This morning, the Supreme Court of the United States issued a ruling in the case of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization which effectively overturned the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling.
There’s a lot of vitriol on social media right now—on both sides. I’m trying to stay out of the way of that, but I think it’s important to consider constructive responses to the situation, rather than destructive reactions.
If you’re prolife, don’t take the opportunity to gloat today.
Instead, take the opportunity to give.
Crisis pregnancy centers and organizations such as Good Counsel Homes that offer housing, educational, and work opportunities to women can use your funds, your time, your donations of goods, and your prayers.
What kinds of things can you give?
- diapers (especially the larger sizes)
- wipes
- baby formula
- bedding
- clothing
- supermarket gift cards
To find a crisis pregnancy center near you, google “abortion alternatives” followed by your zip code or “pregnancy center near me.” It’s that easy! Then reach out and find out how to make your donation.
For people who say that helping babies is all well and good, but what happens when the kids outgrow the cribs but still need food, clothing, shelter, and daycare? The St. Vincent de Paul Society has them covered. This organization helps individuals and families by providing funds for food, rent or mortgage payments, utilities, and more. You can donate funds or gift cards forlocal supermarkets.
You can also budget for extra groceries each week and make donations to your local food pantry. Summer, in particular, is a time of greater demand at food pantries, because children are out of school and missing the breakfast and lunch they often received there. Be sure to include some kid-friendly, easy-to-prepare options.
If you think about it, the most prolife thing anyone can do is to carry out the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy. Maybe you can’t do all of them. But you can do some of them. You can do at least one: pray for the living and the dead. But I’m sure you can find a way to do others, no matter your current situation.
Be creative! A group of musicians from my parish tonight will be taking advantage of today’s beautiful weather and visiting a homebound parishioner—and we’ll bring the music with us. Usually we call her during our weekly rehearsal and sing to her, but we wanted to do something more. She’ll get a mini-concert, featuring the music we’ll sing at Sunday Mass. That work of mercy costs us nothing but our time. And she was thrilled, when I called her at lunchtime, to tell her I’d be stopping by later with a surprise.
“Now is the time to begin the work of building a post-Roe America,” the United States Council of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) stated.
Be a giver, not a gloater—today and every day. That’s how we build a post-Roe America.
Copyright 2022 Barb Szyszkiewicz
Images: Stencil
Perhaps it is not a time to gloat, as you say, but we very much should be giving thanks. This ruling has been longed for, prayed for, and been the work of very many people who have been giving and doing much of what you suggested. We have to ramp that up. But first – give thanks!
We absolutely should be giving thanks. But we also need to step up our work in support of the vulnerable and needy, and to do so with a loving spirit.