Speak Up for Life

By Marc Massery

Though the landmark bill Roe v. Wade legalized abortion more than 47 years ago, the legal debate over the right to life still continues in this country, most recently in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, home state of the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy. 

The Guttmacher Institute, a pro-choice research group, has only considered Massachusetts a “middle-ground” state for abortion rights compared to others in the country. This is because current Massachusetts laws require minors to obtain parental consent before seeking an abortion. But proposed legislation might change that.

In the coming weeks, Massachusetts lawmakers are expected to make a final decision on whether to send the following legislation to vote: house bill 3320, “An act removing obstacles and expanding access to women's reproductive health,” and senate bill 1209, "An act to remove obstacles and expand abortion access."

In addition to removing the requirement for minors to need parental consent to have an abortion, this legislation would allow abortion at any point during pregnancy. Currently, abortion is only legal in the commonwealth before fetal viability, which is between 22 and 24 weeks of pregnancy. This legislation also would expand taxpayer funding for abortion, eliminate legal requirements to provide medical care to a child who survives abortion, and remove the 24-hour waiting period generally required before the procedure, among other changes. 

Catholic Leadership Speaks Out

On Jan. 19, the Massachusetts Catholic Conference issued a statement, which appeared in bulletins in all parishes throughout the commonwealth warning of the dangers of the proposed legislation and calling on communicants to contact their legislatures to voice their dissent. 

Back in April, when this proposed legislation was initially making headlines, Cardinal Sean O’Malley, the archbishop of Boston, released a statement saying:

The purpose of the proposed legislation is clear: in a time when state law may become a central focus in the larger debate about abortion, these bills seek to extend current Massachusetts law in unnecessary and unjustified ways. ... The proposed legislation (HB 3320 and SB 1209) presents all citizens of the Commonwealth with a serious moral question concerning the protection of human life. … The unborn children who will be most directly impacted by the proposals deserve to have their lives protected.

Make Your Voice Heard

For readers who don't live in Massachusetts, we ask you to pray daily for an end to legalized abortion. For Massachusetts residents, we urge you to contact your local state senator and representative and declare your opposition to the proposed legislation (visit malegislature.gov/StateHouse/Contact and search by your address). You can also contact the members of the Joint Committee on the judiciary who will decide the action on these bills (visit malegislature.gov/Committees/Detail/J19).

In her Diary, St. Faustina makes a powerful statement about abortion:

At eight o’clock I was seized with such violent pains that I had to go to bed at once. … At times, the pains caused me to lose consciousness. Jesus had me realize that in this way I took part in His Agony in the Garden, and that He Himself allowed these sufferings in order to offer reparation to God for the souls murdered in the wombs of wicked mothers. I have gone through these sufferings three times now. (1276)

After you're done calling your representatives, consider saying a Divine Mercy Chaplet that God might open up your lawmakers' heart to vote in favor of life. 

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LAMDVD

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