In Focus:

True freedom and empowerment on International Women's Day

Dear Friend for Life

Today is International Women’s Day.  UN agencies, International Planned Parenthood, Family Planning and others will no doubt make this day about so-called “reproductive health” and lament the poor access and perceived barriers women throughout the world have to contraception (often abortifacient methods) and abortion.

In the eyes of the world, a woman’s freedom and empowerment and equality comes from being able to forego the responsibilities of motherhood if she so chooses.  It is expected that every woman (and teen) should have access to contraception and abortion as a right, ignoring physical, psychological and spiritual repercussions to her.

Contraception fails (abortifacient contraception also has the potential to take the life of a newly conceived person) and the back-up plan for failed contraception is abortion.  Statistics show that approximately half of all women who present for an abortion were using some form of contraception at the time they became pregnant.

And what a back up plan.

In her book, Real Choices – Listening to Women, Looking for Alternatives to Abortion, Frederica Mathewes-Green writes “No one wants an abortion as she wants an ice-cream cone or a Porsche.  She wants an abortion as an animal, caught in a trap, wants to gnaw off its own leg.”

This powerful statement harnesses the truth that women instinctively know what an abortion does.  She chooses abortion because she feels she has no other choice.  She thinks that denying her femininity and motherhood will empower her and allow her to get on with her life.  Sometimes she thinks if she just does what her boyfriend or husband says, then everything will be okay again, and she will be loved.

But this is not true freedom.

Saint John Paul II wrote in Redemptor Hominis:

“Nowadays it is sometimes held, though wrongly, that freedom is an end in itself, that each human being is free when he makes use of freedom as he wishes, and that this must be our aim in the lives of individuals and societies.  In reality, freedom is a great gift only when we know how to use it consciously for everything that is our true good.  Christ teaches us that the best use of freedom is charity, which takes concrete form in self-giving and in service.”

True freedom and empowerment doesn’t come from access to so-called “reproductive health” (contraception and abortion).  These oftentimes lead to a life lacking in hope, peace and real joy.  Instead women should be encouraged and supported to embrace their femininity and their fertility and to value themselves and expect great respect from men.  When destructive choices are made, women need to know that healing is possible, all is not lost. 

This is where a woman’s true strength lies. 

Thank you to all of you are praying for an end to abortion throughout the country.  We are especially grateful to all you humble folk who are fasting your time by praying outside AMAC, Wellington Hospital and Christchurch Hospital for 40 Days for Life.  Your prayers and presence are making a difference and you are showing women that they are strong enough to follow their dreams while giving life to their precious babies!