Pope Francis: Abortion a sign of wasteful culture
by Kelli
Unfortunately, what is thrown away is not only food and dispensable objects, but often human beings themselves, who are discarded as ‘unnecessary.’
For example, it is frightful even to think there are children, victims of abortion, who will never see the light of day.
~ Pope Francis, speaking in his “state of the world” speech to diplomats, as quoted by the Chicago Tribune, January 13
Note: Reuters was mocked for its headline regarding the Pope’s statements, characterizing them as “a nod to conservatives.” Reuters subsequently altered the headline (original pictured below; click to enlarge) to “Pope, after conservatives’ criticism, calls abortion ‘horrific’.”
[Photo via Baltimore Sun]
Jan.14, 2014 1:00 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.
I love Pope Francis, and he’s completely right. Our culture treats children like disposable trash that exist on the whims of adults. Unborn children in particular, but children in general. Children are treated as ways to make adults happy, not as their own human beings with their own needs. You don’t want a baby with Downs Syndrome? Abort her! Your child is cramping your style? Throw him in front of the television for six hours. I hate the way our culture treats children.
@DLPL absolutely. Children are really not valued in general in this society and it’s a major problem. It comes from both ends of the spectrum (traditional patriarchy says children should be seen and not heard, etc; radical feminism says children are lifestyle choices and disposable if a woman doesn’t want to have them, etc.) Society needs to start appreciating the full humanity of children and stop seeing them as property of their parents, lifestyle choices, or commodities. I think you could trace many different social problems, from abortion to juvenile delinquency to child abuse to the root cause of children not being truly valued.
“I think you could trace many different social problems, from abortion to juvenile delinquency to child abuse to the root cause of children not being truly valued.”
You have a point to a degree Padma. I think that parenting truly is best when we respond to our kids’ temperaments. Consider that many who have had great childhood have become not so great adults and many who have child abuse in their background have become outstanding ones.
Many juvenile delinguents fall in with the wrong crowd no matter the parenting…
Now this is the type of Pope Francis quote we need to hear more of. If only the media would report it without the spin.
I think the media is really shocked that the Pope is Catholic.
Kel, the dissident Catholics will also be shocked. Pope Benedict and Pope Francis reflect their vocations differently, but they both embrace and uphold the full truth of Catholic teaching.
Both headlines are stupid and only reveal the bias and agenda of the news media. They portray Francis as though he’s running around asking different people, “What should I say about this? What do they want me to say? What should I say the Church teaches?”
Gimme a break. The Pope is Catholic. The Catholic Church teaches that abortion is gravely evil and always immoral. The Catholic Church teaches that every human life is sacred, and that human life begins at conception and ends with natural death. Period.
The media keep making the same mistake: Catholicism is not about parties or politics. There are no “liberals” or “conservatives” in Catholicism. Those are political terms. A self-proclaimed Catholic is a faithful Christian… or he is not.
Pope Francis is a faithful Catholic (which should surprise no one. Why is Reuters surprised?). He talks about preferential and generous love for the poor, as all Catholics should. He talks about the precious dignity of human life and condemns violence and slavery and abortion, as all Catholics should.
As long as political liberals believe that children cause poverty, they will insist that abortion/infanticide/murder is necessary for prosperity. And they will be confounded by Catholicism. Liberalism will continue to promise us great riches if we will just be unfaithful to Christ and His Church.
I hate the way our culture treats children.
I agree 100%! That is why I get so defensive (and assertive) when people use, abuse, lie to and lie about little ones. Or when they enable others or even enable the little ones ones themselves to do the same things!
I think that the American media was fooled for a while because Pope Francis started out softly on the issue of homosexuality and were ”hopeful” He would also soften the stance on abortion and make things easier for American Catholics. This “outcry” is now a result of the liberal media totally forgetting that Pope Francis represents the Catholic Church. What’s worst, the original headline and the subsequent correction are evident of this liberalism gone amock (media were truly peeved off that the Pope defended preborn life thus putting a dent in their propaganda).
Pope Francis is an amazing man.
Good point Del. Many say the Pope should be carefully tailoring his public comments in-line with the media’s expectation of everything is political warfare. I for one am happy when people operate outside of PR-speak (within reason of course!).
Children are treated as ways to make adults happy, not as their own human beings with their own needs.
Jack, that is a heck of a generalization. No question that there are cases where the parents are living vicariously through their kids, or trying to. Where the parents subconsciously (or maybe even consciously) view them as extensions of their own egos, etc.
