Speaking the Truth

We don’t like to speak the truth about evil because we’re going to hurt somebody. Let me tell you, you are going to hurt somebody, but that Somebody is God. If you would rather hurt God than your neighbor, there is something wrong with your spirituality. It’s your obligation to speak the truth and everyone can either take it or leave it. But truth must be in us. We live in such poverty of the truth today.
- Mother Angelica

Saturday, January 3, 2009

Mixed Signals

From the desk of Father Frank Pavone:

The next section of the book, Father talks about how we can change the way we talk about the unborn in order to create a greater sense of "personhood." (my word) If we can come out of thinking about the child as "coming," as "expected" and start thinking of that child as "already here," then we can change the language we use about a pregnant woman.

If I haven't confused you already, let me explain. Father Pavone wants our message to be that the unborn child is already here. So instead of saying that a couple has "one on the way," say things like "she is carrying a child."

He also says that as soon as a woman knows she is pregnant, the couple should choose a name. Obviously pick one boy and one girl name, but a name should be chosen right away because that baby is a person. I think about my son being born and we didn't name him for HOURS after he was born. We just couldn't agree on a boy's name, so we didn't pick one. I guess we were in that mindset of not a baby worth naming until he was "here," when in fact, he was already "here."

Just doing these small things can help us as pro-lifers to cultivate a culture of life. To cultivate a culture of accepting life when life actually begins. To cultivate a culture of respect for the baby and for the mother. Changing the way we have been taught is not easy, but it can be done.

If anyone has any other suggestions for how we can change our verbage so we don't give "mixed signals" please do so in your comments. Thanks so much!!

4 comments:

Therese said...

Recently I was reading a Catholic magazine that had written in it life was a gift from birth till death and my husband said it should say from conception till death because from birth gives the impression that it isn't life till it is born.

Anonymous said...

Excellent post. I've been thinking about the same type of things, the language we use.

"she is carrying a child." I'll have to remember that one.

Karen said...

Aussie Therese, your husband is so right. We can change the way we think if we just change our lingo!

Secular Heretic, thanks for commenting! These subtle differences are going to be hard to remember but hopefully will make a difference.

I have to say that it's nice to meet others that have the same viewpoint as me!

Anonymous said...

I think there are lots of us out here may just don't comment.