I am writing this week’s column in Isafjordur, Iceland on the seventh day of our two-week cruise.  Being away, with limited internet and satellite, I have not seen or read much of the extensive news coverage of the Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade.  Oddly enough, this has given me more time to think and reflect about this landmark case.

It is no secret that the Church has consistently taught that human life begins at the moment of conception and that abortion ends a human life.  Many do not accept that life begins at conception, but the Church teaching is completely consistent with our cherished traditions regarding the conception and birth of Jesus Christ. Without question, the Archangel Gabriel declares to the Blessed Mother, “You will conceive a child who is the only begotten Son of God.” The same is true when John the Baptist is miraculously conceived in Elizabeth’s womb.

Contemporary secular thought generally considers these narratives as myth. There is no separate historical evidence of the Archangel’s visits to Elizabeth and Mary. We choose to believe, as we do with all the great sacramental mysteries of our faith, absent conventional empirical proof. The scriptural accounts provide our basis for teaching all life begins at the moment of conception. In Isaiah, we hear, “Before I formed you in your mother’s womb, I already knew you.” Psalm 139 says, “You already knew me when you knit me together in my mother’s womb.”

You will surely notice I am not weighing the competing political arguments around the abortion issue. Regrettably, some leaders in the Church have inserted their own opinions into political debates rather than simply present the Church’s consistent teaching that human life begins at conception in every case.  So, when asked “should abortion be legal? Illegal? Permitted in some circumstances?” I defer – not to intentionally avoid a legitimate political debate – but to leave those questions where they always belong – in the conscience of every human being.

Why the conscience? The Church teaches that conscience is the inviolable “most secret core” of the human person where God speaks to them. A person is bound to properly form his or her conscience through the Word of God, to make practical and concrete judgements according to one’s conscience, and to abide by those judgements in an acknowledgement that conscience, as God’s voice, is the ultimate authority. I hope this helps those of you who are conflicted about this difficult discussion.                                                          Fr. Gary