There’s usually a little bit of that, even if it’s just “parental pride” at work, but agreed that it goes to excess a good bit in our culture. Is it really “all that much,” though? Are we talking half of all cases? I sure don’t think so. Certainly not enough that we can correctly make unqualified assertions about the way things are.
I have 3 brothers, 1 sister, and a brother-in-law that all have kids. Right down the line, they do a really good job of addressing the needs of the kids as people in their own right. Not always easy, either. My sister does not have to work, and one brother and the brother-in-law have wives that are stay-at-home moms. Definitely makes things go smoother, as far as what we’re talking about.
The other 2 brothers are divorced, and the ex-wives work. Been some rough patches here…. But in the end it was just things that happen with kids, sometimes, not that the parents were viewing the kids in some over-arching incorrect way.
Your child is cramping your style? Throw him in front of the television for six hours.
Well yeah, that is certainly not ideal. Jack, I have to laugh, I can picture you like a grouchy old man, holding your pants up with one hand, and shaking your fist at society with the other. (My wife is not unknown to say things about me like that.)
Children ….as ways to make adults happy. Well – they *should* make adults happy, or the adults at hand should not be having them. People should want to have kids for the right reasons. I realize that’s “easy for me to say.”
6 hours in front of the TV, okay – in a perfect world that’s not happening. But sometimes it’s way too late for that. A good many of my wife’s students come from families and homes that are “rough,” to say the last. Maybe Dad’s dead or in prison or otherwise gone. Mom’s working two jobs to try to get by. She’s not home much, and when she is, she’s tired and it’s a stretch just to get some food out and wash the clothes. Meanwhile, the TV as “flickering blue parent” is right there.
When Pope Francis says that children are being treated as “dispensable objects,” and not as human beings with their own needs, he is talking about the dominant paradigm in our culture.
We see this in the common language, of a child who is “planned and wanted” — as if there could ever be such a thing as an unwanted child. And yet, there is an entire industry that exists to extract and discard those “unwanted” children.
So Doug (and welcome, btw!), there is an epidemic attitude in our culture that views children as a commodity to be purchased when wanted and discarded when unwanted. Contraception, IVF, abortion, and divorce are all symptoms of this attitude.
Doug I was kinda cranky last night, lol, so I didn’t explain myself very well.
I just see a worrisome trend to treat children like accessories rather than people in their own right. Of course having children should make parents happy, but it’s kinda a side effect of putting them first imo. Their needs come before your happiness. When my daughter had colic when she was an infant it didn’t make me “happy” to walk her around for hours and hours to keep her from screaming all night, but her needs came before my temporary wants (which was sleeeppp). I’ve seen too many parents who put their wants before their children’s needs. I was raised in that type of family, I was around street kids my entire adolescence who were raised in those type of families. It’s bad. And it doesn’t seem to be improving.
And I get the single mom problem, I’m a single parent myself so I do get that circumstances are not always ideal. I more meant the type of parents who don’t want to deal with actually interacting with their kids so they use the tv to keep them out of their hair, I wasn’t talking about parents who unfortunately have very touch circumstances and make do. We should be helping those parents in tough circumstances (stuff like Boys and Girls clubs can sometimes help those with school aged children, for example).
I just think that people focus a lot on adults and what makes themselves happy instead of focusing on kids. I wish our culture was focused more on kids and keeping them healthy and such.
I can most definitely agree there Del. The pro-abort language of unwanted/unplanned and even recently used on this blog “forced wombs” by a pro-abort, steers this society in a direction that Pope Francis was eluding to by using the phrase “disposable objects.”
What’s troubling is that the liberal forces approve and even promote such language, which has already permeated our society and those words have become the norm for many.
Thomas R. says:
What’s troubling is that the liberal forces approve and even promote such language, which has already permeated our society and those words have become the norm for many.
Do you recall when our current President said that he would not want to see his own daughter “punished with a child” as the result of some future sexual activity?
Please don’t get me started on the almighty O Del, doing so would derail the thread BUT yes:
http://papundits.wordpress.com/2008/09/01/obama-i-dont-want-my-daughters-punished-with-a-baby-video/
https://www.jillstanek.com/parental-notification/the-sex-lives-o.html
So Doug (and welcome, btw!), there is an epidemic attitude in our culture that views children as a commodity to be purchased when wanted and discarded when unwanted. Contraception, IVF, abortion, and divorce are all symptoms of this attitude.
Hey Del. :) It’s the same “old” Doug, by the way. Although, hey, the big 55 is comin’ up.
I agree that it’s more the case now than in the past (in general), but to say “epidemic” or “dominant paradigm,” well – I think that’s a bit much. You know that you and I disagree on some terminology and valuation to a point in gestation, but for born children, I really do not think that “dispensable objects,” is the way most parents see their kids.
