Pope Francis: Large families are great!
by Carder
The fact of having brothers and sisters is good for you….
The sons and daughters of large families are more inclined to fraternal communion from early childhood. In a world that is frequently marred by selfishness, a large family is a school of solidarity and sharing; and these attitudes are of benefit to all society.
… Each of your children is a unique creation that will never be repeated in the history of humanity. When we understand this, that each person is willed by God, we are astonished by the great miracle that is a child.
A child changes your life!
~ Pope Francis addressing members of Italy’s National Numerous Family Association, National Catholic Register, December 30
Jan.05, 2015 6:00 am |
The Church |
Jill Stanek is a nurse turned speaker, columnist and blogger, a national figure in the effort to protect both preborn and postborn innocent human life.
[…] 05Jan15 Quote of the Day […]
Besides being schools of solidarity and sharing, one also learns a lot of survival and pro-social skills. With built in playmates, growing up in a large family is never dull. Coming from a family of three generations of 12 children, I admire the wherewithal of large families in general.
We will not end abortion, or excessive contraception, or the selfish greed of our culture, until we learn to love children again.
I’m due with #8 at the end of May! Nice to have someone say something nice about large families, usually it’s very negative comments.
We will not end abortion, or excessive contraception, or the selfish greed of our culture, until we learn to love children again. – you might want to rephrase that Del. You won’t end abortion, or contraception (nothing excessive about it), or the excessive greed of our culture (while you vote republican) yet I’m sure you love your children. I love mine. I’d say that a pretty high percentage of people love their children. Where do you get the idea otherwise?
Note Kristie’s comment above. Our culture hates children.
We are the only species on the planet that is insane enough to kill a quarter of our own children.
And we shut down our bodies so that we avoid having children.
Those families who welcome more than a few children suffer insult and scorn from strangers.
And all of this insanity is rather new, in just the last few generations.
Our culture does not hate children. People keep having children. People want children. There is nothing at all which supports your assertion.
We are the only species on the planet that is insane enough to kill a quarter of our own children. – we don’t kill a quarter of our children. And other species also ‘kill their children’.
And we shut down our bodies so that we avoid having children. – what, like menopause? Some people pause the reproductive capacity of their bodies using contraception so as to not have unwanted children.
We are quick to insult and disparage the families who do have children. – we? Who is we? Speak for yourself. Yes, some people insult and disparage those who have children. Just like some people insult and disparage others who choose not to have children. So what?
And all of this insanity is rather new, in just the last few generations. – are you kidding? Women have been trying to find ways of preventing and ending pregnancies since the moment they worked out how pregnancy happens. There’s also the fact that this ‘insanity’ to which you refer doesn’t exist.
Reality,
Mind telling that to my mother? I’m one of 8 and she’d go to the grocery store or other places and people would say “Are ALL those YOURS?” She said sometimes it was said in a very catty or rude way.
I get not everyone is called by God to have a lot of children–some not any at all, but the attitude toward large families is often a prejudice AGAINST them.
Whether it’s jealousy, shock, or just outright don’t care/hate children, the prejudice DOES exist. I’ve been the recipient of it.
And Del is quite right. The culture/population at large is not very pro-family or pro-children. Also, the abortion industry proves that. If there wasn’t some level of hatred or fear of children, then why would anyone abort them? If the culture/population at large loves children, then there’s no reason for abortion. The fear, the hatred, the assumptions keep the abortion industry going. NOT love.
Kristie,
Congratulations! I’m one of 8! The funny stories I could tell you of me and my siblings. A lot of love and lot of laughter. I wish you and your family the same!
She said sometimes it was said in a very catty or rude way. – ‘sometimes’. And sometimes it would have been said in admiration and sometimes maybe even in jealousy. And as I stated, people who choose not to have children also receive insults and disparagement.
Also, the abortion industry proves that. – how?
If there wasn’t some level of hatred or fear of children, then why would anyone abort them? – are you kidding? There are myriad reasons why women choose to abort. Hatred or fear of children would be waaay down the list.
