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Reflecting on the Sanctity of Life

A letter from Judy Copeland, our parish representative to the Archdiocese of Denver’s Respect Life Office.

Dear Holy Name and St. Martin’s Parish Families:

I am a mother of seven, grandmother of eighteen, and great grandmother of twelve. The good news for you is that I will only write about the youngest great grandchild, Elizabeth, who will make her appearance in February. In our great nation, however, her mom could “choose” to end her life next week! She would have to travel to Boulder or Denver at this late date, because in Steamboat an abortion can only be procured up to ten weeks of pregnancy (of life). Our little girl will be born and our family will celebrate this new life. She may not have been “planned”, as many of the people on earth are not, but she and every new life is precious and must be protected!

I realize that there are some who do not agree with me and with the Catholic Church on this issue. For those who still believe in a woman’s “right” to abort, or those who say, “I don’t believe in it for myself or my family, but I wouldn’t want to impose my beliefs on others,” I have a question: Would you speak up for, even fight for, a two-year-old who was being abused, or even for an animal? Our Catholic faith teaches that human life begins at conception when we are created in the image and likeness of God and given a human soul. From that moment until death the human person should be treated with dignity and respect, whether or not they are able to defend themselves.

Fr. Frank Pavone of Priest’s for Life said to us last September, we may not, under penalty of law, disturb the nest of an eagle or the eggs of a turtle, but our nation allows the killing of our own children. As Mother Teresa of Calcutta said, “A nation that kills its own children is a nation with out hope.” Alveda King, niece of Martin Luther King, called “the defending of the unborn the civil rights cause of this generation,” and she said, “certainly, the numbers tell us that blacks, Hispanics and the disabled in the womb are more at risk.”

Catholic teaching acknowledges that abortion is murder, plain and simple. It is always evil and a mortal sin. It is not a right, it is a horrendous wrong. It is also a profitable and tragic business. The abortionists call it a “service” and refer to these premature babies as “the products of a procedure.” They portray what they do as “compassionate” and women as “weak and helpless victims.” I find that attitude insulting.

I have been so down about the seemingly anti-life climate in our country. But as a recent letter from Fr. Frank Pavone told us, “the problem is not primarily who sits in the White House, it’s that we are sitting in our houses.” So let us do what we can to help. Let us attend Mass and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament; let us support the Pro Life people in office; and let us pray, pray, pray for those who do not yet understand the Gospel of Life and the value of every human being. As Pope John Paul II said in his Gospel of Life, “It is impossible to further the common good without acknowledging and defending the right to life, upon which all the other inalienable right of individuals are founded and from which they develop.”

God bless our country and those in office, that we and they may see an end to abortion. May God’s will be done. Thanks for reading this letter.

Judy Copeland

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