Hickey calls Perth to join Benedict in life vigil

Pope Benedict XVI has asked every diocesan Bishop in the world to join him in a vigil for life on November 27. Perth will be joining him.

By Bronia Karniewicz
Archdiocesan Respect Life Office
Catholics around the world, including Perth, will join Pope Benedict XVI in a Vigil for Life, praying “for protection of every human being called into existence” on Saturday, 27 November.
The Pope has written to every diocesan Bishop in the world, asking them to join in this significant prayer intention he has termed a “Vigil for All Nascent Human Life.”
Archbishop Hickey will celebrate the 6pm Mass at St Mary’s Cathedral in Victoria Square on the same date and continue the vigil for three hours more until 10pm; many other parishes in Perth will also mark the occasion.
The purpose of the vigil “is to thank the Lord for His total self-giving to the world and for His Incarnation which gave every human life its real worth and dignity and to invoke the Lord’s protection over every human being called into existence.”
This call to prayer for all nascent life, life which is just beginning to exist and develop, is important.
Abortion has a great impact on our community. Australian statistics show one in four women have experienced an abortion with some studies indicating it is actually now as great as one in three women. Abortion affects our whole society with many women and men grieving and traumatised by their experience.
Yes, abortion is a difficult issue to discuss; many of us have friends or family who have had an abortion and we can avoid the issue because we may not know what to say or don’t want to be seen as judgemental.
Society often portrays it as a solution to the problem of an unexpected pregnancy and allows women “to get on with their lives” but this is not the reality of the experience for many women and men.
The death of the unborn child is only the beginning of a destructive legacy of the human suffering that is abortion. There are many parents who grieve and suffer because of their children’s death. We must always be sensitive to these parents who suffer such deep grief. Regardless of what stage of grief they are in, whether isolated and despairing, in denial or full of anger.
When we speak of abortion, we must always speak with compassion and care to the parents of the unborn, as we would to any parent who has lost a child. We must always be aware of the pressures our society puts on women and couples not to give birth to their children.
Our gentle words can give hope. When we speak with compassion and care, we reach out, we promote healing. Our willingness to listen supports a nurturing environment where women and men can begin to look at themselves and their experience with an open heart.
Woman’s lives are all too often being shattered because of abortion. Men, too, are frequently acting out their abortion pain in unhealthy and destructive ways and children are suffering second generational trauma because of their parent’s abortion.
When we reflect on this, we can begin to see why Mother Teresa spoke of abortion as being the biggest destroyer of world peace.  The healing and prevention of abortion go hand in hand.
When woman and men can heal and speak about the enormous harm abortion has done to them, then and only then will support for abortion dry up.
Nascent human life is also at risk through science and the use of embryos for research.
The Church does not condemn the motives of couples seeking to overcome infertility problems or scientific research to seek cures to illness and disability but says that in using some methods such as IVF and embryonic research, we do harm to ourselves, our children, our societies and to the dignity of the human person.
The Church seeks not to judge but to bring new understanding, forgiveness and peace.
She wants ultimately to bring about a change of heart and to transform our community into a civilisation of love,  a society where human life and dignity are never exploited or harmed.
Advent is a time when we wait with anticipation the birth of Christ.
As we begin to prepare for the birth of Christ, this vigil gives us all a chance to reflect and pray in communion for every human life.