"Life: What A Beautiful Choice?"

Advocate Pic, Travis Spralding - Photographer: Keith and Maria Horcasitas, Louisiana Life March, 2019

"You shall love the Lord, your God
with all your heart,
with all your being,
with all your strength,
and with all your mind,
and your neighbor as yourself." (Luke 10:27)

This quote by a scholar of the law to Jesus cites an ancient biblical tradition that is appreciated by members of many diverse faiths, including Judaism, Christianity and Islam. What follows in this Scriptural passage is that famous delineation of the question that we all still have to come to grips with: "And who is my neighbor?" (Luke 10:29)

It might be helpful for all of us to update the "Good Samaritan" account, so that we can better demonstrate a congruent practice of our faiths in everyday life.

Many of us participated in the inter-faith, cross denominational and multiracial Louisiana Life March on January 26, 2019 in Redstick that featured Dr. Aveda King, Niece of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as the main speaker promoting a "Choose Life" culture of life, as opposed to the pro-abortion culture of death.

On the same day as the unfortunate 46th anniversary (January 22, 2019) of Roe v Wade, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and many legislators "celebrated" passing the "Reproductive Health Act," which basically promotes infanticide behind all the euphemistic legalese and verbiage that hide its real intent: the ability to kill a viable child. Gov. Cuomo even highlighted the bill's passage by lighting the World Trade Center ("Freedom Tower") pink ... a shade of red, ironically depicting blood!

The following is an updated version of "The Good Samaritan," as it would apply to promoting a culture of life v a culture of death:

It happened that a pregnant woman fell victim to the persuasion of her family and friends to decide to get an abortion, as she was in the past displaced from New Orleans to Baton Rouge by Hurricane Katrina. They "stripped her" of her long held culture of life beliefs and emotionally "beat her" to change this thinking and practice to a culture of death - leaving her feeling "half-dead."

Her priest at her parish happened to find out about the woman's situation but chose to "pass by" on the chance to meet with her after Mass one day. He believed that it was not his business getting involved in such "private matters" even though he was "publicly" pro-life.

Likewise, a nondenominational and interfaith acquaintance of the woman became aware of the her predicament but also "passed by" on an opportunity to help her when she saw her on the opposite side of a local coffee shop. The acquaintance was noted as being pro-choice and felt she could not impose her beliefs on another person.

But a humble citizen of "one Baton Rouge" neighborhood, a regular sidewalk counselor at a local abortion clinic where the woman was going in for the procedure, happened to see her. He "approached the victim," kindly greeted her, "bandaged her" with a smile, as well as he "poured out the oil and wine" of compassion over her stressful emotional and spiritual state of being. He also provided factual information about the biology of life. He "lifted her up" spiritually, and she agreed to be taken by her friend to a care pregnancy center and a shelter to care for her.

The next day, he took out two "silver coins" of financial assistance for her basic needs, and brought her to the Woman's New Life Center located next to the abortion clinic. He also prayed with her and gave thanksgiving to God for all that was being done by other volunteers in taking care to help the woman decide to allow the unborn child to be born and possibly to be put up for adoption. He also referred the woman to the local American Holocaust Memorial, where she could get diapers and baby/maternity clothing if needed.

In addition, he provided info about access to post-abortion counseling and healing available per the local diocese for a friend of the woman, who had reportedly had an abortion the previous year.

Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the woman and the unborn child victims?

"The one who treated them with mercy." (Luke 10:37) Jesus still would reply: "Go and do likewise." (Luke 10:37)

And as we are all trying to be humble servants of God, as Pope Francis has surely shown us, may we put our principles into "Good Samaritan" actions ... especially to all unborn children ... in all 3 trimesters ... and especially AFTER BIRTH!

Also, as noted once by a Catholic Cardinal: "It's time to pray and advance not the agenda of the donkey or the elephant, but only the AGENDA (The Beatitudes (Mt 5: 1-12) of the LAMB (of God).”

God bless you and yours.