http://www.lifenews.com/2011/06/06/disproving-the-abortion-lie-pro-lifers-dont-care-after-birth

Disproving the Abortion Lie: Pro-Lifers Don’t Care After Birth
by Gerard Nadal, Ph.D. | Washington, DC | LifeNews.com | 6/6/11 12:19 PM

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One of the greatest lies and slurs hurled at pro-lifers is that we only care about the baby until it is born.

“Are you prepared to pay for that child of poverty in order to help raise it for the next eighteen years? No?? Then shut up about abortion!”

It’s a clever little manipulation, though not much in the way of an argument.

Responsibility for raising the child resides with the parents, not society. To suggest that the mother and father of a poor and unexpected child cannot be counted on to be the primary providers of their child is to infantilize the parents and inject chaos into the lives of the family. Our inner-cities suffer from just this sort of chaos with generational poverty that traces its roots back to the well-intentioned Great Society programs begun in the 1960′s. For decades people have lamented that there must be a better way.

There is, and two of the architects of this better way are Father Benedict Groeschel, C.F.R., and Mr. Christopher Bell, Co-Founders of Good Counsel Homes. I worked briefly with Chris Bell at Covenant House in Times Square when I began there in 1983. Covenant House was a shelter for homeless teens, and Chris and I worked with the mothers and babies. Chris thought more needed to be done for homeless pregnant women, and was challenged by Father Groeschel to do something himself. So, in 1985, Chris and Father Groeschel opened the first of what would grow into five homes for mothers and their babies. Soon after, Chris opened a home in my parish.

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[JR: I disagree with the “well-intentioned Great Society programs”; I’d assert that politicians and bureaucrats are never “well intentioned”. That’s the inherent nature of the tragedy. There is a huge difference between effective charity and symbolic political posturing of the knave. All that aside, here’s an example of how it has to be done. Personally. Now, since not everyone can be Mother Teresa. … … “Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for, forgotten by everybody, I think that is a much greater hunger, a much greater poverty than the person who has nothing to eat.” — Mother Teresa … … Your checkbook can provide the support these types of activities need. Sure, it’s better to be in the trenches, but there’s also a need to supply the “bullets” as well. Your vocation is where you find it. And, the only “sin” is not to look. I’m sure my fellow alum have already learned this. But, I’m still blundering along. So allow me to share my “wow” moments. How does that St. A’s prayer go: “… just not yet”? In any event, one can NOT claim the mantle of being “pro life”, if one doesn’t follow it to the logical conclusions — pro after birth, anti death penalty, anti unjustified war, anti human dignity. I add that you have to be “pro choice” too (aren’t labels hard to deal with?) and stop using force on other human beings but convince them by the light of your conduct. Then turn it all over to Amazing Grace for a successful conclusion. Just doing my part as I see it, everything else is above my pay grade. Donna Nobis Pacem]

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