IVF – if somebody wants to have kids, have their own kids, and they can’t do it otherwise, hey – I say let them do it.
Contraception – the genie is not going back in the bottle.
Divorce – about half of all first marriages end in divorce (I think by 20 years of marriage). Since I’ve been a teenager, I’ve seen a boatload of people whom I thought should not get married, period, at least at that time. Also many cases where I thought it was nuts for a given couple to marry. Whaddayagonnado?
IVF means buying a child because you want one. And contraception is still bad for our society and for those who use it, even if it won’t go away like heroin won’t go away.
And Chesterton warned us a century ago, when Divorce was just beginning to be a commodity that a couple could purchase if they wanted to….. Chesterton said that if a couple could be divorced for frivolous reasons (like “incompatibility”), then soon we would see couples getting married for frivolous reasons. And that proved prophetic, as you have seen.
So Whaddayagonnado? We need to do what previous generations did: We need to teach our children what marriage is, and that divorce is not an option, and guide them to choose their spouses well. Otherwise, they are liable to buy into the zeitgeist, and start thinking that any sort of sexual relationship could become a marriage.
In related news, the Vatican recently announced that Archbishop Wesolowski will not be extradited to his native Poland, where he faces accusations of child sex abuse. I won’t wait for your outrage.
Come on Megan, you know that people are disgusted by child sex abuse. You know I’m horrified by that stuff. The issue with Wesolowski is that he’s considered a Vatican City citizen and they don’t extradite their citizens, just like many countries do not. I think that needs to change, of course, you can’t go around raping teenage boys and then run home to hide, but you can’t just accuse people of approving of child abuse because the Vatican made a diplomatic call that is horrible.
And correct me if I’m wrong but I believe Wesolowski is still under investigation by people in the Vatican, and justice could still be forthcoming. He could get jail terms under Vatican criminal justice law. I don’t believe Pope Francis would stand for someone getting away with raping children, he’s a good man. I am hoping justice is still coming.
We need to do what previous generations did: We need to teach our children what marriage is – whose version? Which generation, from which era? Which culture?
any sort of sexual relationship could become a marriage. – not any sort, only those between two consenting adults who love each other.
Wow…. I almost responded to Reality like he/she is real person.
But then I realized that Reality will morph into some different version soon…. in some other culture culture or time or location.
Reality isn’t real, anywhere.
But then I realized that Reality will morph into some different version soon…. in some other culture culture or time or location. – my, that sounds like a story worth listening to. Do tell.
Would I not fit in your fantasy feifdom?
Reality isn’t real, anywhere – yes, I have noticed your inability to grasp it, or do you just have a very vivid imagination, reading and then writing about something which isn’t real? ;-)
Honk if you don’t believe the liberal media.
Megs, way to try and distract from the discussion at hand: throwing away human children. Teachers in public schools also victimize children. Does that un-throw away the ones you abort?? Women and even adult men can be victims of rape. How does rape un-throw away aborted children? Why are abortion advocates so quick to use the conveniently distracting rape card? And finally, why is it ok for Harvey Milk to victimize underage males and drive them to suicide and he gets a movie and a postage stamp????? Megs???
“Honk if you don’t believe the liberal media”
Honk.
Hi Megan:
Regarding Archbishop Wesolowski and that extradition to Poland issue. Poland is an ultra-conservative Catholic nation and I should know because I come from there ;) The Archbishop would not have a fair trial there whatsoever.
As it stands, I am sure you know that accusations are just that - ACCUSATIONS. I think that the decision to address these ACCUSATIONS based on “Archbishop Wesolowski is a citizen of the Vatican, and Vatican law does not allow for his extradition” (did you miss that statement in your source) was proper. This is, in case you don’t read political news, a very legitimate and widely used line (the US for instance does not have an extradition treaty with many nations).
And as far as waiting for my outrage – I will display one when the Archbishop is indeed found guilty as charged.
Hey I just read DLPL’s comments after posting the above.
DLPL if I could do it, I would give you 25 ‘likes.” :)
Re Megan. I once got into somewhat of a facebook war with liberals who called all priests child molesters….so I said yes sometimes the homosexual men you support rape little boys. They really had no defense and it was funny to watch them contradict themselves again and again.
And I know not all homosexual grown men arent into little boys but they love to twist things around so I threw in that card. It is a gay man molesting a little boy after all isnt it?
