Votive Mass for Peace and Justice, Protection of the Unborn

Scripture Readings: Heb 6:1-10;  Mk 2:23-28

Today and every day we pray for the legal protection of unborn children.  Have our prayers made any difference here in Iowa? 

Last May Governor Kim Reynolds signed one of our country’s strictest abortion bills into law.  It is called the “heartbeat bill” because it bans abortions after a heartbeat can be detected, around the sixth week of pregnancy. The bill was presented to the Governor after being passed by Iowa’s House and Senate Republicans, without one Democrat voting for the right to life.  

Governor Reynolds wrote, “I understand that not everyone will agree with this decision.  But if death is determined when a heart stops beating, then doesn’t a beating heart indicate life? For me, it is immoral to stop an innocent beating heart.” 

The CEO of Planned Parenthood for the Heartland (how ironic!) responded with this cry of outrage: “We will fight like hell with everything we have.”  So a judge prevented the new law from going into effect until it passes the Iowa courts.  I believe our prayers do make a difference.  Let’s keep making sacrifices and praying until there is legal protection for all children in the womb.  

 

“Mass For Giving Thanks to God for the Gift of Human Life” (no. 48/1 of the Masses and Prayers for Various Needs and Occasions),