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SOUTHERN PAPIST PERSPECTIVE
A Catholic Opinion Newsletter
334 Lakeshore Drive
Madison, Mississippi 39110
February 1998
Issue 33
Who are the Real Victims?
Having just passed the 25th anniversary of Roe vs. Wade, pro-lifers have been evaluating and
reassessing strategies and responses to this institutionalized holocaust. While some meager gains
have been made (especially in Mississippi) on the legislative front, abortion on demand rages on.
For the most part our strategies have failed because of equivocation on the part of our leaders and
because of contradictory messages from the pro-life community.
The latest strategy being set forth is to appeal to the 'self interest of women' through stricter
governmental regulation of abortion facilities and emphasis on the preaching of 'mercy.' At a
recent pro-life luncheon in Jackson where these ideas were proffered, the speaker suggested that
revival would come through preaching 'mercy.' He said that it's wrong to classify women as 'evil'
if they have had an abortion and said pro-lifers should focus on 'post-abortion counseling.' In
other words, the mission of pro lifers is no longer to stop the murder of the innocents, that battle
apparently lost, but to make sure that the death facilities are 'safe,' and that women who murder
their own offspring are kept as guilt-free as possible. God help us!
How can we tell the world with a straight face that abortion is murder but then say, "Let us help
you feel better afterwards."? Should we also offer 'post-rape' counseling to rapists and
'post-molesting' counseling to child molesters? Can you imagine Mothers Against Drunk Driving
telling drunkards that 'Jesus loves you,' so make sure your cars are safe before you run someone
over, and by the way, please come to 'post-drunken homicide' counseling. We'll help you come
to terms with your negative feelings if you've killed someone.
How is any moral ground gained by stressing that women are entitled to safety while killing their
babies? How will the preaching of mercy help? We have 'mercy' being preached in every church
in America. Why no revival? Because the wrath, judgment, and fear of almighty God, are not
being preached! Because our ministers have abandoned their flocks to Hell.
People who participate in abortion in any way are evil, selfish, demonic people who don't deserve
to breathe God's fresh air. We are evil for allowing it to go on. Vatican II called abortion 'an
unspeakable crime.' Doesn't this make participants unspeakable criminals? How many other
'unspeakable crimes' lead us to pity the perpetrator as much or more than the victim? Why do we
say 'post abortion syndrome' rather than 'post murder blood-guilt?' Why would we see the
women as victims? After all, it's not their arms and legs being pulled off, or their brains being
sucked out. Until we see that we are a lost, evil culture and fall on our face before God, we are
doomed. Only then can genuine revival occur.
No wonder Ted Turner said that pro-lifers are bozos. We are. We stand outside the abortuaries
and say abortion is murder and in the same breath intone that 'God forgives.' There's only one
problem. We cannot forgive anyone unless they hurt us personally. We have no right to talk of
forgiveness to anyone killing a third party. We cannot offer absolution to wicked and unrepentant
sinners. Is it murder, really? I've seen some charismatics standing outside the abortuaries singing
happy little songs and clapping their hands while babies are being slaughtered a few yards away.
Would they want this to be our response if they were about to be murdered? What lunacy.
I believe our scripture theme for patrons of abortuaries should be: 'If we sin willfully after
receiving knowledge of the truth there is no sacrifice for sin.' (Heb. 10.26) And our scriptures for
the providers: 'God hates the hands that shed innocent blood' (Pro.6. 17) and 'Anyone who sheds
[innocent] human blood is to be killed by a human'. (Gen. 9.6) Perhaps, like the Old
Testament prophets, we should call down curses, wrath, and judgment on baby killers if they
refuse to repent.
When I started sidewalk counseling in 1980, most women would hang their heads in shame and
hurry in. Now they stroll in laughing or giving us the finger (with the exception of minor children
being forced by their parents). This is the legacy of portraying the women as victims and divorcing
the wrath and justice of God from his mercy. This is not God's grace - this is cheap grace, and the
root of repeat abortions.
In Catholic teaching abortion is one of only two sins that carry automatic excommunication. That
makes it worse than cannibalism, incest, bestiality, or armed robbery. This is no game. Millions of
women and men participate in abortion thinking "God will forgive" because of well-meaning but
foolish pro-lifers. I would not be surprised if God cast the whole lot of us into hell. That would be
justice.
We should be preaching repentance instead of "mercy." As many of you know, before embracing
Catholicism, I was a Protestant minister. In that capacity I prayed with and counseled dozens of
people to help them come to grips with their participation in abortion, but it was always in the
context of repentance of their sin, not in some detached talk of God's love and mercy, but in the
realization that we are each personally accountable for our offenses to God.
There is forgiveness if one truly repents. But perhaps there should not be healing for those who
have killed their own children. Perhaps it is a healthy thing to feel bad for the rest of our life for
the wickedness we have done. All of us should have regret for the hurt we have caused
others--even if we've been forgiven. Perhaps we should offer reparation and penance instead of
seeking to assuage our guilt.
Jesus died for sinners. Those who turn to him hating their sins can experience his forgiveness. Our
Blessed Lady is also the Refuge of Sinners. To her we say, "Pray for us sinners, now and the hour
of our death, Amen."
May the Peace of our God the Lord Jesus Christ and the prayers of Our Dear Blessed Mother
Mary be with you always,
Jack Keene
Southern Papist Perspective is intended to be published monthly, but due to my work schedule,
some issues may arrive closer together than others. If you have comments or questions, or would
like to add someone to our mailing list, please address your correspondence to: Southern Papist
Perspective, 334 Lakeshore Drive, Madison, Mississippi 39110. There is no charge for the
newsletter.
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