Heather, people who rape children are pedophiles/child molesters, their orientation is quite incidental. I’ve never heard anyone but radical feminists say “straight men rape girls”, even though males abuse girls at quite astonishing rates. People who abuse children are child abusers, sometimes they have a gender preference but it’s not fair to compare them to normal adults (of whichever orientation) who are only attracted to adults.
There is one website that is strictly monitored in the US: NAMBLA .de (men/boy love association) and only law enforcement does not risk prosecution when browsing it.
This pedophilic movement is gross. Check this out:
http://www.scoop.it/t/parenting-news-views/p/4005366542/2013/07/29/gross-pedophiles-call-for-same-rights-as-homosexuals
Republicans do not desire pedophilia labeled as an orientation but it was recently defeated by democrat Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-Fl) who supports it as “alternative sexual lifestyles protection under the law.” Nice going Florida democrats!!!! (click on the link to read the rest).
Pedophilia is very different from homosexuality but to support it as an alternative sexual lifystyle!!! (which nambla advocates for as well). Please remind me again why democrats are disgusting :(
The vast majority of Democrats are fervently against child rape Thomas. As are most LGBT people.
Well, evidently Florida’s dem rep Hastings has a pretty good following on legalizing pedophilia as an “alternative sexual lifystyle.”
There are plenty of conservatives who rape children too. Pedophilia is a disgusting thing that’s found it’s way into all kinds of different organizations. No one is immune and making it a political battle isn’t helping.
It was made a political battle in Florida by the democrats Jack. Read about it. Hastings is not giving up on this.
All I see is sick people trying to co-opt a legitimate movement (for gay people not to be treated like crap).
I can’t deal with the comparing homosexuality to pedophilia Thomas. I’m out.
I understand the difference and do not condone for anyone to make this comparison. I am just literally peeved at this democrat Hastings fellow attempt to legitimize pedophilia as comparable to homosexuality. Maybe this dude needs to be boycotted and eventually kicked out by Florida voters.
Well there’s the difference between liberal perverts and conservative perverts. Liberal perverts try to legitimize their perversions. Conservatives try to hide it. My (exceedingly conservative) childhood church not only hid the abuses my father did, they blamed me and made me confess to “homosexual behavior” in front of the congregation when I tried to get help. Neither side is better, pervs hide everywhere.
Thomas I don’t even know where you’re getting that Hastings is trying to protect pedophiles, I researched it some more and in his own words the hate crimes bill he wants passed would not protect pedophiles. I feel like you’re trying to emotionally manipulate the conversation by saying these type of things:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/06/democrats-accused-of-usin_n_198167.html
Well obviously your sources are missing this:
“Republicans attempted to add an amendment specifying “pedophilia is not covered as an orientation.” However, the amendment was defeated by Democrats. Rep. Alcee Hastings, D-Fla., stated that all alternative sexual lifestyles should be protected under the law.”
Every source on this fiasco clearly notes that Hastings wants pedophilia to be protected as an alternative lifestyle. So, please research some more…And BTW your source is outdated as there is more info from Sept 2013 (see my link above when this Hasting issue came about in Sept 2013 AND NOT in 2009 as you indicate).
Del: IVF means buying a child because you want one. And contraception is still bad for our society and for those who use it, even if it won’t go away like heroin won’t go away.
Contraception is like vaccination or getting a flu shot – you’re trying to prevent an unwanted situation. IVF is for people who are having trouble getting pregnant without some medical help. Good grief, what is so bad about that?
And Chesterton warned us a century ago, when Divorce was just beginning to be a commodity that a couple could purchase if they wanted to….. Chesterton said that if a couple could be divorced for frivolous reasons (like “incompatibility”), then soon we would see couples getting married for frivolous reasons. And that proved prophetic, as you have seen.
It does seem like a significant amount of people are getting married without a firm view that they will stay married, i.e., “If it doesn’t work out I can just get divorced.” Seems to me that divorce is enough of a bad thing – the emotional, financial aspects, etc., that I queston if it’s really worth it for those individuals to get married, then.
So Whaddayagonnado? We need to do what previous generations did: We need to teach our children what marriage is, and that divorce is not an option, and guide them to choose their spouses well. Otherwise, they are liable to buy into the zeitgeist, and start thinking that any sort of sexual relationship could become a marriage.
Harking back to “the past” has been going on for thousands of years. It’s almost never as simple as that – and there are lots of things that previous generations did that I’m glad are no longer in effect. I do agree with encouraging them to choose their spouses well, and really – get their lives pointed in a good direction for them, overall. Admittedly, that’s a tall order with a lot of kids, but if anything I think it’s more critical now than in the past 50 or 60 years.