully ensured only when we are exempt from every requirement of divine law. But this way lies not the maintenance of the dignity of the human person, but its annihilation. – The Second Vatican Council’s Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World (Gaudium et Spes, no. 37, 41

A Watershed Moment

California Catholic Conference

A watershed moment is an event of critical importance that changes the direction of history.

“I do believe that there are watershed moments in our lives and in our history and I actually believe that this is one of them, precisely, for example, because of Proposition 1.” – The Most Reverend Joseph V. Brennan, Bishop of the Diocese of Fresno (Press Conference #NoOnProp1, Oct 25, 2022)

As Christians, we cannot align ourselves with any party or person or vote in favor of any legislation such as Proposition 1 in California or Proposal 3 in Michigan, that threatens or violates the Sanctity of Life.

“As followers of Christ, we are called to stand up for life against the politically correct or fashionable of today. We must fight against a legislative agenda that supports and even celebrates destroying life in the womb. Keep in mind, the laws we create define how we see our humanity. We must ask ourselves: What are we saying when we go into a womb and snuff out an innocent, powerless, voiceless life?” – Sr. Deirdre “Dede” Byrne, POSC

Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect. (Romans 12:1)

 

The Church and State

By no human law can the personal dignity and liberty of man be so aptly safeguarded as by the Gospel of Christ which has been entrusted to the Church. (Gaudium et Spes, no. 41

californiaprolife.org

Knowingly or not, to divorce one’s personal faith and beliefs from one’s public life is to deny Christ, inflict harm on society by omission, and bolster the Culture of Death.

We must not hide our light under a bushel basket. (Matthew 5:14-16)

It is only right…that at all times and in all places, the Church should have true freedom to preach the faith, to teach her social doctrine, to exercise her role freely among men, and also to pass moral judgment in those matters which regard public order when the fundamental rights of a person or the salvation of souls require it. (Gaudium et Spes, no. 76

It is the mission and, indeed, the moral responsibility of the Church and every baptized member of the Body of Christ to bear public witness of the Truth we profess to hold so devoutly in the deepest recesses of our heart and soul.

We cannot boast of sleeping warmly under a personal blanket of faith and live out our days in public as if the tenets of the Faith we solemnly profess only apply in the privacy of our home. 

We cannot separate the breath of the Creator from the body of the creature.

For without the Creator the creature would disappear. (Gaudium et Spes, no. 36

Priests, pastors, and laity, as children of God, are compelled by the Gospel of Christ to be the light of Christ and the Culture Life that dispels the darkness of Satan and the Culture of Death, in all seasons and in all places – on the altar, around the dinner table, in the workplace, and at the polls.

Choose Life

I call heaven and earth today to witness against you: I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. Choose life, then, that you and your descendants may live, by loving the LORD, your God, obeying his voice, and holding fast to him. For that will mean life for you, a long life for you to live on the land which the LORD swore to your ancestors, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give to them. (Deuteronomy 30:19-20)
© 2022 Brian Kravec
Brian is a cradle Catholic, husband and father. He’s a writer, speaker, and the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Possibility Productions, a 501(c)(3) faith event evangelization apostolate in service of the Body of Christ.

 

3 Responses

  1. A Note from the Author,

    I was inspired by the Holy Spirit to write this feature after viewing the above linked Oct 25 press conference with Bishop Joseph Brennan of the Diocese of Fresno. I am so very grateful to have a Shepherd who is leading this battle in defense of the Culture of Life with such courage and conviction.

    My prayer is that all those who read it will, with God’s grace, come to understand that what is at stake in the upcoming midterms is not merely a matter of “political discussion.” My sincere prayer is that the issues at hand will be seen for what they really are – a matter of life and death.

    In union, in Christ, for Life,
    Brian Kravec

  2. Dear Brian – Truly it was the Holy Spirit who pushed you to write the above posting and to entitle the blog as you did. As I read it. . I thought to myself it’s not only a “Matter of Life and Death” for those precious little souls within the womb waiting to be born into “freedom” but it is also a “Matter of Life and Death” for all those who do not stand up for Life. One day we shall ALL be before the Judgement Seat of God. . .and Heaven Help Us All. Thank you for writing this post and I am grateful to be blogging alongside you! God Bless You for Standing Up for Life, Anita

    1. Dear Anita,

      Thank you, and glory to God! It is both a blessing and privilege to be beside you in the Vineyard! In union, in Christ, for Life! Brian

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