USCCB: Vote To Protect Children In Law And Against Abortion

In anticipation of the coming election in November and October’s Respect Life Month, the chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Pro-Life Activities, Bishop Michael F. Burbidge, released a much-needed statement. In the statement, the bishop provides US Catholics with council and catechesis in preparation for elections held on November 5^th. In ten states, abortion appears on the ballet. Catholics (and other Christians) WILL determine the destiny of countless unborn human lives.

Furthermore, at the national level, abortion also takes centerstage in the form of Vice President Kamala Harris’ promise to “enshrine” Roe Vs. Wade if elected president. President Harris, coupled with a Democratic Party Congress, places millions of unborn lives in danger. The dignity (and acknowledgement) of human life is on every American’s ballot in November. Again, Catholics (and Christians in general) votes WILL determine the destiny of countless unborn human lives.

What can faithful Catholics learn from Bishop Burbidge’s statement?

Jesus Calls Us to Every Human Life

Jesus, truly present in the Eucharist, gives us the fullness of life. He calls each of us to respect that gift of life in every human person. While we live in a society that often rejects those who are weak, fragile, or vulnerable, they are the most in need of our care and protection.

Thank you, Bishop Burbidge. I hope and pray all voting Catholics (and Christians) take to heart your plea to accept “those who are weak, fragile, or vulnerable,” especially the weakest, the most fragile, the most vulnerable in the womb. Contrary to the rhetoric of those like VP Harris, all abortions involve TWO (or more) humans, not one. Politicians who support abortion continually fail to acknowledge all those impacted by an abortion. In fact, they only seem to acknowledge the potential voter in the equation, the one who grants them power. The other part of the equation (the unborn, the voiceless, the powerless) with no power to give, remains unacknowledged and ignored.

How Extreme is Harris in Ignoring the Powerless?

I’ve been very clear, I think we should eliminate the filibuster for Roe, and get us to the point where 51 votes would be what we need to actually put back in law the protections for reproductive freedom and for the ability of every person and every woman to make decisions about their own body and not have their government tell them what to do. Vice President Kamala Harris (September 23, 2024)

For those unfamiliar with the filibuster, as it currently works, the Senate requires 60 votes to pass any legislation. Furthermore, Harris proposes eliminating the filibuster to lower the criteria to 51 votes. If elected president, and if Democrats take Congress, the US (already with some of the most extreme pro-abortion laws in the world) will enshrine abortion up to 9 months into law. As the recent statement from Harris above demonstrates, she ONLY identifies the freedom of certain people, not all. Her reference to “every person and every woman” does not include “every person and every woman,” as there exists another person and another body in every abortion procedure. Sadly, these voiceless get sacrificed in the name of “freedom” in varied and grotesque ways.

Therefore, all Catholic votes for Harris for president, or any Democrat, are votes to enshrine into law the rejection of our “weak, fragile, or vulnerable…”

What Must Faithful Catholics Do?

Moreover, Bishop Burbidge provides four action items all faithful Catholics ought to consider before entering a voting booth:

We must renew our commitment to work for the legal protection of every human life, from conception to natural death, and to vote candidates who will defend the life and dignity of the human person.
We must call for policies that assist women and their children in need, while also continuing to help mothers in our own communities through local pregnancy help centers and our nationwide, parish-based initiative, Walking with Moms in Need.
We must likewise continue to extend the hand of compassion to all who are suffering from participation in abortion through the Church’s abortion healing ministries like Project Rachel Ministry.
Most importantly, we must rededicate ourselves to fervent prayer on behalf of life.

Finally, he asks the faithful to join him in the below prayer. I endeavor to pray this prayer daily. I hope other Catholics join with me.

Jesus, you came that we might have life—and have it in abundance. Together with the Father and the Holy Spirit, you form us in our mothers’ wombs and call us to love you for all eternity. As your most precious gift of human life is attacked, draw us ever closer to your Real Presence in the Eucharist. Dispel the darkness of the culture of death, for you are the light that shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it. By the power of your Eucharistic Presence, help us to defend the life of every human person at every stage. Transform our hearts to protect and cherish all whose lives are most vulnerable. For you are God, forever and ever. Amen.

Final Thoughts…

In closing, I wish to address Catholics (and Christians in general) who think a vote for Harris represents a vote for life. Given Harris’ promise to enshrine Roe vs. Wade into federal law, how does she support “legal protection of every human life, from conception to natural death” and “defend the life and dignity of the human person”? By her own words, she denies personhood to the unborn.

We must vote our conscience. However, when I stand before God, I do not want innocent unborn blood on my hands.

How about you?