Even abortionists made in God's image

By Colleen Roy

Every Christmas Scott and I watch It's a Wonderful Life. It is a staple in our litany of Christmas movies. This year, however, the movie hit me in a new way.

"This is such a pro-life movie," I said to Scott. He looked at me like, "Duh," and continued watching. I was stunned at my slow observation skills and started connecting the dots. The movie tells us that every life has a purpose, and that the entire world changes when a life is taken before its time.

"Maybe I could host mass viewings of the movie and change the world," I thought. If only things were so easy.

Next week will be the 20th anniversary of the Morgentaler Ruling. On Jan. 28, 1988, all legislation governing abortion was wiped out in Canada, allowing abortion on demand at all stages of pregnancy.

I was only 9 at the time, and completely unaware of what was happening to my poor country and her children. Little did I know that one ruling would soon absorb much of my time, prayers, and energy. My thoughts are sad and scattered as I try to absorb the meaning of what has happened in our country over the past two decades.

I think of the people I have met who have been forever altered by the A-word.

Some of these lives are lived with a constant mission to end abortion, and others live their lives with the constant pain of a choice regretted. I remember Tania, a schoolmate who broke down in tears as she shared the story of her abortion with me. She was completely lost in her pain, giving herself to depression and substance abuse.

I also think of the many women in my church family who have approached me in confidence to share their painful burden. Unlike Tania, these women knew of the hope of God's grace and forgiveness, but the pain remained. Most of these women say the same thing; "If anyone had supported me and offered me help, I would have chosen differently."

That's a sad comment. It means that in a time of fear and vulnerability these women were given only one choice as viable, the choice of death. What makes me even sadder is knowing this should not be the case. Almost 75 per cent of Canadians identify themselves as being Christian. How can that be when less than 30 per cent of Canadians think that abortion should be outlawed? This is a contradiction.

There is no such thing as a pro-choice Christian. One cannot give oneself to Christ and in the same breath deny His gift of life. One also cannot consider abortion to be wrong but then continue to do nothing about it.

This past year I was invited to speak in a few Catholic schools, and I have to say that while for the most part the response from these young adults was incredibly encouraging and inspiring, I was surprised to receive apathetic comments and disagreement from a few of them.

Some had no shame to admit in front of their Catholic teachers that they felt they could justify the innocent lives taken by abortion, even after seeing pictures of aborted babies. This scares me. I can also be disheartened by the small numbers of people turning out to pro-life events.

Where are the believers? Where are the families? Why aren't the pews overflowing with children at the monthly pro-life Mass and prayer vigil? It discourages me to think that 20 short years have, seemingly, made us so indifferent.

At the same time I am held in the arms of hope. God has conquered death and all death has stolen. Through the blessed and seeming contradiction of the crucifix, life reigns triumphant. Every child taken and each woman shattered is offered a hand of mercy. Each and every abortionist and worker in this culture of death is offered the same redemption and hope as you and I.

Sometimes I find myself in tears as I pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. I picture Henry Morgentaler and ask God to extend His mercy and make His grace irresistible to him. My heart is torn between loathing him and crying for his very soul.

Through prayer I have come to the surprising knowledge that it is possible to love my greatest enemy. I have come to realize that he too was made in God's image. This is quite a miracle. Despite the surrounding death and darkness God continues to teach me to love.

In the midst of the "greatest destroyer of peace," as Mother Teresa called abortion, God offers peace. He instills courage and long-standing persistence in the hearts of those dedicated pro-lifers I have been blessed to meet along the way. He shares His sorrow and suffering at each baby taken, but at once He presents patience, joy, and hope.

I look into the eyes and hearts of true pro-lifers and I see God telling me that it really is a wonderful life.