When life begins
is a matter of biology

When does life begin? I think the best person to answer that question is a pregnant woman. Most pregnant women know fairly early in their pregnancy that a baby is growing in their womb.

	Editor's View Mary C. Uhler

There are changes in the woman's body that usually become quite evident, especially if the woman is looking forward to having a baby. Many women are so excited that they go out and buy a home pregnancy test even before going to see a doctor. They can't wait to find out!

When she does find out she's pregnant, the woman will usually tell the father first. She will also contact family members and friends. She won't say, "I've got a blob of tissue in my uterus." No, she'll say, "I'm going to have a baby!"

Unique human person

It's pretty clear to the pregnant woman: this is a human being. Everything is there - that child's hair color, eyes, shape of mouth, arms, legs, brain - everything that will develop into that unique person.

So it shouldn't be a puzzle. Life begins at conception. It's a matter of science, a biological fact.

An article by Scott F. Gilbert on "When Does Human Life Begin?" explores many scientific and religious views of this issue. Gilbert says the "genetic view" takes the position that "the creation of a genetically unique individual is the moment at which life begins. This event is often described as taking place at fertilization, thus fertilization marks the beginning of human life. During this developmental event, the genes originating from two sources combine to form a single individual with a different and unique set of genes. One of the most popular arguments for fertilization as the beginning of human life is that at fertilization a new combination of genetic material is created for the first time; thus, the zygote is an individual, unique from all others."

It's biology, not religion

Although Gilbert goes on to discuss other contradictory views, this description of when life begins seems to make the most sense to many people. Yet some politicians seem to act as if the beginning of life is either up for grabs or purely a religious issue. Senator Joe Biden, the Democratic candidate for vice president, is a case in point. He says he believes life begins at conception, but he doesn't want to force his "beliefs" on others.

Bishop Robert C. Morlino, in an impromptu homily given on September 7 at the Cathedral Parish of St. Raphael in Madison, also emphasized that it is biology, not religion, that reveals when life begins. "Biology, science, tells us from the moment of conception there is a unique individual of the human species," said Bishop Morlino. To hear his complete homily, go to www.madisondiocese.org

Bishop Morlino notes that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who asserted recently that Church teaching has changed over the years, and Biden - both Catholics - may be confused about Church teaching because of what some theologians, bishops, and priests have said about abortion and the beginning of life since the Second Vatican Council. But Bishop Morlino said Church teaching is very clear and it is based on scientific fact.

Church teaching clear

As the Catechism of the Catholic Church says, "Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception. From the first moment of his existence, a human being must be recognized as having the rights of a person - among which is the inviolable right of every innocent being to life" (paragraph 2270).

The U.S. Catholic Bishops issued a recent statement clarifying the Church's "constant teaching" on abortion and the beginning of life. It can be viewed or downloaded at www.usccb.org/prolife/constantchurchteaching.pdf

It is important that all Catholics understand the clear teaching of the Catholic Church and share that teaching - based on biology - with others. In doing so, Catholics are not forcing their religion on society.

Life begins at conception and it should be protected by society and our laws. If only we could convince all politicians to be courageous and defend life at all stages.

Mailbag

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Letter to Nancy Pelosi: Catholic Church has always condemned abortion

This letter was sent to Nancy Pelosi, Speaker
of the House:

The Catholic Church has constantly and infallibly condemned abortion as a grave evil - a mortal sin. From the first century teaching in the book called the Didache: "You shall not kill the embryo by abortion and shall not cause the newborn to perish." To the 20th century teaching of Pope John Paul II in Evangelium Vitae: "By the authority which Christ conferred upon Peter and his Successors . . . I declare that direct abortion . . . always constitutes a grave moral disorder, since it is the deliberate killing of an innocent human being."

Now, it is true that St. Augustine did wonder when the soul entered the body of the baby and guessed that that occurred at about three months gestation. But two things to remember: First, Augustine lived in the fourth century and worked with fourth century biology - he had no clue about the development of the fetus. So he thought the soul entered the baby's body sometime around the "quickening" - when the mother first feels the baby begin to move.

But a careful reading of Augustine shows that he knew he was only guessing and working with limited science and that if he had today's science he would have agreed with the clear conclusion of medical science today that the embryo is alive at conception.

Second, even so, Augustine, like all the Fathers, condemned abortion from the first moment of conception, not merely after quickening. It's true that there was a greater penalty for abortions committed after the quickening, but that was mainly because in those days, before the marvel of ultrasound, the movement of the baby was when there was absolutely certainty that the baby was alive. "And with greater certainty comes greater culpability."

This is for your information!

May God bless you with His Truth!

Milton L. Pozo, MD, FACP, Madison

Conscience can't be used as 'cop-out'

To the editor:

One letter in the August 14, 2008, issue of the Catholic Herald regarding conscience demonstrates the need for Pope Benedict XVI to exercise the provisions for infallibility in the documents of the First Vatican Council for issues that are solid Catholic teachings. More and more insincere conscience is used as a cop-out for rejecting established Catholic teachings.

Conscience could not be used as an escape when the issue has been defined as infallible according to the documents of the First Vatican Council.

A poorly educated conscience can justify an interpretation according to the convenience or agenda of the person.

Charles J. Sippel, Waterloo

Thanks people of diocese for support of retired religious through appeal

To the people of the Diocese of Madison:

On behalf of men and women religious throughout the United States, I extend heartfelt thanks to all who contributed to the annual appeal for the Retirement Fund for Religious in 2007. Your generous donations totaled $116,951.82. We know this represents great sacrifice on the part of many in these difficult economic times, and we are deeply grateful.

Your generosity helps to provide care for more than 37,500 religious in the United States who are past age 70, including more than 4,900 who need skilled nursing care. These women and men pray daily for your intentions, asking God to bless you abundantly.

The funds from the 2007 appeal were distributed to religious institutes at the end of June. I am confident that they will be received with profound gratitude for every donor. Our annual report details the distribution of funds, and it will be available on our Web site on September 1. We invite you to visit www.retiredreligious.org

Gratefully,
Sr. Janice Bader, CPPS, executive director
National Religious Retirement Office
Washington, D.C.