The reversal of the Roe V. Wade decision in this most recent Dobbs V. Jackson case does present a step in the right direction: surely a giant leap for mankind. A leap, though, for not without the protection of our mothers and our children during pregnancy and after birth.
My Georgian brothers and sisters, listen to the words of our Battel Hymn, sung first by those Union soldiers reuniting this great nation: who, through blood, conquered—moving us a step closer to the grand promise of our nation:
“In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea,
With a glory in his bosom that transfigures you and me:
As he died to make men holy, let us die to make men free,
While God is marching on.”
God surely is marching on.
And we, American’s, must continue to enshrine love of life fought for in our cities at Lexington and Concord, fought for in the trenches scaring the farms of France, and fought for on the beaches of Normandy then moving slowly to Berlin.
After Friday, the Pro-life movement sees that only the beaches have been subdued, but many children and many mothers, and many families are still under threat.
Under threat of poverty and destitution. Under threat to lose their hope and agency.
They are underserved and underrepresented in the halls of Congress and in Atlanta.
If Americans can unite a devastated Europe and defeat an immoral Soviet empire, it is no question that we can also protect our families at home.
So then, we must turn away from the courts, and grasp hold the arms of charity and brotherly love. To not do so creates us Pharisees.
George Carlin saw this in his 1996 comedy special, Back in Town, “[Pro-life people] are all in favor of the unborn. . . But once you’re born, you’re on your own.”
To combat our hypocrisy, the pro-life movement must now look to our neighbors and show the true American position: that we help those who are our brothers and sisters no matter race or creed.
But in doing so, we must not stick a simple Band-Aid on the solution—only opening our wallets is not loving our brother. We must raise up our brothers and sisters.
When the Prodigal Son returned to his father after wasting away, he offered to be like his father’s servants, but what did his father do? He threw him a grand feast, he raised him back up to be his son—equal with his other. We, in this movement could learn from the father’s love.
Atlanta’s greatest son reminded us too: as Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Philanthropy is commendable, but it must not cause the philanthropist to overlook the circumstances of economic injustice which make philanthropy necessary.”
So yes, let us first open our wallets and give to those who need. Then, take to the voting booth!
Let us now demand reform of our educational system so that no parent must worry for the safety of their son or daughter nor hold anger towards those receiving an education superior by cause of zip code.
Let us demand reform of our health-care system so that neither race or economic status define the quality of care or present an undue burden.
And let us ensure that a mother has the opportunity and the choice to spend as much time with her child as desired. Long term, insured, paid maternity leave, without threat of losing her job, is only fair and just.
As Pope Francis preached at a mass on Saturday, let us not allow the family to be poisoned by the toxins of selfishness, individualism, today’s culture of indifference and waste, and as a result lose its very DNA, which is the spirit of acceptance and service.” But it seems he said this not only to those future parents, but to their neighbors. To all of us.
We must ensure that our policies create a culture of life. A culture which minimizes the very real anxieties, fears, and cost of the very difficult journey of mother and fatherhood.
Let us turn away our want to consume and turn towards helping our neighbors as we are called.
Our mission now must be that of charity at every stage of life: from conception to last breath.
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