Carl Heinrich Bloch, "The Slaughter of the Innocents", Oil On Canvas
What would I have done? Would I have had the courage to stand against the tyrannical King who ordered the slaughter of innocents? Would I have helped Mary and Joseph, or any other mother and child escape the murderous wrath of a jealous King? I’d like to think that the answer is yes.
While there are far less severe dangers today, Herod has been eclipsed by an army of bloody tyrants who walk the corridors of power today. The Democrat party gives hundreds of millions of dollars annually to groups such as Planned Parenthood, who in turn lavish millions of dollars on… Democrats running for office. Of course, the agreement is that the price of power is babies must die.
Yes, I used the imperative.
No, it’s not melodramatic.
We have long since passed some academic right to choose abortion. The field of Obstetrics brings unrelenting pressure to bear on women who might be carrying a less than perfect child. Trisomic conditions are cause for summary execution. Women and men are brow-beaten, called selfish (and worse) for wanting to bring their special needs children into the world. If the baby is anencephalic, parents are called monsters for bringing the child to term.
No, it seems that there is a mandate now for abortion. And the list of those marked as unworthy of life continues to grow. Still, for some that’s not good enough.
Crisis Pregnancy Centers and Pregnancy Resource Centers are under assault in several states, with New York City being the most recent target. Chris Slattery started EMC Frontline Pregnancy Centers 25 years ago and has over 38,000 confirmed saves between our 12 centers.
That will not be allowed to stand if NARAL, Council Speaker Christine Quinn, and former PP deathscort and bill sponsor Jessica Lappin have their way. Their legislation is aimed at driving women away from our doors. Where to?
Right into the arms of our modern day Herods.
Choice? There can be no choice if abortion is the only option. By their own admission, Planned Parenthood only concerns themselves with contraception and abortion. They refer out for prenatal care (if the baby is lucky enough to make it out of PP alive). Choice died about 20 years ago. There is an imperative now, the growing movement to silence those of us who guarantee choice by providing viable alternatives.
Chris and I will be starting a petition drive this week that I hope all will take a moment to participate in. That’s the very least that each of us can do. It is how we can stand up to the Herods of our day and make our voices known. Like the One sought for death 2,000 years ago, these children are our salvation in so very many ways.
They ground us, make us face maturity by calling us to focus on their utter helplessness. They teach us the meaning of love. They teach us redemptive suffering. They save us from eternal adolescent narcissism, and draw us closer to God.
There is so much that we can do, and some of us are fighting this particular battle full time. But we need everyone’s help with the petition. In facing down Herod, the pen does quite nicely.
So as we begin to move closer to Christmas, to the timeless narrative of the Nativity, and the story of Herod’s evil, we should bear in mind that we are all called to do something about the slaughter of innocents in our day. The thousands who staff the more than 2,300 CPC’s and PRC’s save babies daily from the senseless slaughter unleashed on us by seven twisted men in 1973. They are the frontline shields between these babies and certain death.
I don’t know what I would have done then.
I do know what we are called to do now.
The petition is on its way.
I am from Mexico… is it possible for me to sign it?
If so count with my signature!!
Dr. Nadal, I agree with your perspective. Enjoyed hearing your comments at writers’ meeting!
somewhat off topic but I do love Carl Heinrich Bloch’s artwork – my favorite being the suffering Christ comforted by an angel.
The slaughter of the innocents, the church’s first martyrs…
Current abortion statistics make Herod’s slaughter look like a picnic.
Hi, poking around a little on your website. I don’t know if old posts keep their conversations going. I am going to think not. Anyway, there was a post about the sorrows of the dads in abortion, and this was waved away as an abstraction by the conversation following- not by all,but by some who thought it was a good thing to abort, as a step up to financial health, I guess. I’d like to share:
We lived in an apartment complex, with 16 apartments in each block of housing. We had two children at the time, other neighbors had a grandchild, and that was about it. It was not a wealthy apartment complex, but it wasn’t benighted. Anyway, one evening around ? after dark? there was a banging on the door- it was a man, exclaiming ” My son! We just had a baby! I’m a DAD! I have a son!” Just totally, completely, excited and joyous. My first instinct was to offer congratulations. The second, I went into the house and gathered up things for the baby- valuable things- a handmade sling, good books- and give them to him. He knocked on the door of everyone’s house to tell them he had a son! A newborn son! Each and every neighbor made sure to give something to this child over the next few days. Most didn’t have anything on hand, it was instinctive- one woman ran to give him a can of chili- it’s what she had on hand— His wife came home from the hospital a few days later, holding the baby. She was kind of confused- first off- there was all this baby stuff- and there were all sorts of people stopping her to see the baby and offer congratulations. They had just moved there, they weren’t used to dealing with people……or being congratulated, or anything. ( I asked) He had been in prison, apparently, and she wasn’t much of star in school or life. I would see him wearing the sling with his son in it, strutting to the basketball court, in full NBA gear, with his homies. With the difference that people would stop- old ladies, middle aged women- old white men- kids- would stop him to see his baby. And they treated him like he was a man and a Dad. The police would stop by his house, or stop and ask about him- something parole-ish, and people would ask why they were asking after the family guy. so there was more careful, respectful treatment by the police.
we moved, and a few years later, we ran into the family out at a restaurant. He was in normal clothes, his wife was pregnant again, the sling was in evidence ( it’s how I knew who he was) and he was talking about his job, their duplex, educating a child (slings, positive reinforcement) All of it was for the long-range plan on that child.
I think being a father, and getting recognized and respected as a father made it possible for him to be a good man, and then a good husband, and a worthwhile man in the community.
Also, I think it makes the three kings and the shepherds make more sense- people do bring gifts and joy to a newborn, any newborn, if they think they can. This guy wasn’t asking- people were just giving, spontaneously, and joyfully.
ari, that is a beautiful story! <3
I think also sharing the father's joy was what made this father feel special. Everyone is happy for the mom but the father often times is left in the background.
And many a person has been motivated to improve and strive to do better by their children.