We begin (Appendix A) with a short column by Mr. Mike Perry, who echoes Novak’s point, specifically in regard to the way “churchmen” now view the situation. “For years,” he notes, “mainline Protestant denominations were staunch supporters of legalized abortion.” Now, there is widespread “rethinking” going on. The Roman Catholic church was of course an exception, but even within its ranks there is a growing movement toward ever greater opposition to abortion. For instance, Boston’s Cardinal Bernard Law (Appendix B) virtually endorses the new (and, some would say, radical) tactics of “Operation Rescue”—not for everybody, maybe, but a noble effort nonetheless. And Cardinal John O’Connor (Appendix C) does pretty much likewise—adding that, even if Dr. Koop can’t find evidence of abortion’s effects, “I hear more and more from women who have been victimized by abortion.”

—J.P. McFadden, Introduction, Spring 1989 Human Life Review

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Dear Friends in Christ,

One evening recently, at Saint Agnes Church, in Manhattan, I joined in praying the Rosary with a church-full of people about to engage in Operation Rescue. I was profoundly moved by their prayerfulness and humbled by their extraordinary sacrifices.

Many individuals, of various religious persuasions, have felt compelled in conscience to engage in the non-violent protests called “Operation Rescue” in the immediate vicinity of abortion clinics. This has rapidly become a national phenomenon. Many have been arrested, fined and imprisoned, including priests, religious and laypersons and at least one bishop. In my judgment, some of the imprisonment and fines have been disproportionate to the civil offenses with which participants have been charged. I am sadly reminded of the days when the law was used “violently” against civil rights demonstrators protesting segregation. Despite false charges to the contrary, I have seen no evidence that participants in Operation Rescue have in any way fostered destruction of property or the endangering of human lives. They do what they do to save lives. They use a method that has become a commonly accepted form of protest against unjust laws and policies—a form of protest which in recent years the law has responded to only by “pro forma’’ arrests. Why is the law now being used so drastically? Apparently because the issue is abortion. Unborn babies are helpless. Unborn babies couldn’t protest what the Supreme Court did in 1973. Unborn babies can’t vote against legislators who claim that they are personally opposed to abortion, but that this is a pluralistic society, so they continue to vote funds to support abortions and continue to refuse to work legitimately toward changing or reinterpreting the law through the legislative and judicial process.

When will it all end? When will the wanton destruction of defenseless human life in the womb come to an end? I can not for the life of me understand how a society can rest easy as long as it accepts the death of a child as a constructive and appropriate solution for a woman confronted with an unplanned pregnancy.

Something is wrong, something is very wrong when a civilized society tolerates daily deaths of over 4,000 children in their mothers’ wombs. Something is wrong when a civilized society has become so misguided that it tolerates, as the “compassionate” thing to do, the destruction of innocent and defenseless human life. Something is wrong when a civilized society accepts the false logic that says a mother has the right to destroy the sacred life that dwells within her.

Whatever the Surgeon General of the United States has found, I hear more and more from women who have been victimized by abortion. They are coming forth to tell their personal stories of pain and trauma; stories which reveal the psychological and spiritual scars that can be caused by abortion. I hear from women who were misled into thinking that destroying their children was the right thing to do. Now they realize it was wrong, and with that realization can come a lifetime of pain and sorrow.

On this sad anniversary, the 16th anniversary of the Supreme Court’s decision, I encourage and applaud and pray for all those who are attempting to right the wrong of abortion. I applaud and pray for all those who are providing help and support for the mothers-to-be who are in need. On this day, I renew my pledge to provide Archdiocesan support and counsel to any pregnant woman, anywhere, who needs help. If she is financially unable to meet medical and hospital costs and related expenses, she need only contact us to be taken care of.

I urge all who come in contact with women who have already had an abortion to be compassionate and understanding. If they need help, assure them that the Archdiocese wants to provide such help through Project Rachel. We are not interested in condemning anyone. We are dedicated to reconciliation and to helping people get a fresh start in life.

I return for just a moment to Operation Rescue. It is not for me to advise anyone to participate in or not to participate in this kind of activity. I want to make clear my admiration and respect for those who sacrifice so much on behalf of the unborn and their mothers, in response to the demands of their own consciences. I am particularly impressed that Operation Rescue has attracted participants of all ages, including many young people. They may well turn the thinking of our country around.

At the same time, I continue to respect and admire every individual who participates in the Pro-Life movement in any way—through quiet prayer, through discouraging others through quiet personal persuasion from having abortions, through joining the Pro-Life march in Washington, or in whatever way seems best suited to their own conscience, way of life, or other responsibilities. There is room for all in the Pro-Life Movement. No one need follow the way of others, nor should any of us criticize the way of others. United we stand; divided, babies die.

Thank God for all of you, wherever you are at this moment in your own conscience. Pray for me, please.

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Bio from this issue:

John Cardinal O’Connor (1920-2000) was Archbishop of New York from 1984 until 2000, during which time he would sometimes quote from the Human Life Review in his homilies. This letter, distributed in churches in the New York Archdiocese on Sunday, January 22, 1989, was originally reprinted, with the Cardinal’s permission, as Appendix C in the Spring 1989 edition of the Review.