Dear Parishioners,

Next week we will celebrate a very sad day in American history. It was twenty-five years ago when this nation decided that one human being had a virtual right (newly discovered in the Constitution) to destroy another human being without any due process.

It was twenty-five years ago when the Supreme Court of the United States decided that a woman could destroy her own child through abortion. They decided that an entire class of human beings were not worthy of protection because, according to the court, they were not persons. As a result, this country has seen the death of more than 25,000,000 people. Who knows who has been destroyed.

In the intervening years we have seen the growth of a new industry dealing in death; new and usually coarse programs of sex education and initiation; more unwanted and unloved children; a lessening of the respect of women; a youth culture which is more violent than ever; etc., etc., etc.

It doesn't take a degree in sociology, anthropology, psychology, or any other ology to conclude that when we allow a mother the right to destroy her own child, the end will not be far behind. We now have the leader of our land insisting that the destruction of half born infants be allowed.

We will have an opportunity next week to speak up for those who cannot speak up for themselves. We will have the opportunity to send to Washington our response to this horrible procedure. We must not sit back and let others speak for the innocent.

Some will say that these kinds of things don't really do any good. THEY DO!!! They do good for us who send them, and the politicians will listen when so many speak out. Usually they don't have to listen because so few speak. Let that not be the case here at STM. Let the politicians fear us because they know they will have to answer to us.

This issue is not about whether we spend money this way or that. There is room for great debate, and good people often disagree about particular programs. That is the wonderful nature of a functioning democracy. But this issue allows no debate. It is clearly and unequivocally the taking of a human life. There can be no other conclusion. All of us owe those being born our voice of support.

Next week after each Mass, there will be tables for each of us to take a stand. The Lord will not forget our choice to stand up for life.

It would be unfair if we do not mention the thousands of people who have opened their hearts, arms, and homes to young women needing a place to stay while pregnant; thousands manning telephones at crisis centers; churches throughout this country joining together to combat this tremendous evil visited upon the land. The Lord has drawn good out of this profound evil.