If the culture/population at large loves children, then there’s no reason for abortion. – that’s sounds overly simplistic and naïve.
The fear, the hatred, the assumptions keep the abortion industry going. NOT love. – yes love, it’s the love for women which keeps it going.
Reality,
Ah yes, your usual denials. Tell me, do you come from a large family? Were you given strange looks for being a part of one? Were you bullied simply because people hated the fact you came from a large and loving family and they did not even though you wouldn’t dream of saying the ugly things those people said to you? If not, then I have my doubts you understand how much the prejudice against large families does, in fact, exist. I am not saying these things to garner pity, far from; rather to show you what does happen and the truth. Nowadays when people say things like “My, your parents were BUSY!” Or give me weird looks I respond calmly by saying that it’s a testimony on how much they love each other and love children. They would’ve had more than 8 if they could’ve. They even adopted.
I don’t know what universe you live in where encouraging women to end the lives of their preborn children is considered love. Personally I think pregnant women need encouragement and support to go THROUGH the pregnancy rather than to end it. Having been pregnant (and currently pregnant) that comes off as far more loving. And before you start in on the excuses to abort let me tell you I know them. But in the end aborting the rpreborn human doesn’t change the woman’s situation. But support and encouragement and conquering those fears and “reasons” rather than going through the abortion can empower a woman to realize she is capable of far more than she thought she was. I know this from personal experience, pregnancy isn’t always easy, but neither is life. It doesn’t mean you abort, it means you learn how to get through it and live both for your own sake and the preborn human’s sake.
it’s the love for women which keeps it [the abortion industry] going.
Those who have been active in the abortion industry — owned abortion “clinics” and aborted the little babies — say this is not true. They say it’s the love of money which keeps it going.
Mother In Texas — You go, Girl! :) I appreciate your posts.
Claire,
Thank you! And you’re right. Planned Parenthood does see dollar signs in the abortion industry. Former abortionists even mention taking a significant pay cut when they quit doing abortions.
Ah yes, your usual denials. – since I stated that insults and disparagement towards people with many children DOES happen and merely added that those who choose not to have children also receive insults and disparagement your accusation of me denying anything is self evidently false.
No I don’t come from a large family. But so what. I’m aware that experiences such as yours do occur. Again, I did not deny that fact.
I don’t know what universe you live in where encouraging women to end the lives of their preborn children is considered love. – firstly, there’s no ‘encouragement’ about it. It’s simply support of womens freedom and autonomy. It’s a universe of reason.
Personally I think pregnant women need encouragement and support to go THROUGH the pregnancy rather than to end it. – I don’t disagree. Pity the real world doesn’t deliver on that.
Having been pregnant (and currently pregnant) that comes off as far more loving. – for you yes. And I support your right to live that way. But you have no right to impose your preferences, your choices, on others.
And before you start in on the excuses to abort let me tell you I know them. – reasons, not excuses.
But in the end aborting the rpreborn human doesn’t change the woman’s situation. – well that obviously isn’t correct at all.
But support and encouragement and conquering those fears and “reasons” rather than going through the abortion can empower a woman to realize she is capable of far more than she thought she was. – not being forced to go through an unwanted pregnancy and have an unwanted child also empowers women.
I know this from personal experience, pregnancy isn’t always easy, but neither is life. – of course. But being able to terminate an unwanted pregnancy stops it being even more difficult.
It doesn’t mean you abort, it means you learn how to get through it and live both for your own sake and the preborn human’s sake. – that’s your choice. Leave others to make their own.
Reality,
You’d have me leave people to choose to murder their own children. As they say down in the South, “Ain’t never gonna happen”. I don’t support ending a life, specifically a life as innocent as a pre-born human being. It’s not about imposing any belief system on people, it’s about standing up for what’s right. It’s about what’s moral, it’s about what’s true. It’s about encouraging LIFE not death. That’s what it is.
I choose hope and not despair and fear. Anybody can be afraid. It takes real guts to hope.
