Pope Francis is famous for his strident denunciations of a throwaway culture that ruthlessly discards human beings not considered useful in an economy that “kills.” His criticism is true in so far as our pragmatic age exalts what David Brooks calls “résumé virtues” over “eulogy virtues.” Technocracy and utilitarianism have made us cold and calculating, less respectful towards nature and neighbor. And while the profit motive may be one reason why once-revered human qualities are now neglected or mocked, I often wonder if the pope has accurately identified the real cause of the problem.

My concerns were only heightened by the secret videos of Planned Parenthood officials blithely discussing buying and selling the body parts of aborted babies. Part of me is nervously awaiting the pope to denounce capitalism for this social evil as well. In fact, there are U.S. federal laws prohibiting profit-making in this type of commerce and Planned Parenthood itself denies making any money from it. (Even abortionists recognize the evil of profits!) But another part of me questions whether it’s the quest for profits that drives the abortion industry to not only perform but brazenly justify its barbaric practices.

Let me restate the problem this way: Assuming Planned Parenthood is telling the truth that it makes no profit in the buying and selling of fetal body parts, would that make the “crushing” and “crunching” of babies acceptable? Would it be ok to abort babies out of “humanitarian” or “compassionate” rather than “self-interested” motives? Are government-subsidized abortions somehow less gruesome than private-sector ones?

Read the article “The Real Throwaway Culture” on acton.org.