On this Feast of the Holy Innocents, we consider the innocent lives of the unborn.
The Holy Father confronts the issue of abortion primarily as a pastor and father, who sees the suffering of his sheep.
But he recognizes that oftentimes his voice is not heard.
On December 1 he wrote some of his former students in Argentina about abortion, since his native country is in the midst of a battle over its possible legalization. The lower house in Argentina approved on December 11 a measure that had been introduced by the president. The Senate is supposed to vote at the end of the month.
In his letter, the pope said what he’s already said several times about abortion, “I suggest that two questions are asked: 1. Is it just to eliminate a human life to solve a problem? and 2. Is it just to hire a hit man to solve a problem?”
The Holy Father then lamented that his message isn’t heard. He said that it makes him chuckle when someone says, “Why doesn’t the pope make his opinion on abortion known in Argentina? Well, I’m making it known to the whole world – also to Argentina – since I became pope.”
In general, it’s not known what I usually say … people know what it’s said I say, and that thanks to the media which, as we know well, respond to partial, specific, or political interests. In this regard, I think that Catholics – from the bishops down to the faithful in the parish – have a right to know what the pope really says … and not what the media say he says. Here the telephone game applies. Johnny told me that Janie said that … and so on goes the chain.
In this light, here are 12 things that Francis has said about abortion and the unborn.