How common sense can become common un-sense
The decay of a civilization is evident when common sense becomes uncommon. You can buy things and slowly discover that people want money for them, whether you have it or not. A man gets mixed up and suspects that maybe he has been a woman the whole time. Lovers are surprised that the natural result of their love is a baby. Mothers cannot identify the baby in their womb as their child, and so don’t mind “terminating” him or her. Doctors charged with preserving life don’t know they take life in an abortion.
Common sense becomes uncommon. We trade common sense for common un-sense. This is the sign of the death of a culture, or even a culture of death.
The Supreme Court justices even get a little mixed up. They forgot to show how abortion connects with the supposed constitutional right to privacy (see paragraphs 77-79 of Roe vs. Wade). A silly little mistake. It’s almost like they say what a patient and doctor decide “in consultation” is left to them … eat a cheeseburger, have an affair, kill the mother’s embryonic baby. The rationale they used left too many weird open doors, let alone ugly and heinous open doors.
On June 24, common sense made a comeback with the Dobbs vs. Jackson case. The culture of life had a victory. Hope was restored. This is why I like Oklahoma. Things like this just make sense. I was talking with some of my church’s middle schoolers and asked them “When is a baby’s life important — before or after birth?” They didn’t quite understand it was a trick question so they had weird guesses. However, when I told them, it was just clear: the answer is BOTH.
There is so much hope. God is so good. It’s so good to be in Oklahoma where it’s now illegal to have an abortion. Praise God! I know other preachers are addressing this in different ways, but may we unite in a great big prayer of thanksgiving!
Nonetheless, may we continue to unite in fighting to maintain this culture of life in all its dimensions. The “mercy-killing” of our elderly is slipping into our country. We can’t come up with reasonable legislation on immigration (God bless the 51 who lost their lives after being abandoned in a truck recently in Texas). Unforgiveness, resentment and division keep killing the country. Marriage, honoring father and mother and the supremacy of God are all under attack.
However, I have to say I’m filled with hope! God is so good, and it’s so good to be in Oklahoma. Praised be Jesus Christ!
O’Brien is a Catholic pastor in both LeFlore and Haskell counties. In LeFlore County, he pastors both at Immaculate Conception Church in Poteau and St. Elizabeth’s Church in Spiro. He can be reached by telephone at (918) 647-3475 or by e-mail at spobrien007@gmail.com.