Others do have the ability to make their own choices, this is true. HOWEVER, it doesn’t mean I have to support, agree, or even encourage those choices and I won’t.
I don’t expect you to agree with me. I don’t even expect you to see my point. Or even GET my point. In all the time I’ve been on this blog (which has been years) you haven’t. But to quote SOUTH PACIFIC “I guess I’m just a cock-eyed optimist.” I have hope that one day you will. No, I’m not being naive, I know it’s very possible you never will, but if I don’t have hope, despair wins, and well, that’s just not an option for me.
God bless.
You’d have me leave people to choose to murder their own children. – no, that’s infanticide. I’d have you leave people to terminate unwanted pregnancies.
It’s not about imposing any belief system on people, – well yes, it is.
it’s about standing up for what’s right. It’s about what’s moral, it’s about what’s true. – your version of what’s right, moral and true. What gives you the right to attempt to impose your choices in these realms on others.
It’s about encouraging LIFE not death. That’s what it is. – so is protecting women from the enforcements and impositions of others.
I choose hope and not despair and fear. Anybody can be afraid. It takes real guts to hope. – that goes for both ‘sides’.
Others do have the ability to make their own choices, this is true. – while you constantly agitate to make things otherwise.
HOWEVER, it doesn’t mean I have to support, agree, or even encourage those choices and I won’t. – fine. Just leave others alone.
I don’t expect you to agree with me. I don’t even expect you…..and well, that’s just not an option for me. – ditto.
Reality,
I see no difference between murdering a pre-born human child to murdering a child outside the womb. They both result in the end of a life. The fact that you’re differentiating the two means you totally missed what I was saying. So I shall clarify: “Leaving a person alone” to end the life of a pre-born human being is not something I can do and I won’t. I will continue to stand up for the pre-born human being’s basic right to life.
As a pro-lifer, I encourage prayer, hand-holding, counseling, and that approach. That’s the approach I take. If this peaceful approach agitates, then I expect they have something else they need to deal with. Especially if someone gets agitated with my presence as a pro-lifer on a pro-life blog. To me that’s just strange. Perhaps then a person would prefer to go somewhere else on the internet.
If you’re saying YOU’RE agitated by my words, then it begs the question why you keep coming back here. But I guess that’s something only you could answer, and I don’t really want an answer, I just presented it as a possibility.
“It takes real guts to hope.”
So true, MIT. Hope on!
Congrats on your new little one!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NHjUEdiebE
“Leaving a person alone” to end the life of a pre-born human being is not something I can do and I won’t. – and there you are differentiating.
If this peaceful approach agitates, then I expect they have something else they need to deal with. – yes, they have stuff they need to get on with and people blocking sidewalks and proselytizing at them is annoying.
Especially if someone gets agitated with my presence as a pro-lifer on a pro-life blog. To me that’s just strange. Perhaps then a person would prefer to go somewhere else on the internet. – I have to agree.
If you’re saying YOU’RE agitated by my words, – not at all MIT. :-)
“Leaving a person alone” to end the life of a pre-born human being is not something I can do and I won’t. – and there you are differentiating.
——-
Not at all. I am reminded of the uncaring people in NYC who allowed a young woman to be raped and killed right outside their doors because they didn’t want to “get involved”. Fact is, they were complicit in her death because they didn’t get involved.
Rape and murder are illegal. They are also acts perpetrated against another person. None of these factors apply to abortion.
Rape and murder are illegal.
Yes, and so was abortion until January 1973. Did legalization suddenly change it from being wrong to being acceptable?
If so, you must agree with Hitler and his henchmen that it was perfectly acceptable to murder Jews since it was perfectly legal. (And don’t bother telling me that babies in the womb are not people. I know better.)
Slavery was perfectly legal for many years, and it was perfectly legal for slaves to be killed with impunity by their “owners”. By your ridiculous logic, this means slavery was perfectly acceptable.
Also, the Dred Scott decision handed down by SCOTUS declared a slave to be just “2/3 of a person”. Just as with abortion, personhood was denied. Did that change the reality of the fact that African Americans were indeed persons?
