Cardinal Egan: “I know what I saw.”
credit: Life Issues Institute
My Lutheran dermatologist greeted me warmly last week:”How’s the blog going?” he asked. I told him how enjoyable it is and how much I am learning about other religions.
He wanted to talk about politics, religious belief and abortion. He told me about the immense number of patients he used to see during his med school days, women patients who were using abortion as birth control. “This month I’m pregnant again” was a phrase he heard too often.
And he told me about his wife being given an extra test during “our second pregnancy”. When the test result came in, his wife told the ob/gyn that he needn’t give any additional tests: “Whatever the results are, I won’t be having an abortion,” she said.
According to my dermatologist, the specialist “went ballistic.”
What a world we live in.
Cardinal Edward Egan, the Roman Catholic cardinal of New York, must be thinking the same thing.
Writing for his diocesan paper Catholic New York this week, Cardinal Egan published this photo above and asked his readers to look at it:
Have you any doubt that it is a human being?
If you do not have any such doubt, have you any doubt that it is an innocent human being?
If you have no doubt about this either, have you any doubt that the authorities in a civilized society are duty-bound to protect this innocent human being if anyone were to wish to kill it?
“Oh, yes,” you say, “but this is a complex issue, Cardinal Egan…..”
The Cardinal has heard your arguments:
Why, you might inquire, have I not delved into the opinion of philosophers and theologians about the matter?
And even worse: Why have I not raised the usual questions about what a “human being” is, what a “person” is, what it means to be “living,” and such?
People who write books and articles about abortion always concern themselves with these kinds of things.
Even the justices of the Supreme Court who gave us “Roe v. Wade” address them.
Why do I neglect philosophers and theologians?
Why do I not get into defining “human being,” defining “person,” defining “living,” and the rest?
Because, I respond, I am sound of mind and endowed with a fine set of eyes, into which I do not believe it is well to cast sand.
I looked at the photograph, and I have no doubt about what I saw and what are the duties of a civilized society if what I saw is in danger of being killed by someone who wishes to kill it or, if you prefer, someone who “chooses” to kill it.
In brief: I looked, and I know what I saw.
Sherry Tyree, 66, a graduate of John Burroughs School and Washington University, is a founding member (1984) and Vice President of Women for Faith & Family, a national Catholic women's organization that supports and defends traditional church teachings. Sherry is married to Dr. Donald A. Tyree, professor emeritus, School of Business, St. Louis University. 
Well, this is all well and fine, but I feeling people are going to slam this post Sherry.
I don’t need to see what I already know: That human life, each wonderfully genetically unique individual of a life, starts at conception. And that we as a species continue to take the curious walk towards self-destruction…
Sherry-
Great post.
Yes, at twenty weeks gestation there are no doubts that he/she is a baby. I don’t know anyone who would state otherwise pro-life or pro-choice.
Second trimester abortions 16-24 weeks are now illegal? Aren’t they?
I do feel that it is a good thing, but even win legal, I believe that there were rare and only one or two clinic provided such abortions in this country.
Must remember, sin will not leave this earth until earth become God’s Kingdom again when Christ becomes our King (leader).
The only things that Ms. Sherry and other Christians should be concentrating on, on behalf of God are planting the Word of God into the world and sharing your own personal testimony with others about how the love of Christ and your personal relationship with Him has changed your life and hope.
I wonder if Mrs. Tyree and others are willing to share their personal testimony with others who may come across this thread that do not know the love of Christ. Why don’t these concentrate on what Christ has done for them? There genuine stories and the Word of God will change and pierce more hearts and lead to repentance and less abortions than this NON-PRODUCTIVE ROUTE THAT SO MANY ARE ON CONCERNING THIS “Pro-Life” movement. These ones are following their own minds and hearts in this matter. And, the reason that I am secure in stating that it is because their actions totally conflict with scripture. I also challenge any of them to disprove me with scripture that I am wrong and that their approach is correct according to the Word of God.
If there are any responses to my comments, please respond with the Word of God to back up anything that you feel proves that the “Pro-Life” movement is God’s way.
“And, the reason that I am secure in stating that it is because their actions totally conflict with scripture”
Prove it, if you’re so secure in your stance.
also, d, it seems like in a different blog, you state that you believe obama’s values line up with christianity better. So, that means that you are contradicting yourself on whether you should use politics to forward values…
Mike,
The entire Holy Scripture Books are my witness and proves my point. Hey, I may have overlooked something because everyday that I read scripture God shows me something new even within scripture that I knew, always so surprising to be the miracle of how God does that, so many lessons that are sometimes placed into some scripture. So many times that I have read His Word, usually daily, He shows me something new and gives me deeper understanding.
But back to the subject, I am imperfect and have possibly missed it, as I stated, I have never come across anything within scripture that supports the actions of “pro-lifers”. Now, could you please stop being combative and flip and show me in scripture where the actions of “pro-lifers” proves otherwise as I asked above?
Also Mike,
You sound like those who say that scripture contradicts itself.
I must live in this world so I take part in things that affect others and myself who reside on this present earth and that should include for all, voting in elections, residential community association and other things, etc…But, if one does not hold this same belief as I, I do not judge that they are wrong, just different beliefs in this area. Such as the “Jehovah’s Witnesses”.
It’s a FACT that Obama’s values line up with mine more so than McCain or Palin’s, so what is it that is contradictory about that, it’s the TRUTH!
Scripture never contradicts istself in my opinion. You put a burden on anybody that would take their pro-life value into the public arena. But then you talk up YOUR values in relation to Obamas = huge contradition. Example, if you believe that obama will help the poor more, why vote for him over somebody that will help the unborn? Neither can be fixed without a change of heart. Both are values being taken into the arena of politics. There is no difference.
In the realm of belief there is truth and falsehood. I admire your attempt not to judge, just to accept false beliefs as different. But, how does that line up with the fact that as a christian you believe you are right? If we are right, are they not then wrong?
Mike,
You state:
“Example, if you believe that Obama will help the poor more, why vote for him over somebody that will help the unborn? Neither can be fixed without a change of heart. Both are values being taken into the arena of politics. There is no difference”.
Mike, if there are no differences in your mind, why are you so against my vote or anyone else’s for Obama?
Also Mike, do you not understand that ALL sin is wrong in God’s eyes? And Mike, why do you continue to argue with me? The way to shut down ALL argument with me is to back up your stand with biblical truth. Please provide me with what I have asked above in my other comments. What on earth is wrong with you?
“Yes, at twenty weeks gestation there are no doubts that he/she is a baby. I don’t know anyone who would state otherwise pro-life or pro-choice.”
Obama.
If Obama’s values line up with yours D, then you are no Christian. A point that has been made to you over, and over, and over again over the past months.