Editorials

In many states across the nation, pro-life advocates are seeing some light in their ongoing efforts to curb abortion. In South Dakota, Gov. Kristi Noem (R), in her 2021 State of the State address, asked state lawmakers to introduce a bill banning abortions based on a prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome. “The Declaration of Independence summarizes what we all know in our hearts to be true — that God created each of us and endowed all of us with the right to life. This is true for everyone, including those with an extra chromosome,” she said to a standing ovation from legislators.

After gains were made in the pro-life movement in 2020 to protect life, the outlook for further gains in 2021 is certainly not as promising at both the federal and state levels. With Democrats now holding the White House and both chambers of Congress, a key focus of pro-lifers at the federal level is the preservation of certain pro-life “riders,” or amendments, enacted by Congress that are attached to spending bills.

The Pew Research Center recently reported that government restrictions on religion worldwide (and in the U.S.) are at their highest point since 2007. This is a grave threat not only to our religious freedoms but also to human rights. Globally, religious freedom protects human dignity, promotes security and supports American national security. Here in our own nation anti-Semitism and anti-Catholicism are increasing.

The recent release of COVID-19 vaccines has caused some to question the efficacy of the vaccines due to their quick clinical trials, but beyond that, some Catholics have questioned the ethics of taking a vaccine that may have used cell lines from aborted fetuses. The Vatican Congregation for the Doc­trine of Faith (CDF) addressed those questions last week when it stated that it is “morally acceptable” to receive COVID-19 vaccines produced using cell lines from aborted fetuses when no alternative is available.

Christmas Day is squarely in our sight, just hours away. As we prepare our hearts for this most joyous day when the Word became Flesh, there is no question that Christmas will be different this year. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed everything in our lives. So many have had to deal with illness, economic hardships and the loss of loved ones.