They are also acts perpetrated against another person. None of these factors apply to abortion.
Your first sentence is true. Your second sentence is a fallacy.
It is mindsets like yours which ignore reality and justify killing a baby one day before his due date. Delivering just his head and stabbing him in the back of the neck, then suctioning out his brain.
Your “brave new world” is a nightmare. 60 MILLION deaths and counting, every day.
Did legalization suddenly change it from being wrong to being acceptable? – it was never wrong, it’s just that some self-righteous folk had made it illegal. Much like the temperance movement.
If so, you must agree with Hitler and his henchmen that it was perfectly acceptable to murder Jews since it was perfectly legal. – not at all. As I said earlier, abortion isn’t an act perpetrated against another person.
(And don’t bother telling me that babies in the womb are not people. I know better.) – evidently not.
By your ridiculous logic, this means slavery was perfectly acceptable. – not at all, for the same reason as above. Enforced gestation is more akin to slavery.
Just as with abortion, personhood was denied. Did that change the reality of the fact that African Americans were indeed persons? – not at all. The biology tells us that they are/were persons. Fetuses are not.
Your second sentence is a fallacy. – the physiology says I’m correct.
My ‘brave new world’ is one in which the freedom and equality of women is slowly being reached.
Suddenly we go from 50M to 60M? How did that happen?
Whoa there, R. Back up. YOU said “Rape and murder are illegal. They are also acts perpetrated against another person. None of these factors apply to abortion.”
YOU commented on the illegality of rape and murder, and used that argument to differentiate those from abortion.
Then when I answered logically by asking you why abortion suddenly became acceptable (to some people) just because it was legalized, you gave a totally specious answer.
I gave several examples of atrocities which were once legal. By your specious illogic, those things were perfectly acceptable BECAUSE they were legal. You can’t have it both ways.
More than half the babies in their mother’s wombs are female. What about their freedom and equality? Why is it wrong (in your specious opinion) to kill a baby two hours after he is born, but not two hours before she would be born naturally?
The great majority of abortions are committed because of convenience, because irresponsible men and women did not take measures to prevent fertilization of babies they did not want.
You cannot call such pregnancies “enforced gestation”. You’re way, way out in left field. I am very concerned about you.
Yes, the number of murdered babies keeps growing — OF COURSE! Because babies are still being killed every day.
50 Million was passed some time ago and the last I heard (which was several months ago) the figure was almost 60 MILLION.
YOU commented on the illegality of rape and murder, and used that argument to differentiate those from abortion. – as *part* of my argument. Don’t quote mine.
Then when I answered logically by asking you why abortion suddenly became acceptable (to some people) – well there’s a false assumption in there for a start.
just because it was legalized, you gave a totally specious answer. – ‘specious’ doesn’t mean ‘not liked by Claire’.
I gave several examples of atrocities which were once legal. By your specious illogic, those things were perfectly acceptable BECAUSE they were legal. You can’t have it both ways. – I’m not. I said more than what you are claiming I did. Stop quote mining.
More than half the babies in their mother’s wombs are female. What about their freedom and equality? Why is it wrong (in your specious opinion) to kill a baby two hours after he is born, but not two hours before she would be born naturally? . – and now you’re back to putting words in my mouth.
The great majority of abortions are committed because of convenience, because irresponsible men and women did not take measures to prevent fertilization of babies they did not want. – well that’s an erroneous claim.
You cannot call such pregnancies “enforced gestation”. – if a woman is prevented from terminating an unwanted pregnancy she is being subjected to the enforced gestation of a fetus.
You’re way, way out in left field. I am very concerned about you. – don’t be.
Yes, the number of murdered babies keeps growing — OF COURSE! Because fetuses are still being terminated every day. – as it has always been, and always will be.
50 Million was passed some time ago and the last I heard (which was several months ago) the figure was almost 60 MILLION. – ah, ‘almost’ now. And here I was thinking you were striving for accuracy.