Pope Francis and Abortion in His Speech to Congress: The ‘Pivot’ Heard Round the World
Sept. 24, 2015 (LifeSiteNews) – The timing of Pope Francis’ speech to Congress could hardly be seen as anything short of divinely planned – coming on the same day as the Senate is scheduled to vote on whether to defund Planned Parenthood, the country’s number one killer of unborn babies.
Meanwhile, on Monday, Democrats halted a ban on most late-term abortions. On Friday, the House voted to pass a bill making it 1st degree murder to kill a baby born alive after a botched abortion. Add to this the fact that millions have watched those undercover Planned Parenthood videos in recent weeks, and it becomes clear that the groundwork has been laid for an unprecedented national conversation on abortion.
Hopes that the pope’s address could help sway public support in favor of life at this critical moment were raised when he spoke to the assembled lawmakers of the need to protect life at “every stage of development.” Those watching naturally assumed that this remark was prelude to some additional words addressing the abortion issue, and perhaps even the Planned Parenthood scandal.
However, in a curious bait-and-switch that left many pro-life politicians in the chamber in puzzled silence, the pope instead turned his attention immediately to the death penalty, describing how “this conviction has led me, from the beginning of my ministry, to advocate at different levels for the global abolition of the death penalty.”
Even The New York Times took note of the unexpected change of direction, describing how, “instead of continuing on to talk about the need to end abortion, he pivots to the death penalty.”
Another clear opening to speak specifically to the abortion issue came when the pope spoke about “money that is drenched in blood, often innocent blood.” The phrase is a perfect encapsulation of the Planned Parenthood aborted baby parts scandal. Disappointingly, however, the pope connected these words only to the arms trade.
Let us be perfectly clear: It is good that the pope spoke about the Church’s position on the death penalty and the arms trade. Since the time of Pope John Paul II, the Catholic Church has been very clear on its opposition to the death penalty in cases where it is no longer necessary to protect public safety. And who could fail to oppose the sale of arms for profit in cases where it contributes to the waging of unjust warfare and the killing of innocents?
But on the one issue that admits of absolutely no debate, and that would have challenged many a politician, both Catholic and not, in that room – the massive and legalized slaughter of innocents on American soil – the pope chose to take a pass.
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