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Statement of the Catholic Bishops of Florida
on the 35th Anniversary of
Roe v. Wade
January 22, 2008
“...and
from man in regard to
his fellow man I will demand an accounting for human life.”
Genesis 9:5
We
must continue to proclaim to society that the 1973 Roe v. Wade
Supreme Court ruling was wrong because it did not recognize the child in
the womb as a human being but only as a “potentiality of human life”. In
civilized society, all members must respect the fundamental rights of
every person. Calling abortion a “deep wound” in society, Pope Benedict
XVI noted, “The fundamental human right, the presupposition of every
other right, is the right to life itself. This is true of life from the
moment of conception until its natural end. Abortion, consequently,
cannot be a human right – it is the very opposite.”
Sadly,
abortions in Florida continue to increase, surpassing the numbers
recorded just five years ago in 2001 by 10,000, with a new high of
almost 96,000 abortions in 2006. The failure of the legislature to
strengthen the parental notification law is particularly disturbing in
the face of judicial criticism lamenting the lack of standards in the
law. The testimony of parents was all in vain, as they described their
families shattered by teens who later regretted their hasty decision.
Across our nation, almost 50 million human beings have been destroyed in
the womb since 1973, dying in ways we would not tolerate if done in the
light of day.
While abortion
continues to be the law of the land, we are heartened by medical and
scientific advances that have opened the window to the womb such as
ultrasound, allowing the mother to see her child made in the image and
likeness of God. What has been called “choice” for a woman has so often
been no choice because of coercion by others, feeling alone or lack of
financial resources.
Thanks to countless
volunteers at crisis pregnancy centers around the state and to Project
Gabriel, a parish based program that offers emotional and physical help,
women are making a choice for life! We reaffirm our commitment to help
any woman who needs assistance to continue her pregnancy and give birth.
Hope is on the
horizon as the United States Supreme Court upheld the federal ban on
partial birth abortion this year, thus acknowledging the humanity of the
unborn child and the post-abortion grief experienced by countless women.
Through Project Rachel and Rachel’s Vineyard, the Church continues to
offer healing and reconciliation to women and men who have participated
in abortion.
We pray for the day
the federal court will overturn their previous rulings and return this
issue to the states, triggering laws in some that have passed
legislation in anticipation and opening the door for other states to
pass abortion bans. While some progress has been achieved, we cannot
rest until all life at all stages is respected and celebrated.
Archbishop John C. Favalora
Archdiocese of Miami |
Bishop
Victor Galeone
Diocese of St.
Augustine |
Bishop Robert N. Lynch
Diocese of St.
Petersburg |
Bishop Thomas G. Wenski
Diocese of Orlando |
Bishop John H. Ricard, SSJ
Diocese of
Pensacola/Tallahassee |
Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito
Diocese of Palm
Beach |
Bishop Frank J. Dewane
Diocese of Venice |
Auxiliary Bishop Felipe J. Estévez
Archdiocese of Miami |
Auxiliary Bishop John G. Noonan
Archdiocese of Miami |
Florida Catholic Conference
201 W. Park
Avenue
* Tallahassee, FL * 32301-7760
Phone (850) 222-3803 * Fax (850) 681-9548 |
